registering a stillborn??????

**lizeyhud** · 30-11-2009 07:43

at what gestation do you need to register a birth legally ?
i always thought it was over 20 weeks but is that wrong?

**BigRedV** · 30-11-2009 07:45

In NSW you get a birth and death certificate after 20 weeks.

**SomewhereOverTheRainbow** · 30-11-2009 07:52

Yeah it's 20 weeks. We lost our son at 19 and couldn't register his birth.

**lizeyhud** · 30-11-2009 10:34

i am so sorry for the loss of your son i think it really should 18 weeks myself or if you want to register your baby why shouldnt you be able to?
to me its a living person from the moment of conception no more no less a person that you or i
so its 20 weeks i thought so are all the states the same?

**tahlias mum** · 01-12-2009 12:07

totally lizeyhud i am on the gold coast and its 20weeks here so i think all states must be the same..

**Mrs Little** · 02-12-2009 15:10

It's 20 weeks in WA too. We didn't get a get death certificate though...it just said 'not born alive' on the birth certificate.

Mrs Little.

**SpotTheOcelot** · 27-12-2009 14:50

I know here in VIC it is from 20 weeks and the birth certificate also acts as the death certificate.

You are also eligible for the Bereavement Payment... a form of the Baby bonus.

**TrulyBlessed** · 27-12-2009 14:58

Here is the Australian defination of a still born.

In Australia any baby weighing more than 400 grams, or more than 20 weeks in gestation is classed as a stillborn, & must have its birth registered

I think this definition should be changed though. I delivered my son at 16 weeks he was fully formed & I still went through a labour & he was still born. So in the governments eyes my son never existed but yet he was buried & has his own plot & headstone.

**Rileysmuma** · 15-02-2010 12:45

Im not 100% sure of SA. But i think its 24 weeks. I gave birth to my daughter at 24weeks and we got the baby bonus for her and we registered her birth and death but a friend that went through the same thing at 23weeks didnt get the paper work to register her little girl

**mumstheword4** · 23-02-2010 12:07

hi ladies i just did a bit of research for you. In SA the laws are this

STILLBORN BABIES

A stillborn baby is one of twenty weeks or more gestation or at least 400 grams weight at delivery, that has not breathed after delivery. Before twenty weeks or less than 400 grams, the birth is registered as a miscarriage.
After the birth of a stillborn child:

the birth must be registered in the normal way
if the doctor requests an autopsy, a consent form must be signed by the parent(s)
if the parents request a cremation, the doctor writes a letter saying cremation can be performed
the parent(s) or next of kin should approach a funeral director requesting burial.

The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages does not issue birth or death certificates for stillborn babies, but if a baby breathed, even for a moment, and died soon after, the fact of birth and death is registered.

It was on the law comissions website and can be found at http://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch38s04s07.php
i am sorry for your losses.