Death in Childbirth

[Midase]

I have a family member, quite distant, who died in childbirth. I can find no record of any child being born at the time of death. Could it be that the baby died at the same time and was never 'born'? I know where she is buried and the records only show her as being in the plot. Her details are: Harriett Duddridge (not Dudderidge) Born 1896, died 19th July 1930 aged 34. Her husband was present at the time of her death, so I assume its unlikely that the child would have been immediately adopted. They had 14 children between them, four of whom died, so they were doing quite well!

[brionne]

Do you have a copy of her death certificate,as you say her husband was present.
What is the cause of death stated on it.
Looks highly likely to be Stillborn.in which case there would be no birth details or registration.

[rosie99]

According to a post on rootschat from AntonyMMM the stillbirth register came into being c1927

[brionne]

Hi Rosie,Certainly I have one still birth circa 1930s which went to term and there is no record of it,appart from Church records which show it was buried with a non family member who happened to have a burial same day,unnamed baby,with mothers name given.
Another one lived 48 hours and was registered for birth and death.
Am sure you are correct regarding a Still born register some where for this period.

[PaulineJ]

The stillbirth register is not open to the general public.
That's why you don't see the entries.

[brionne]

How can it be accessed then.

[rosie99]

Just posting a link from Windsor & Maidenhead that gives info on obtaining a historical stillbirth certificate

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01o79/

[brionne]

Thats helpful Rosie.
If there was a Still birth,it can be clarified.
Cannot believe though that all were notified.
Although much later,during early 1960s as a student nurse,  when I was working in a Wiltshire hospital,most large foetus were collected by Porton for research purposes.How else could they discover information on medical defects/infections.

[Midase]

Yes, I have the death certificate which reads: A) Coma B) Eclampsia C) Pregnancy Childbirth No PM