What is the term used for the act of giving birth?

Parturition specifically refers to the act of giving birth. It encompasses the entire process that begins with the onset of labor and culminates in the delivery of the offspring. This term is commonly used in veterinary science to describe the birth process across various species, reflecting the physiological and hormonal changes that facilitate the expulsion of the fetus from the maternal body.

Gestation is the period of development of the fetus within the mother's womb before birth. It describes the time frame from conception to parturition but does not denote the act of giving birth itself. Conception refers to the initial process of fertilization, where an egg and sperm unite to form a zygote, while delivery is a more general term that can imply the act of transporting something, including a newborn, but does not specifically encompass the biological birthing process. Thus, while these terms relate to reproduction, parturition is the precise word indicating the act of giving birth.