2. ‘Late miscarriages’

Cemeteries and crematoria have always been required to keep records of all stillborn babies and babies who die after birth. However, they have not been, and are still not, required by law to keep records of babies who were born dead before 24 weeks gestation (until 1992, 28 weeks gestation). In law, these babies are regarded as ‘late miscarriages’. They cannot be registered as stillbirths and the law does not require them to be formally buried or cremated. In recent years there has been greater understanding of the significance of the death of a baby at any stage of pregnancy and so more ‘late miscarriages’ have been formally buried or cremated and proper records are more likely to have been kept. But sadly, if your baby was born before 1992 and before 28 completed weeks of pregnancy, there may not be a record of burial or cremation.