Birth

Birth is the final stage of pregnancy in mammals and humans, in which the child emerges from the uterus (the organ in which it develops) and begins to breathe independently. The term is also used when referring to the beginning of a person's life—the date of birth, place of birth, and official record of birth.

Birth has two inseparable aspects: a biological dimension concerned with changes in the body of the mother and child, and a social and legal dimension concerned with how society records, recognizes, and accounts for the new person. Many countries require birth registration by law, and it forms the basis for citizenship, nationality, and rights to education and healthcare.

Biological process

In humans, a typical pregnancy is reckoned at approximately nine months from the last day of menstruation. Labor is normally divided into three stages: the first stage, in which the cervix opens and contractions intensify; the second stage, in which the child is born; and the third stage, in which the placenta is delivered. When the child is born, the lungs begin to function, and blood circulation changes from its pattern in the uterus.

Birth can occur in different ways: vaginal birth through the birth canal, and caesarean section (surgical delivery), in which the child is removed from the abdomen when vaginal delivery poses a risk to the mother or child. The timing of birth is also significant: birth before 37 weeks is termed preterm birth, which typically requires special care.

Maternal and child health

Birth is a time when health risks are elevated. Major hazards include excessive bleeding after labor, infection, high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia), and complications related to fetal position. Factors that reduce risk include monitoring during pregnancy, trained attendance at birth, and access to facilities equipped for emergency caesarean section. Differences in maternal and infant mortality rates between countries are largely explained by access to healthcare services, not merely by biological factors.

Social and cultural dimensions

Communities mark birth through custom, ritual, and practice (xeer). These include naming ceremonies, periods of maternal seclusion following delivery, and customs regarding diet and rest. Birth also forms the basis of demographic measurement: birth rate per thousand people, and patterns of birth timing affect population size, age structure, and planning of services.