liveborn

Liveborn is a term used in obstetrics and perinatal medicine to describe an infant that shows signs of life at birth. A live birth, or liveborn infant, results when the product of conception is expelled or extracted and then demonstrates life signals such as breathing, a heartbeat, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or movement.

The World Health Organization defines live birth as the complete expulsion or extraction from the mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such expulsion or extraction shows any sign of life. Signs of life include breathing, a heartbeat, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or voluntary movement. This definition is used in international statistics and informs birth registration and perinatal care practices.

By contrast, a stillbirth occurs when a fetus dies before or during birth and shows no signs of life. The distinction between live birth and stillbirth is important for medical care, legal classification, and vital statistics. Liveborn infants may require immediate neonatal assessment and care, and the birth contributes to neonatal and infant mortality statistics.

Legal and administrative considerations vary by jurisdiction. In many places, the presence of signs of life at birth determines a live birth for registration purposes, though some laws reference gestational age or birth weight thresholds for certain rights or recognitions. In common usage, the term emphasizes the birth event’s outcome (life) rather than the duration of life after birth.