Petition · past parliament · Department of Health and Social Care

Lower the age a stillborn baby can legally be registered, to 16 weeks old.

Closed 69 signatures

What the petition asks

A baby has to be 24+ weeks in order to be registered.

Many babies born before 24 weeks, survive. Those that don't, never legally exist.

My first baby passed away at 23 weeks and 5 days.

I was told, "he is a still born, but legally he is considered a late-term miscarriage."
When you think of a baby in utero, your mind often imagines how a baby looks at 12 weeks. My baby was healthy, had perfect proportions and would have fought strong if he had the chance.

Despite him being considered a "late-term miscarriage," I was still required to give birth to him naturally.

It is devastating to give birth (in anyway), to a baby who's cry you'll never here. To then be told he is not legally considered a human being, only a statistic.

Help us recognise our babies lives.

Timeline

10 May 2021 Petition opened for signatures
10 Nov 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 69
Status Closed
Department Department of Health and Social Care
Opened 10 May 2021
Closed 10 Nov 2021

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.