Quebec Mother Forced to Prove Newborn Baby is Hers

Thinking of giving birth at home? You may think twice after hearing the story of Heather Mattingsley, a Quebec woman who is caught up in the red tape of proving her baby is actually hers, after having a home birth.

The story is recounted on an online news site known as OpenFile, and goes like this: Sunshine Rose, now five months old, still has no official birth certificate as her mother attempts to provide the proper documentation needed to register the birth. One problem is that there is no record of an accredited physician or health care professional being on hand at the birth – Mattingsley claims to have used an uncertified midwife.

Aside from this document, the rest of the paperwork seems to be in order. According to the website, Mattingsley provided a letter from a doctor saying he saw the newborn and the mother together, and the newborn appeared to be the proper age given the stated birth date; a copy of an ultrasound report from her pregnancy; and an Attestation of Birth, which was signed by a witness.

But Mattingsley is still being asked for more, including a letter from her doctor during her pregnancy and the results of a physical exam that would prove she gave birth. Unfortunately, she has neither of these documents, as she was solely under the care of her midwife during her pregnancy and has been told on two occasions by doctors that too much time has passed for any physical exam to prove she had given birth to her daughter.

At SureBaby, we’re all about a mother’s right to choose her method of delivery, but we have to wonder – does a story like Mattingsley’s give you pause in considering home birth? Do you think that the checks and measures put in place for obtaining a birth certificate are too much, or are they essential in safeguarding against fraud?

Let us know in the comments!