Petition · past parliament · Department of Health and Social Care

Change legal definition of stillborn to include all delivered babies

Closed 226 signatures

What the petition asks

We want the Government to change the legal definition of stillborn to include all delivered babies, so that parent's whose child who is stillborn under 24 weeks can register this, and receive support through the Children’s Funeral Fund for England.
I recently lost my daughter at 22 weeks. I had to give birth to her and I am currently planning her funeral, but I get no help as she wasn't 24 weeks old. I think this is disgusting.

It is traumatising enough for a parent to lose a child and have to give birth to them, but then to be told you can't register the death of your baby because your baby wasn’t 24 weeks can add to a parent's distress.

We want the Government to change the legal definition of stillborn to include all delivered babies, so they are recognised in law.

Timeline

14 Jun 2023 Petition opened for signatures
14 Dec 2023 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 226
Status Closed
Department Department of Health and Social Care
Opened 14 Jun 2023
Closed 14 Dec 2023

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