Difference between revisions of "Stillbirth"

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==Stillbirth ==
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A stillbirth (according to the NHS and GRO) - is defined as, and can only be registered as such, when a baby is born dead after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
  
  
'''About Stillbirth'''
+
An infant who draws a spontaneous breath - even just one - is not classed as stillborn. Sadly, the subject is very emotive, and in the past was not considered suitable for family conversations. Nowadays, thank goodness, we appear to be more sensitive to the grief of the parents.
  
  
A stillbirth is the death of a foetus any time after the 20th week of pregnancy.  
+
Unfortunately, until the Births and Deaths Registration Act of 1926 made stillbirths registerable from 1st July 1927, the only regulation that existed was the 1874 requirement for a declaration of stillbirth to be obtained, so that a child who had been born alive but died a short time afterwards could not be buried as a stillborn delivery.
 +
Prior to this, many such neonatal deaths went unregistered because otherwise the parent would have been liable for the cost of a birth certificate as well as a death certificate. This cost must have been beyond the means of many parents in the 19th century.  
  
 +
Some cemeteries maintain a list of stillborn children buried in their grounds but it is unusual for the actual plot to be pinpointed, let alone a headstone erected.
 +
Often children were born at home possibly with a midwife present rather than a doctor. If the children were prematurely stillborn, what happened to the babies after birth is a very sensitive and 'grey' area, it is likely that the decision was often made by the midwife. Some midwives kept a record of every confinement they attended and sometimes a note would be made of a stillborn child but not what happened to the baby.
  
An infant who draws a spontaneous breath - even just one - is not classed as stillborn.
+
If the baby was stillborn full term although it is possible that there could have been a funeral, almost certainly the parents would not have attended.
 +
Sometimes a stillborn child was placed in the coffin of an unrelated adult who was about to be buried, and although the sexton kept a list of such stillbirth burials by child's name, only he knew in which coffin the baby had been laid.
  
  
Sadly, the subject is very emotive, and in the past was not considered suitable for family conversations. Nowadays, thank goodness, we appear to be more sensitive to the grief of the parents.
+
Back to [[Creating Your Family Tree]]
  
 +
==Tracing a Stillbirth==
  
Unfortunately, until the Births and Deaths Registration Act of 1926 made stillbirths registrable from 1st July 1927, the only regulation that existed was the 1874 requirement for a declaration of stillbirth to be obtained, so that a child who had been born alive but died a short time afterwards could not be buried as a stillborn delivery.
 
  
 +
There is no index of names of stillbirths (since 1st July 1927) available for researchers, and no copy of the certificate issued on registration of the stillbirth is allowed to be made apart from exceptional circumstances, e.g., medical/genetic. In such cases a copy is available at the discretion of the Registrar General.
  
Prior to this, many such neonatal deaths went unregistered because otherwise the parent would have been liable for the cost of a birth certificate as well as a death certificate.This cost must have been beyond the means of many parents in the 19th century.  
+
A lady called Teresa Williams runs a stillbirths index (and a multiple births index). If you would like Mrs Williams to conduct a search for you, please write to her with as much information as you have, including addresses where possible, and enclose a SAE for the reply.  
  
  
Some cemeteries maintain a list of stillborn children buried in their grounds, but it is unusual for the actual plot to be pinpointed, let alone a headstone erected.
+
Mrs Teresa Williams <br>
 +
87 Pasture Road <br>
 +
North Wembley<br>
 +
Middx <br>
 +
HA0 3JW <br>
  
  
Often children were born at home, possibly with a midwife present rather than a doctor. If the children were prematurely stillborn, what happened to the babies after birth is a very sensitive and 'grey' area; it is likely that the decision was often made by the midwife. Some midwives kept a record of every confinement they attended and sometimes a note would be made of a stillborn child, but not what happened to the baby. "
+
Mrs Williams says:
 
+
"It was because I kept seeing these pathetic notices in the births columns of many national and local newspapers, especially in the second half of the 19th century, that I decided to start the stillbirths index. These notices are often the only intimation that the woman had given birth, as before the 1874 Act of Registration of Births and Deaths, there were no regulations of any kind regarding stillborn children.
 
 
If the baby was stillborn full term, although it is possible that there could have been a funeral, almost certainly the parents would not have attended.
 
Sometimes a stillborn child was placed in the coffin of an unrelated adult who was about to be buried, and although the sexton kept a list of such stillbirth burials by child's name, only he knew in which coffin the baby had been laid. "
 
 
 
=='''Tracing a stillbirth'''==
 
 
 
 
 
There is no index of names of stillbirths (since 1st July 1927) available for researchers, and no copy of the Certificate issued upon Registration of the Still-birth is allowed to be made apart from exceptional circumstances, e.g., medical/genetic. A copy is available then at the discretion of the Registrar General. "
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
There is a lady who runs a Stillbirth index (and a multiple birth index).
 
 
 
 
 
If you would like Mrs Williams to make a search for you, please write to her with as much information as you have, including addresses where possible, and enclose an SAE for the reply
 
 
 
 
 
Mrs Teresa Williams
 
87 Pasture Road
 
North Wembley
 
Middx HA0 3JW
 
 
 
 
 
If you would like Mrs Williams to make a search for you, please write to her with as much information as you have, including addresses where possible, and enclose an SAE for the reply
 
 
 
 
She says
 
" It was because I kept seeing these pathetic notices in the Births columns of many national and local newspapers, especially in the second half of the 19th century, that I decided to start the Still-births index. These notices are often the only intimation that the woman had given birth, as before the 1874 Act of Registration of Births and Deaths, there were no regulations of any kind regarding stillborn children. "
 
 
 
" The Still-births Index is really reliant upon newspaper notices for its content, the exceptions being a notation in a Parish Burial Register, or the very occasional Sexton's list of cemetery burials for children''.
 
