Genealogy Chat

As I mentioned in my previous post, my grandmother had a number of stillbirths in the 1920s in Hull. A friend of mine found the church where they would have been buried and she searched the records. There was no separate stillbirths register, they were just added to the burial record of the person they were buried with. The burial record had the words 'plus still' or similar added, no name or even if it was a girl or a boy. Sad, but that is how they did it back then. I believe that more recent stillbirths are treated differently. If you know the date when they were buried, you could look at the registers for that date and see if any have 'still' listed with them. If there was more than one on that date, then you will have no way of knowing which grave your stillbirth was buried.

My sister was stillborn in 1958 and after a lot of searching I was able to see her burial entry in the local cemetery records. Whilst the plot where she was buried was not recorded, the staff were able to identify a small area where burials had taken place that week. I was also told that there would have been a short non denominational burial service, not just put into the plot without ceremony. For me it was bad enough not being able to find an exact location, but the thought of her simply being added to a burial as an afterthought was horrible. Glad to say the staff put my mind at rest that she had been buried with some dignity. I am sure the same care would have been taken in most cases.

I imagine that if the baby was considered to have been born alive it would a) be registered and b) be listed in the burial register as well as having its death registered. Not sure if still born babies were listed in burials - not having been alive they would not be considered to have had a soul. nell

TO ~♥*Cutie Kissy~Toes*♥~ OK so I have now established that he would of been buried with someone else. Would his burial have been registered in the parish records still? If it was, I could then maybe find the grave in which he was buried (if there was only one burrial that took place that day or week, a lond shot I know but worth a try) Janet

I think this question has been answered ? He would have been buried with the next buriel to take place. Did you say that the Mother died at same time ? ....if so, MAYBE the two of them were buried together ? ... Elaine ;-)

THANKS EVERY-ONE FOR YOUR HELP ON PREMATURE BIRTH. My next question is....would he have been buried in his own grave and have a head stone or would he do you think be buried in an unmarked grave. thanks once again for the help

Lesley, My grandmother had a number of stillbirths after my mother was born due to rhesus negative. One boy lived a couple of days and I have his birth and death certificates. My mother remembers that when grandmother had a stillbirth, grandfather carried the baby from the hospital to the cemetery and the baby was buried with anyone who happened to be buried at the time. I have found no records of these stillbirths, someone local has checked the register, but most were recorded without a name. I think it was 1927 when compulsary records for stillbirths has to be made, but these are not available to the public.

My husbands brother was born prematurely in 1946, and lived 12 hours. The registrar very helpfully put as cause of death 'prematurity - 7 month baby', so we knew he had been born 2 months early I'm sure Nell is right in saying that if the baby lived 14 hours, then it must have been at least 7 months gestation in those days, as they wouldn't have had all the help that there is these days. Kath. x

I'm not a midwife, but a premature baby that lived 14 hours must have been able to breathe. Most prem babies were at risk because their lungs weren't developed. So I would think in 1875 the baby would have to be at least 7 months. nell

HI, is there a Midwife out there who could help me. I have a death cert and it states that death was caused by premature birth. The baby lived for 14 hours. Can you tell me roughly how many weeks early the baby could of been. The death was in 1875 Thanks Janet

Many thanks. The birth I was looking for was in 1902, and it would have been about 6 months gestation - so considered unviable at the time. The mother died at this time, of complications with the pregnancy. So this is probably the end of the road for that bit of research. Thanks so much, though. Lesley.

Lesley If a baby is born alive it's birth is registered. If it dies afterwards it is registered as dead. I don't think viability comes into it - if it is breathing it is viable. My husband's elder brother lived for 2 minutes and his birth and death were registered the same day. Stillbirths weren't registered until 1927 and access to the stillbirth register is strictly controlled. For more info: www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/stillbirths/ nell

If you search this board for a thread called "still births - some answers" it should answer most of your questions. I believe stillbirths weren't registered until the 1920s, and then on a special register which is closed to the public. As for premature babies, if they took just one breath then they SHOULD have birth and death certificates, but most probably weren't registered unless they clung on for a few days. They'd have been buried in someone elses grave at their funeral, and would not have had a headstone or marker.

Can anyone tell me when it became compulsory to register still and premature births in England? Also, what happened to the child in case of premature birth if it was not considered viable (i.e younger than 28 weeks). How old would the foetus need to be, to be registered? Thanks for any assistance. Lesley in Australia.