Stillbirths

[Karen01]

Question - would a stillbirth still be registered, ie would they be on freebmd? Would a birth and death be on there and would you know if it was a stillbirth?

Thanks
Karen

[stanmapstone]

The formal registration of stillbirths began on 1 July 1927. (Births and Deaths Act 1926).

Stan

[stanmapstone]

To find the details you would have to buy a copy of the certificate. However
Due to the sensitive nature of stillbirth registrations, only the mother or father of the child is able to apply for a certificate. The parent must be named on the birth certificate to do this. Should the parents be deceased, a brother or sister can apply if they can provide their parents’ dates of death.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/07v8/

Stan

[Karen01]

If they happened between 1890-1911 would they appear anywhere?
Karen

[stanmapstone]

No they would not.

Stan

[Karen01]

Thank you
Karen

[nanny jan]

Hi,

I have found some stillbirths in a burial register; they were shown as "stillborn child of xxxxxxxxx".   This was 1850-1860 in Bradford, Yorkshire.


Nanny Jan

[stanmapstone]

If they happened between 1890-1911 would they appear anywhere?
Karen

Are you looking at the number of children in the 1911 Census? The 1911 instructions were to enter details of "Children born alive to present Marriage"

Stan

[stanmapstone]

The 1874 Registration of Births and Deaths Act [37 & 38 Vict. Ch. 88]
Section 18; Burial of Deceased Children as Still-born.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1874/pdf/ukpga_18740088_en.pdf


18. A person shall not wilfully bury or procure to be buried the body of any deceased child as if it were still-born.
A person who has control over or ordinarily buries bodies in any burial ground shall not permit to be buried in such burial ground the body of any deceased child as if it were still-born, and shall not permit to be buried or bury in such burial ground any still-born child before there is delivered to him either,-
(a.) A written certificate that such child was not born alive, signed by a registered medical practitioner who was in attendance at the birth or has examined the body of such child ; or
(b.) A declaration signed by some person who would, if the child had been born alive, have been required by this Act to give information concerning the birth, to the effect that no registered medical practitioner was present at the birth, or that his certificate cannot be obtained, and that the child was not born alive ; or
(c.) If there has been an inquest, an order of the coroner.
Any person who acts in contravention of this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding ten pounds.

Stan