  
 +
The stillbirths index is really reliant upon newspaper notices for its content, the exceptions being a notation in a Parish Burial Register, or the very occasional Sexton's list of cemetery burials for children."
  
 
==Obtaining Stillbirth Certificates==
 
==Obtaining Stillbirth Certificates==
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Due to the sensitive nature of stillbirth registrations, the procedure for ordering a certificate of the entry differs from other types of certificates. We will only send out the application form after we have been contacted by phone or in writing by the mother or father (if he is named on the certificate). In cases where the parents are deceased, a brother or sister can apply if they can provide their parents’ dates of death.
+
Due to the sensitive nature of stillbirth registrations, the procedure for ordering a certificate of the entry differs from other types of certificate. The GRO will only send out the application form after having been contacted by phone or in writing by the mother or father (if he is named on the certificate). In cases where the parents are deceased, a brother or sister can apply if they can provide their parents’ dates of death.
 
 
 
 
The cost of the certificate is £7.  
 
  
  
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Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
 
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
  
'''Or write to us at:'''
+
'''Or write to the GRO at:'''
  
General Register Office
+
General Register Office<br>
 +
PO Box 2<br>
 +
Southport<br>
 +
Merseyside
 +
<br><br>
  
PO Box 2
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[http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Birthandadoptionrecords/Registeringorchangingabirthrecord/DG_175614 GRO Stillbirth Information]
  
Southport
+
[https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/stillbirth-certificate-application-form GRONI Stillbirths]
  
Merseyside
+
[https://www.gov.ie/en/service/124a70-apply-for-certificates/ GRO Ireland Stillbirths]
 +
<br><Br>
 +
Back to [[Creating Your Family Tree]]

Latest revision as of 14:59, 25 September 2022

A stillbirth (according to the NHS and GRO) - is defined as, and can only be registered as such, when a baby is born dead after 24 weeks of pregnancy.


An infant who draws a spontaneous breath - even just one - is not classed as stillborn. Sadly, the subject is very emotive, and in the past was not considered suitable for family conversations. Nowadays, thank goodness, we appear to be more sensitive to the grief of the parents.


Unfortunately, until the Births and Deaths Registration Act of 1926 made stillbirths registerable from 1st July 1927, the only regulation that existed was the 1874 requirement for a declaration of stillbirth to be obtained, so that a child who had been born alive but died a short time afterwards could not be buried as a stillborn delivery. Prior to this, many such neonatal deaths went unregistered because otherwise the parent would have been liable for the cost of a birth certificate as well as a death certificate. This cost must have been beyond the means of many parents in the 19th century.

Some cemeteries maintain a list of stillborn children buried in their grounds but it is unusual for the actual plot to be pinpointed, let alone a headstone erected. Often children were born at home possibly with a midwife present rather than a doctor. If the children were prematurely stillborn, what happened to the babies after birth is a very sensitive and 'grey' area, it is likely that the decision was often made by the midwife. Some midwives kept a record of every confinement they attended and sometimes a note would be made of a stillborn child but not what happened to the baby.

If the baby was stillborn full term although it is possible that there could have been a funeral, almost certainly the parents would not have attended. Sometimes a stillborn child was placed in the coffin of an unrelated adult who was about to be buried, and although the sexton kept a list of such stillbirth burials by child's name, only he knew in which coffin the baby had been laid.


Back to Creating Your Family Tree

Tracing a Stillbirth

There is no index of names of stillbirths (since 1st July 1927) available for researchers, and no copy of the certificate issued on registration of the stillbirth is allowed to be made apart from exceptional circumstances, e.g., medical/genetic. In such cases a copy is available at the discretion of the Registrar General.

A lady called Teresa Williams runs a stillbirths index (and a multiple births index). If you would like Mrs Williams to conduct a search for you, please write to her with as much information as you have, including addresses where possible, and enclose a SAE for the reply.


Mrs Teresa Williams
87 Pasture Road
North Wembley
Middx
HA0 3JW


Mrs Williams says: "It was because I kept seeing these pathetic notices in the births columns of many national and local newspapers, especially in the second half of the 19th century, that I decided to start the stillbirths index. These notices are often the only intimation that the woman had given birth, as before the 1874 Act of Registration of Births and Deaths, there were no regulations of any kind regarding stillborn children.

The stillbirths index is really reliant upon newspaper notices for its content, the exceptions being a notation in a Parish Burial Register, or the very occasional Sexton's list of cemetery burials for children."

Obtaining Stillbirth Certificates

Due to the sensitive nature of stillbirth registrations, the procedure for ordering a certificate of the entry differs from other types of certificate. The GRO will only send out the application form after having been contacted by phone or in writing by the mother or father (if he is named on the certificate). In cases where the parents are deceased, a brother or sister can apply if they can provide their parents’ dates of death.


Phone: +44 (0)845 603 7788

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Or write to the GRO at:

General Register Office
PO Box 2
Southport
Merseyside

GRO Stillbirth Information

GRONI Stillbirths

GRO Ireland Stillbirths

Back to Creating Your Family Tree