birth (redirected from birth size)

birth (berth) a coming into being; act or process of being born.

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complete birth  entire separation of the infant from the maternal body (after cutting of the umbilical cord).

multiple birth  the birth of two or more offspring produced in the same gestation period.

postterm birth  birth of an infant at or after 42 completed weeks (294 days) of gestation.

premature birth , preterm birth birth of an infant before 37 completed weeks (259 days) of gestation.

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birth (bûrth)

n.

1. The emergence and separation of offspring from the body of the mother.

2. The act or process of bearing young; parturition.

3. The circumstances or conditions relating to this event, as its time or location.

4. The set of characteristics or circumstances received from one's ancestors; inheritance.

5. Origin; extraction.

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birth

a coming into being; the act or process of being born. See also parturition.

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birth canal

the canal through which the fetus passes in birth; comprising the uterus, cervix, vagina and vulva.

birth cohort

see cohort.

birth control

a term rarely used in dealing with animals. Instead see population control, contraception.

birth defects

see congenital defects.

birth difficulties

dystocia.

birth injury

occurs to the fetus during birth. Includes rib fracture and meningeal hemorrhage.

birth interval

the interval between succeeding parturitions. See also calving interval.

multiple birth

the birth of two or more offspring produced in the same gestation period.

birth order

the chronological order of births in a multiple birth. May have significance in causing stillbirths if the intervals between births are prolonged because of inertia.

premature birth

expulsion of the fetus from the uterus before termination of the normal gestation period, but after independent existence has become a possibility. In humans prematurity is defined as a pregnancy of less than 37 weeks in a pregnancy normally lasting 40 weeks.

birth process

comprises maturation of the fetus, relaxation of the bony pelvis and associated ligaments, softening and relaxation of the cervix, vagina, vulva and perineum, correct disposition of the fetus, contractions of the uterine myometrium and finally the only component under voluntary control, contraction of the abdominal muscles.

birth rate

the number of births during one year for the total population (crude birth rate), for the female population (refined birth rate), or for the female population of reproductive age (true birth rate). Not a term much used with reference to animals. See calving, lambing rate.

birth size

stature, including height at withers, crown to tail head length at birth.

birth weight

the weight at birth. A significant determinant of survival in any species and of the occurrence of dystocia. See also prolonged gestation.