Registering a Still-birth

When a child is still-born, the doctor or midwife who was present at the birth or examined the body will issue a medical certificate of still-birth. The person registering the still-birth must take this certificate to the Registrar.

Stillbirths must be registered in the district in which it takes place, normally within 42 days. A still-birth may not be registered more than three months after it occurred.

How is a still-birth defined?

A still-born child is legally defined as a child born after the 24th week of pregnancy and who did not at any time after being born breathe or show any other signs of life (a child who breathed or showed other signs of life is considered live-born for registration purposes, irrespective of the number of weeks duration of the pregnancy).

If the still-birth occurs in Cheshire East

If the still-birth occurs at Leighton Hospital, registration can sometimes be carried out at the hospital before the mother is discharged. The midwives at the hospital will be able to advise on the procedure for this.

To book an appointment to register, or for more information, call the Registration Service on 01270 375210 or 01625 374050.

Please view this Guide to registering stillbirths from the Registrar General's Site.