I had a request, from a practitioner, asking me to write about routine D & C. I am not a medical practitioner. I consider myself a birth/baby advocate. I am a certified Asian bodywork professional. Traditional Asian medicine was very conservative and cutting or invading the body in extreme ways was forbidden. Today, many medical procedures, during the typical hospital birth, are done routinely. I believe this is because of medical training, fear of law suits and the need to make a profit. Sometimes routines are for efficiency as hospitals need to manage large numbers of people. For midwives, with a wait and see philosophy, the need for a procedure is based on medical necessity, for that individual, and not performed routinely. In the case of a D & C there are many concerns about possible risk to the mother. As with any procedure it is important for parents to understand what problem is being addressed, what is the likelihood treatment will be effective and what possible harm may be caused. This is the way to evaluate possible risk vs possible benefit. Keep asking questions until you trust and understand what is being proposed.
Most women have early miscarriages at home. I have been asked how to handle the remains. Keeping them until they can be examined, by you or someone else is advised. Your midwife will help. It is important to get compassionate support for this experience. The emotional aspects of loss are important no matter how long the pregnancy. There is still a need to grieve. Grief left unexpressed is left to accumulate and add to other stress in the energy body. A doula can also be a great resource for support.
If you want to cremate you must have a pathology lab report first. Documentation is required with any kind of funeral home arrangements. You can simply bury the remains in your backyard making sure that you dig deeply enough (12 inches) to discourage curious animals. If you live in the city with no backyard you can ask a friend who does. Another suggestion is to purchase a large potted plant for an outdoor patio area. There are certified death midwives who can help with ideas and support. If it is winter simply keep the remains in your freezer. Death midwives also assist with home death of adults.
I suggest further research on these topics from a variety of sources.