childbirth

American  

[chahyld-burth] / ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜrθ /

noun

• childbirths
  plural

1. an act or instance of bringing forth a child; parturition.

   a difficult childbirth.

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childbirth British  

/ ˈtʃaɪldˌbɜːθ /

noun

1. the act of giving birth to a child

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• childbirths
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of childbirth

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at child, birth

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

childbirth childbirths

Her father, a military commander, is killed by the British Army during the French Revolutionary Wars of the late 18th century, and her mother dies during childbirth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

By building those skills over the first year after childbirth, the team hoped patients would eventually feel confident arranging appointments, seeking primary care, and navigating the healthcare system without additional assistance.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

Sarah Anderson’s “darkly comic debut,” Joanne Kaufman writes, offers “matter-of-fact hilarity” as it peers into a future in which childbirth is one more workplace benefit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

What makes Kinsella's return so unique are the obvious challenges - and changes to the body - pregnancy and childbirth brings.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

Seema didi was cringing beside her, but Dimple couldn’t say if it was because of the projectile partially digested food or that encouraging wisdom about childbirth.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

It may be no accident that the recent plunge in childbirths began in 2008, during the Great Recession, or that it continued through the slow recovery, the pandemic and political disruptions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 2, 2025

But that movement has been silenced as President Xi Jinping’s administration has tightened controls on civil society and promoted conservative family values in a bid to boost childbirths.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 28, 2023

Two grueling childbirths drove her to seek surgery.

From New York Times ● May 24, 2019

Three childbirths later, she was diagnosed with near-fatal renal complications.

From Washington Times ● Feb. 6, 2018

I remarked particularly the broad shoulders and athletic arms of the woman, whose many childbirths had left no traces upon her comeliness.

From Campaigns of a Non-Combatant, and His Romaunt Abroad During the War by George Alfred Townsend

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