childbearing

From Middle English childberyng, childbering, chyldberynge, child berynge, equivalent to child +‎ bearing.

childbearing (usually uncountable, plural childbearings)

1. The process of giving birth; pregnancy and parturition
   • 1865, Great Britain. General Register Office, Annual Report ... of Births, Deaths, and Marriages in England and Wales ... (volumes 26–30, page 243)

     From the Swedish returns (1776-1855) it appears that 100 childbearings produced 101.62 children, viz., 2.82 stillborn, 98.80 quickborn; consequently 100 quickborn children imply 101.21 childbearings.

childbearing (not comparable)

1. Of, pertaining to, or suitable for childbirth
   • 1836 Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton - England and the English

     Women in the latter stages of childbearing should not be permitted to attend the toll of the manufactories.

   • 2000 Methodology for deriving ambient water quality criteria for the protection of human health

     In these cases, fish intake rates specific to females of childbearing age are most appropriate when assessing exposures to developmental toxicants.

   • 2004 Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Stephanie Marston - Chicken Soup to Inspire a Woman's Soul: Stories Celebrating the Wisdom, Fun and Freedom of Midlife (page 256)

     Hips that in the old country would be considered good childbearing hips, but in this country are too wide.