Birth
or LABOR, in physiology, is the act by which a female of the class mammalia brings one of her own species into the world. When the fœtus has remained its due time in the womb, and is in a condition to carry on a separate existence, it is extruded from its place of confinement, in order to live the life which belongs to its species, independently of the mother. The period he period of gestation is very different in different animals, but in each particular species it is fixed with much precision. At the end of the 39th or the beginning of the 40th week, the human child has reached its perfect state, and is capable of living separate from the mother; hence follows in course its separation from her, that is, the birth. An artificial birth is that which is accomplished by the help of art, with instruments or by the hands of the attendant. Premature birth is one which happens some weeks before the usual time, namely, after the seventh and before the end of the ninth month. Late birth is a birth after the usual period of 40 weeks. Although this is considered the usual time for legitimate births, the practice of the English law courts is to allow a longer time when the opinions of the faculty, or the peculiar circumstances of the case, are in favor of a protracted gestation.