What term describes the process of childbirth?

The term that describes the process of childbirth is "labor." Labor refers to the series of physiological changes and muscular contractions that occur in the mother’s body to facilitate the delivery of the baby. This involves three stages: the dilation of the cervix, the actual delivery of the baby, and the delivery of the placenta.

Gestation refers to the period of development of the fetus within the womb, which occurs before labor starts. Delivery is also related to childbirth, but it specifically points to the moment when the baby is actually born, which is a part of the broader labor process. Fertilization is the initial process where the sperm and egg unite, leading to the development of the embryo, but it occurs long before labor begins. Thus, labor encompasses the entire process leading up to and including delivery, making it the most accurate term to describe childbirth in its entirety.