Genealogy Chat

Does anyone know from when stillbirths had to be registered? see below

It was either 1927 or 1929 - not sure which. Kath. x

My grandmother had stillborn twin boys before she had my dad (b 1938) She married 2nd Q 1934 and I've trawled through the new ancestry bmd from then to 1936 - still got 1937 to go, but it occurred to me that they perhaps wouldn't be there if these births weren't registered. It's such a taboo subject, I only knew about them when I had a full-term stillborn son in 1994. It's important that these little beings aren't forgotton. Mine was Benjamin Thanks for any light you can shed.. Sarah

Thanks Kath, I'll start on 1937 then. Do you think they'd be registered as 'male' if they hadn't been given names? Sarah

i have nudged a few threads about stillbirth for you. If you just search stillbirths you will find a few threads. Marion

If they were stillbirths, then even if they were registered they wouldn't be in the normal GRO indexes. Stillbirth records are usually only released to the parents, or if the parents are dead then to a brother or sister of the stillborn child. If you ring the GRO at Southport and ask for the section to do with stillbirths, they are very helpful. Kath. x

Thanks Kathleen & Marion, I've been reading the threads you nudged for me. I saw an address in one of them, I'll try writing to them for some information. Thanks again Sarah

You are so right Sarah - I have not been through it myself (thankfully), but your little Benjamin and others like him should not be forgotten. My little sister lived for only 8 hours apparently - It was before I was born but I cannot imagine how parents must feel when this happens. We should all be thankful for what we have - but remember that others may not be so lucky. Dea Xxx

Stillbirth register is closed. But if a baby is born alive, even if it only lives for 2 minutes, it has a birth certificate and a death certificate in the general births and deaths register. nell