What is "live birth"

Live \Live\ (l[imac]v), a. [Abbreviated from alive. See Alive, Life.]

1. Having life; alive; living; not dead.

   If one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it.
   --Ex. xxi. 35.

2. Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as, a live coal; live embers. `` The live ether.''
   --Thomson.

3. Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as, a live man, or orator.

4. Vivid; bright. `` The live carnation.''
   --Thomson.

5. (Engin.) Imparting power; having motion; as, the live spindle of a lathe; live steam.

6. (Elec.) Connected to a voltage source; as, a live wire.

7. (Broadcasting) Being transmitted instantaneously, as events occur, in contrast to recorded.

8. (Sport) Still in active play; -- of a ball being used in a game; as, a live ball.

9. Pertaining to an entertainment event which was performed (and possibly recorded) in front of an audience; contrasted to performances recorded in a studio without an audience. Live birth, the condition of being born in such a state that acts of life are manifested after the extrusion of the whole body. --Dunglison. Live box, a cell for holding living objects under microscopical examination. --P. H. Gosse. Live feathers, feathers which have been plucked from the living bird, and are therefore stronger and more elastic. Live gang. (Sawing) See under Gang. Live grass (Bot.), a grass of the genus Eragrostis. Live load (Engin.), a suddenly applied load; a varying load; a moving load; as a moving train of cars on a bridge, or wind pressure on a roof. Live oak (Bot.), a species of oak ( Quercus virens), growing in the Southern States, of great durability, and highly esteemed for ship timber. In California the Quercus chrysolepis and some other species are also called live oaks. Live ring (Engin.), a circular train of rollers upon which a swing bridge, or turntable, rests, and which travels around a circular track when the bridge or table turns. Live steam, steam direct from the boiler, used for any purpose, in distinction from exhaust steam. Live stock, horses, cattle, and other domestic animals kept on a farm. whole body. live wire

   1. (Elec.) a wire connected to a power source, having a voltage potential; -- used esp. of a power line with a high potential relative to ground, capable of harming a person who touches it.

   2. (Fig.) a person who is unusually active, alert, or aggressive.

n. the birth of a living fetus (regardless of the length of gestation) [ant: spontaneous abortion]

In human reproduction, a live birth occurs when a fetus, whatever its gestational age, exits the maternal body and subsequently shows any sign of life, such as voluntary movement, heartbeat, or pulsation of the umbilical cord, for however brief a time and regardless of whether the umbilical cord or placenta are intact.

This definition of the term "live birth" was created by the World Health Organization in 1950 and is chiefly used for public health and statistical purposes. Whether the birth is vaginal or by Caesarean section, and whether the neonate is ultimately viable, is not relevant to this statistical definition. However, the term "live birth" was in common use long before 1950.

In the United States, the term "born alive" is defined by federal statute.

Live birth may refer to:

• Vivipary
• in human reproduction, the birth of a living child (as opposed to stillborn), see Live birth (human)