Genealogy Chat

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Just received my great great grans death certificate today and she died at the age of 44 of placenta previa, haemorrage. I know this is obviously a pregnancy complication but am now wondering what happened to the baby. It is not on the following census so I am assuming it died or was stillborn. Will trawl through the death index when I have more time to see if I can find a death, but if it was stillborn can I find out more about that. Havn't had one like this before, normally just the boring old age, or cholera!!! Really feel now though for my great great gran and the family she left behind. Has anyone any experience with a death like this. Have to go to work now so will check back later. Nicky

How sad! Don't forget, if the child did live a family member may have brought it up.

HI Nicky, Placenta praevia occurs where the placenta grows low down in the uterus, sometimes completely over the cervix. Women with this condition are now monitored carefully with some being kept in hospital with small bleeds for weeks before the birth. Depending on the grade of placenta praevia the baby may be delivered by caesarian section. If a woman goes into labour with a severe pp, as the cervix dilates the placenta is becoming detached from the wall. Because it is so vascular alot of bleeding occurs. I think it is certainly possible that both mum and baby died - either a stillbirth or as a result of bloodloss after delivery. What a sad story, it's amazing how women faced these dangers time again as their family expanded. Jenny x

Hi Nicky my great gran died when she was 24 a few months after having her 4th baby, im awaiting the death cert so i can find out what she died from, my nan was only 2 when she died she didnt remember her, and nans older sister went to live with great grans parents ( since found out she was born a yr before they married so was registered in grt grans maiden name) probably why the family laid claim to her and not the others as they all had great grandads surname, great grans family always blamed my great grandad for her dying so im hoping to find out once and for all when the cert comes through.

Hi, thanks for all the replies. I would think that the baby died but will have to look through the indexes although if it was stillborn it wont be there will it, on the 1881 census my great great grandad was living with his children and the youngets was Mary 5 who was born in early 1876, this event happened late 1877 so i am assuming it would be a different pregnancy, unless anyone knows better!!! Nicky

Just found a likely birth in the right quarter my great great gran died, a little boy named James, (his grandads name). He then died in December the same year age 0. The district is South Molton in Devon which is quite tiny, feel i now need to buy these birth and death certs to make sure. How sad! Nicky .

Aw Nicky! He must have been a little fighter to come through all that. How awful that he died so young. Will you send for his certs? kind regards, Jenny :-)

I think I will have to get at least the birth cert to see if it is the same one, then the death cert if it is. Won't be for a couple of weeks have to save agan now as I have bought loads lately, you know how it is, things like food gets in the way!!!!Nicky

Hi Nicky, my greatgrandmother Alice Windsor died of childbirth haemorrhage in November 1897 after six boys, the baby a little girl named Alice died in Jan 1898 and so did Alice's mother in law at the same address (must have come to help the family) I too am saving for the death certificates. The boys were sent to Alice's mother so in three months all their lives had changed so much. So sad.

A really sad story. It might be worth trying to find a memorial inscription to see if mother and baby are buried together.

Thanks for all the replies. Yes i could try to see if they were both buried together, they are probably in Chulmleigh in Devon where they all live, not a big church so will have a look next time i'm there. Am definitley going to get the birth cert of the one i have found with parents names for ckecing points, feel i need to do this to add him to my tree. Nicky

Just received a birth cert for this little chap and indeed he was the son of my g,g gran who died whilst giving birth. Got the cert to see if a) if it was my rellie and b) to see if she died the same day as he was born.....she did, how sad. Her husband then registered her death and his birth on the same day. The little lad didn't survive long as his death, (i think) is in the next quarter. Will get this cert now to see what he died from. Next job is to see if they were actually buried together but will need to get to the church or maybe contact the Vic to see if he can help. Nicky

awww Nicky how sad! :( it's always horrible to see age at death 0 Linda

Aw Nicky, Now you can add him to your tree with the rest of his family. What a terrible time they had. Jenny

Nicky, sorry to read your sad story and this wont be much help if baby died, but on the happy side if baby survived it is likely to be a girl, I have a close friend,a couple of other friends plus a sister in law with Placenta Previea all produced girls, happily safe and sound, most were in and out of hospital and spent the last weeks in bed. Sadly in days gone by they wouldnt have known about such things. Carolyn x

Hi Carolyn. Thanks for that. The birth cert arrived today and it was definitly their son whom they called James. His birth date and her death date are the one and same, 1st July 1877 and I am pretty certain his death is then in the 4th quarter of the same year. District of South Molton in Devon, quite a small area in comparison so I am assuming it is the same. Will need the death cert to make certain, will order it as I would like to know how he died. Have added him to tree. The church where they would have been buried still have their records so I have just emailed someone at the church to see if they can help locate the plot. I would love to see that he was buried with his mum!! although not sure if this would have happened back then. WIll keep posted. Nicky

Just on a slightly different note. My mother in law's mother died during childbirth in 1937 and she was subsequently adopted. She found out she was adopted when she met a boy at the local dance when she was about 18...when her adopted mum found out the boys name she went beserk...it was her real brother...! and it was then she was told what had happened. Her older brother had been sent to live with an aunt. It is only recently that she has questionned whether what she was told was true so I managed to obtained the death certificate and it confirmed, reason for death, uterine haemorrage and confinement. Same date as mother in law born. I then obtained her real dads death certificate which showed he died a couple of years later and was quite a lot older. It said that the informant was his son and gave another name!! I have now managed to trace that he was married before and she had 2 older brothers and a sister...and the story continues. It amazes me how you set out to find something straight forward and come across lots more information...!!

Hi again. Have had the cert for this little chaps death and he died at 15 weeks from 'debility from birth marasmus' which after googling means basically malnutrition. Poor thing. I am now waiting to hear from the church to see if mum and babe were buried together, will hopefully visit in summer hols and lay flowers, says with tears in eyes!!! How sad. Nicky

If the baby was stillborn there will be no cert as the stillbirths register hadn't begun in 1916. However, there might be some indication of the baby's sex if you can find the burial record. Good Luck Merry