birthing

American  

[bur-thing] / ˈbɜr θɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or instance of giving birth, especially by natural childbirth.

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Etymology

Origin of birthing

First recorded in 1925–30; birth + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

The state plans to later expand to additional hospitals and birthing centers.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

Doctors at St. Louis-based Mercy, which runs birthing hospitals in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, began noticing an uptick in families turning down the vitamin K shot during the pandemic.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

I see her death as a profound failure of the systems meant to protect birthing mothers.

From Slate • Jan. 11, 2026

Conscience became the Christian’s guide to religious truth, replacing church and tradition, and birthing a radical individual autonomy that could challenge governments and rulers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 24, 2025

The problem with the sheep was that in the shock and pain of birthing, if she was left in the herd, she would often lose track of her lamb and the lamb would die.

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen