Still born child

[Guy Etchells]

That is correct Coombs the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1926 states it this way-

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"still-born" and "still-birth" shall apply to any child which has issued forth from its mother after the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy and which did not at any time after being completely expelled from its mother, breathe or show any other signs of life.

Cheers
Guy

[coombs]

Expelled from its mother.  Very civilised in 1926. 

[Guy Etchells]

Expelled from its mother.  Very civilised in 1926. 

The same expression is used in the 1953 Act.
It is used out of necessity.

For example one could not use the term born as this could cause a problem with a birth by caesarean section.

In a similar way one may commonly come across the somewhat callous but again essential term disposal certificate.

The terms have to be simple to avoid confusion or legal argument.
Cheers
Guy

[Selina]

I am not clear as to how a person who wishes to establish whether a sibling born in the late 1930's, for whom neither a birth nor death registration can be found, can search for the child as a stillbirth.

I can see how a parent, brother or sister can apply for a stillbirth certificate but without definite knowledge that there was such a stillbirth or even the exact year it might have taken place can one ask for a search covering, say, 3 or more years?   Or is it necessary to order a certificate on the off-chance just giving a date range i.e. 1935-1940 and would they accept that wide a date span?

Selina

[trish58]

I was looking for a death only a couple of days ago on SP, and the entry below mine was a child who lived only 2 minutes, which again verify's that as long as the child took a breath it had to be registered as a birth & death.

Trish

[Guy Etchells]

I am not clear as to how a person who wishes to establish whether a sibling born in the late 1930's, for whom neither a birth nor death registration can be found, can search for the child as a stillbirth.

I can see how a parent, brother or sister can apply for a stillbirth certificate but without definite knowledge that there was such a stillbirth or even the exact year it might have taken place can one ask for a search covering, say, 3 or more years?   Or is it necessary to order a certificate on the off-chance just giving a date range i.e. 1935-1940 and would they accept that wide a date span?

Selina

Yes, one has to apply to the Registrar General giving the approximate period for the still-birth.
I would also suggest mentioning in one's letter the reason for the interest.

cheers
Guy

[Lesley123]

Very interesting thread. During a recent seach I have found my great grandmother had a set of twins that I had never heard of and on looking for a death certificate both show up as being aged 0. This was in 1926- so would they have been stillborn then if they show on a death certificate or would I need to obtain the death certificate to show this?

[carol8353]

They may have been born early as twins and only survived a short time,not necessarily still born though.They may also have died at any age up to 12 months and it would still show age 0.

Only the cert would tell you the reason for their deaths.

Carol

[Lesley123]

Thanks Carol
I assumed they were both stillborn until I read this thread. Plus never knew there were twins in that side of the family until now either!