as in childbirth
the act or process of giving birth to children
in olden days many women died in childbearing
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as in gestational
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Recent Examples of childbearing
Marie-Claire Beaulieu, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
Poor women’s childbearing, particularly among Black and immigrant populations, was increasingly portrayed as a driver of intergenerational poverty and social disorder.
—Sonya Borrero, STAT, 1 May 2026
Though some countries have tried to slow or reverse the trend through pro-natal policies—including cash incentives and tax breaks for childbearing, affordable childcare, and longer parental leaves—their long-term success has not been definitively proved so far.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026
Around the eleventh century, in Anglo‑Saxon England, instructions for an elaborate childbearing and mothering ritual were recorded by monks in the Lacnunga, a collection of medical texts and curative prayers.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Cleghorn notes that many Minoan women died between the ages of twenty and twenty-five, indicating that childbearing was most likely the cause of death.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Women past childbearing years often see OB-GYNs less frequently.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 13 Jan. 2026
That's because their children, who largely fall within the millennial generation, might be in the midst of their childbearing years.
—Holly Garcia, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
As many as 1 in 5 women may have uterine fibroids during their childbearing years — and those abnormal growths may have a connection not just to reproductive health but also to heart health.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Deanna Taylor, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Many of them were young women, either pregnant or of childbearing age, when the bombs fell and have lived much of their lives under a heavy shadow of fear and stigma.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Noun
In fact, for millennia the role of mothers has included not only childbearing and education but also protection over the community as a whole, especially through advocacy for peace.
—Marie-Claire Beaulieu, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
Poor women’s childbearing, particularly among Black and immigrant populations, was increasingly portrayed as a driver of intergenerational poverty and social disorder.
—Sonya Borrero, STAT, 1 May 2026
Though some countries have tried to slow or reverse the trend through pro-natal policies—including cash incentives and tax breaks for childbearing, affordable childcare, and longer parental leaves—their long-term success has not been definitively proved so far.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026
Around the eleventh century, in Anglo‑Saxon England, instructions for an elaborate childbearing and mothering ritual were recorded by monks in the Lacnunga, a collection of medical texts and curative prayers.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Cleghorn notes that many Minoan women died between the ages of twenty and twenty-five, indicating that childbearing was most likely the cause of death.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
Women past childbearing years often see OB-GYNs less frequently.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 13 Jan. 2026
That's because their children, who largely fall within the millennial generation, might be in the midst of their childbearing years.
—Holly Garcia, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
As many as 1 in 5 women may have uterine fibroids during their childbearing years — and those abnormal growths may have a connection not just to reproductive health but also to heart health.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
In the United Kingdom, there is a midwife assigned to every childbearing individual, regardless of the risk status of the pregnancy.
—Deanna Taylor, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
Many of them were young women, either pregnant or of childbearing age, when the bombs fell and have lived much of their lives under a heavy shadow of fear and stigma.
—Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childbearing
Noun
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Through comprehensive case management, Elizabeth received vital health, education, and social support, enabling her to return to school after childbirth.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
People who choose freebirth often cite reasons including a desire for greater autonomy during childbirth, negative experiences with the healthcare system, religious or philosophical beliefs or a preference for an entirely unmedicated birth experience.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
Adjective
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In her 2023 book, Dear Future Mama, Trainor detailed her rocky pregnancy, which included blood clots, blistering nipples and a gestational diabetes diagnosis.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
-
Asian Americans develop gestational diabetes at notably high rates, but even among communities of Asian descent, that risk is little known, experts told me.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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The $1,500 can be used on food, prenatal care, rent, cribs or other needs.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 June 2026
-
The remaining providers are stretched thin, and patients are traveling farther for care — often delaying prenatal visits or arriving in labor without adequate support.—
Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams,
STAT,
19 June 2026
Adjective
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Brianna, who was 9 months pregnant at the time of the incident, gave birth four days before her arraignment, her attorney said, ClickonDetroit reported.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
-
Bardem plays the sociopathic ex-convict, Max Cady, recently released after a 17-year stint for killing his pregnant wife.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Childbearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childbearing. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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