Live birth

Live birth refers to the process where a pregnancy results in the expulsion or extraction of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus. The term is primarily used in statistics, public health, and medical and veterinary literature.

Definition

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines live birth as the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life - e.g., beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles - whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached.

Statistics

Live birth rates are used in various statistical and epidemiological calculations, including the fertility rate, infant mortality rate, and perinatal mortality rate. These rates can provide insights into the health of a population and the quality of its healthcare system.

See also

• Stillbirth
• Miscarriage
• Neonatal death
• Perinatal mortality
• Infant mortality
• Maternal mortality

References

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