(chīld'bĭrth‵ )

The act of giving birth to a child. In 2014, 3,985,924 babies were born in the U.S. SYN: parturition.

SEE: table - Serious Complications of Childbirth; delivery; labor.

natural c.The delivery of a fetus without the use of analgesics, sedatives, or anesthesia and less reliance on technology (and more reliance on emotional support during labor and delivery) than may be practical during stand ard obstetrical care.

SEE: Lamaze method; psychoprophylactic preparation for childbirth.

prepared c.Childbirth in which the mother, and often also the father, of the baby has been educated about childbirth, anesthesia, and analgesia during labor. The mother may choose to have natural childbirth or to receive medications or regional anesthesia.

SEE: natural childbirth; Lamaze method; psychoprophylactic preparation for childbirth.