( CNN ) -- A woman who gave birth to a stillborn boy was left distraught after she discovered his body was kept in a jar for four years by the hospital . Jo-Ann Burrows believed for years that her son had been cremated before making the grim discovery about his fate . The mother-of-five is now taking legal action against the hospital authorities in Hampshire , southern England , the UK 's Press Association reported Thursday . PA reported that Ms Burrows had daughter Ellie in April 2004 at the Hythe Birthing Centre , in Hampshire , but gave birth to the stillborn twin two days later at home . She said that an ultrasound scan taken the previous December had not revealed that she was carrying a twin , according to PA. After the stillbirth , Ms Burrows , 44 , was taken to the Princess Anne maternity hospital in Southampton , also in southern England , where she gave her consent for the body to be cremated . PA reported that she has spent the past four years asking for the funeral papers and ashes . The 44-year-old is now organizing a naming ceremony and funeral for the stillborn , whose twin sister survived . Ms Burrows was quoted in her local newspaper , the Southern Daily Echo , as saying : `` This experience has made me suicidal , if it was n't for my friends and family I would n't be here . `` I kept asking for my baby 's funeral papers because I was always worried that he might be in a jar somewhere . I still could n't believe it when I found out . '' She was informed through her solicitor in February that the hospital still had the baby and has now filed a medical negligence claim against Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust . It claims the Trust failed to `` exercise reasonable care and skill when performing the ultrasound and also focuses on Ms Burrows ' repeated requests for confirmation of the cremation , '' PA reported . A Trust spokeswoman told the news agency : `` Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust confirms that legal proceedings have been brought against it by Ms Jo-Ann Burrows . `` The chief executive has already written to Ms Burrows apologizing for shortcomings in the treatment provided to her and , in particular , for the circumstances which led to Ms Burrows ' second twin not being cremated in 2004 as they had previously advised and for the distress this discovery may have caused . ''
Woman 's stillborn baby kept in jar for four years by hospital . Jo-Ann Burrows believed for years that her son had been cremated . The mother-of-five is now taking legal action against the hospital authorities .