What is the legal definition of a stillbirth?
A stillborn child is legally defined as a child born after the 24th week of pregnancy who did not show any signs of life after being born.
Why is registration necessary?
Stillbirth registration began in 1927 to help protect infant life. As well as being an important source of historical and statistical information, it gives the parents the opportunity to have their child officially acknowledged and to give him or her names if they wish to.