State now recognizes births of stillborns

Destrehan woman fought for measure

Sunday September 28, 2003

By Patty Stohlman
Contributing writer

Most states do not recognize mothers of stillborn infants as mothers.

Michele Detillier of Destrehan learned that when her baby was stillborn.

But thanks to her efforts and those of two national organizations, Mothers in Support and Sympathy and the National Stillbirth Society, the Louisiana Legislature has passed a law to provide mothers with a birth certificate for their stillborn infants.

"I was just devastated when my baby, Celeste, was born and I had to leave the hospital without her," Detillier said. "Before I left I asked a nurse if she needed to know my baby's name for the birth certificate. She responded, 'Oh, that's not necessary.' That comment only added to my heartache."

Knowing that she would be issued a death certificate but not a birth certificate for a life that she carried further added to Detillier's pain.

"Knowing I was leaving her alone and nameless with strangers who did not think her worthy of a name was pure torment," she said.

Not wanting other mothers to face the same pain, Detillier took action.

In May, when the National Stillbirth Society called her to give testimony to the Senate and House health and welfare committees about the heartache of her unacknowledged stillbirth, Detillier and her husband, Jody, were more than happy to travel to Baton Rouge.

"After I told them my story they immediately passed the bill in both committees," she said.

When the bill was signed into law by Gov. Foster on July 29 it was called the MISSing Angels Act.

Detillier and her husband were invited to Baton Rouge to witness the signing.

The new law made it official that mothers who give birth to stillborn infants would be able to get a special type of birth certificate.

On Aug. 15, Detillier received what she had long been waiting for in the mail. It was the first Louisiana "certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth."

Her daughter, Celeste, finally had a birth certificate.

Detillier wants to spread the word to other mothers of stillborn infants that the new law is retroactive.

There are qualifications that must be met before obtaining the certificate.

A baby must have completed at least 20 weeks of gestation, must weigh 350 grams or more, and the parents must have a fetal death certificate.

To obtain a certificate write to: State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health Vital Records Registry, P.O. Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160-0630. Attention: Valerie Helmsetter.

In the letter parents must include the name of the child identified as deceased, or if the child is not named include the gender of the child identified as deceased; the date and location of the stillbirth; and the name of the mother and the father.


Michele Detillier: Instrumental in having a law passed to provide birth certificates stillborn infants.

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