Stillbirths

[moryan]

Hi,
Family legend has it that my grandfather was one of triplets, the other two did not survive.  Can someone please tell me if births/stillbirths would be registered in Middlesex in 1907?  I can't find anything in FreeBMD that would indicate that these children existed.

Thanks,
Lesley

[Gaille]

Stilbirths were registered in a seperate register which was effectivly "locked" to all but the parents of the child, or if they had both passed away any siblings.

The 'definition' of a still birth was that the child had died before or during birth - in this case they were registered in a single Certificate which was in essance a birth & Death Cert in one.

If the Child took even a single "Independant breath" it was classed as a live birth & registered as a birth & death the usual way.

Hope this helps?

Gaille

[microsunflower]

Hallo,

I have just registered so this is my first post.  I saw Stillbirths and looked because I had a stillborn baby in 1962. 

At that time, and until fairly recently I believe, stillborn children were buried in unmarked graves.  This was because the church said they had not lead a separate life.  (Not sure how this is reconciled with its attitude to abortion).  I wasn't well enough to attend the burial but it was done by my husband and an undertaker in unconsecrated ground in my Parish churchyard.  There was no clergyman present.  When my local vicar called to see me a few weeks later, as a confirmed member of the Church of England I felt let down and said so.  He said, not to worry, the baby wouldn't be where she had been left.  Apparently it was the practice to move the child when the next funeral took place and to bury the child in that grave.  I was horrified and haven't been to church since.  I would have liked to know in which grave she was buried.  As my Vicar had been away on holiday at the time he didn't know where she was and I haven't found her since.

I only tell this story because if anyone is searching for the grave of a stillborn child they probably won't find one.  Didn't mean to depress anyone, only to save them time.

[moryan]

I don't know what to say now...

[Joanna Bastyan]

Hi,

I too, as a mother of a stillborn baby felt compelled to reply.

My son was born in 2003 & although he is not registered on any birth/death registers ( I think this is done so that no-one could steal his identity - a sick idea but it has been done in the past). He does have his own grave.

Microsunflower - it is possible to trace your daughters grave. SANDS - Stillbirth & NeoNatal Death Society have information on their web page.

http://www.sandsforum.org/showthread.php?t=15573

[Barbara F]

Hello Lesley

Stillbirths were not registered until 1927 - this link may be of interest:

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LIN/civilreg.html#Stillbirth

So in 1907 you will not find a registration.  However you may be able to find a burial - if you can find the correct cemetery - which is not easy in London.

I have found the burials of many stillborn children when transcribing burial registers.

Barbara

[moryan]

Hi Barbara,
Thanks so much for your help, I will pursue that angle.

Lesley

[aspin]

I too wondered about this
My Auntie was a twin and all I know is her sister was named Heather .I have my aunties birth certificate and wondered how I would find Heathers now i know I won't get one as they were born in 1913

So sad to read your post sunflower and Joanna

welcome to rootschat



Elizabeth

[Valda]

Hi Elizabeth

If your aunt's twin, as Gaillie said, lived even for a very short time she would have had both a birth and  death certificate. You would know whether this was the case this from your aunt's birth certificate. On twins birth certificates the exact time of birth is given for each child so a record is kept of who is the youngest and who the eldest - this applies to all multiply births. If your aunt has a time of birth on her birth certificate then her twin was born alive. If she does not then her twin was a stillbirth.

The practice I believe in the past in cemeteries was to place stillborn babies into the coffins of whoever was being buried at the time. It was certainly done out of convenience, but also because of a belief that placing the baby with an adult meant there would be 'someone to look after them'. This also meant the babies could be buried in consecreted ground.


Regards

Valda