If a woman is in her eighth month of pregnancy and the child dies in her womb, what is required of her?

Question:
The questioner says: I was in my eighth month of pregnancy, and the child died in my womb. Do I owe an expiation?

Answer:
If she was the cause of the child's death by carrying something heavy, hitting her belly, or otherwise, then she owes the expiation and the blood money for the fetus. The blood money for the fetus is one-tenth of her mother's blood money, and it is the responsibility of her paternal kin. She also owes the expiation of freeing a slave; if she cannot find one, she must fast for two consecutive months. However, if she was not the cause and the fetus was lost for a reason not attributable to her, then she owes nothing.