child-bearing

A woman is past child-bearing age.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • The process of giving birth to children: "child-bearing" refers to the act or process of giving birth to offspring, particularly in humans.

2. Adjective:

   • Relating to the capacity or period of giving birth: "child-bearing" describes something associated with the ability or timeframe in which a person can conceive and give birth.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She is past child-bearing and no longer plans to have children. (She is beyond the age or stage of life when she can give birth.)
  • Modern medicine has made child-bearing safer than in previous centuries. (The act of giving birth has become less risky due to medical advances.)

• Adjective:

  • Women of child-bearing age should take folic acid supplements. (Women who are capable of becoming pregnant should take these supplements.)
  • The doctor discussed child-bearing health with the patient. (The doctor talked about health related to the ability to give birth.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be past child-bearing": to no longer be able to give birth, typically due to age (e.g., menopause).

  • The woman was past child-bearing, so she focused on her career. (She could no longer conceive children.)

• "child-bearing years": the period of a person's life when they are physically capable of giving birth.

  • During her child-bearing years, she had three children. (During the time she could give birth, she had three children.)

Variants and Related Words

• Childbirth (n): the act of giving birth to a baby.
  • Childbirth can be a challenging but rewarding experience. (The process of delivering a baby.)
• Childbearing (adj, alternative spelling): same as "child-bearing," often written without the hyphen.
  • Childbearing women need proper nutrition. (Women who are giving birth or capable of giving birth.)

Synonyms

• Pregnancy: the state of carrying a developing fetus in the womb.
  • Pregnancy lasts about nine months. (The period of child-bearing.)
• Maternity: the state of being a mother; related to childbirth.
  • She took maternity leave after child-bearing. (Leave taken after giving birth.)

Related Idioms

• "To bear a child": to give birth to a baby.
  • She bore a child after a long labor. (She gave birth to a child.)
• "To be with child": an archaic phrase meaning to be pregnant.
  • She was with child and prepared for child-bearing. (She was pregnant and preparing for birth.)