birth: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026

News •

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Facts

Also Known As	parturition • childbirth

Photos

A series of medical illustrations showing the stages of childbirth: the baby's position at the onset of labor, flexion, internal rotation of the head, extension, external rotation of the head, and the uterus immediately after birth with the placenta and umbilical cord.

Haida “slate carving”

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Topics

dilatation multiple birth presentation natural childbirth labour whelping calving labour pain Bing triplet pregnancy prenatal development aging human development human aging infant and toddler development psychological development child development Gestation puerperium

Key People

Virginia Apgar.

Virginia Apgar

American physician

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Hugh Chamberlen, the Elder

British midwife

Simpson, Sir James Young, 1st Baronet

Sir James Young Simpson, 1st Baronet

Scottish physician

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Walter Channing

American physician

anesthesia

Gertie F. Marx

American physician

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Peter Chamberlen, the Elder

French surgeon

American alligator hatchling. (endangered species; reptile; baby animal; reptile egg; animal birth; hatching)

About to Pop: How Many Babies?