Forensically relevant unexpected delivery after unrecognized or denied pregnancy

The authors report on two cases of supposed unknown pregnancy, in which the newborns were found dead in the lavatory by the emergency physician. Besides the classical questions of newborn's autopsies concerning vitality, viability and cause of death, position was to be stated towards the probability of an unexpected birth. In the first case the mother's statement of not having been aware of her pregnancy was plausible considering the general circumstances such as corpulence, continued bleedings and intact family situation; autopsy proved a (rare) twin stillbirth as a result of fetal hypoxaemia caused by grave placental dysfunction and misinsertion of the umbilical cord. Contrary to this, in the second case, a live birth, a denial of pregnancy was more likely to be assumed due to misinterpretation of typical symptoms of pregnancy in combination with professional and private stress.