Definition

1. Noun:
   • The birth of a living fetus: A "live birth" is the event of a baby being born alive, showing signs of life such as breathing, heartbeat, or voluntary muscle movement, irrespective of how long the pregnancy lasted.

Usage

• The term "live birth" is used in medical, legal, and demographic contexts to distinguish births where the infant is alive at the time of delivery from stillbirths.
• It is a countable noun.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The hospital reported a significant increase in live births this year.
  • The study compared health outcomes for premature live births.
  • The certificate is only issued for a live birth.

Advanced Usage

• In demographic statistics: The "live birth rate" is a key indicator, calculated as the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population per year.
  • The country's live birth rate has been declining steadily.

Variants and Related Words

• Live-born (adj): Describing a baby born alive.
  • The live-born infant was immediately taken to the neonatal unit.

Synonyms

• Viable birth (in specific medical contexts, though "viable" often implies a specific gestational age for potential survival outside the womb).

Notes on Meaning

• The definition focuses strictly on the condition of the infant . It does not imply anything about the long-term survival or health of the baby after the birth event.
• This term is neutral and clinical; it is the standard term used in official records and health reports.

Noun

1. the birth of a living fetus (regardless of the length of gestation)