PJ investigates death of baby in Vila Verde after home birth

The Judicial Police (PJ) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a baby after a home birth in the parish of Prado São Miguel, Vila Verde municipality, Braga district, a police source told Lusa on Wednesday.

The same source added that the baby, "already several months pregnant and in an advanced stage of pregnancy," was found dead in the house on Sunday, adding that the investigation is now seeking to determine "whether the baby was stillborn or died after birth," pending the results of the autopsy.

The mother, "an adult, claimed to have hidden the pregnancy from her family." "It was a natural birth; there is no evidence that it was an induced abortion. It's important to understand whether the baby was stillborn or died after birth," the same source explained.

The young woman lived with her parents and the baby was found dead in the house on Sunday morning.