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DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY
Apgar Score - The numerical expression of the condition of a newborn infant, being the sum
of points gained on assessment of the heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, reflex
irritability, and color.
Birthweight - Weight in grams of fetus or infant at time of delivery (recorded either in pounds
and ounces or in grams).
Clinical Gestation - Gestation as reported on the birth or fetal death certificate as estimated
from an examination of the infant.
Computed Gestation - The number of completed weeks elapsed between the first day of the
last menstrual period and the date of delivery.
Congenital Anomaly - Physical, physiological, or metabolic abnormality existing before or at
birth.
Fetal Death - Death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product
of human conception, with 20 weeks or more gestation and/or weighing 350 grams or more.
The death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or extraction, the fetus does not
breathe or show any other evidence of life such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the
umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles. Heartbeats shall be distinguished
from the transient cardiac contractions; respirations shall be distinguished from fleeting
respiratory efforts or gasps. (Note: The grams were changed from 500 to 350 on July 28,
1995)
Infant Death - Death occurring to live-born individual of less than one year of age (neonatal
plus postneonatal deaths).
Live Birth - Complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human
conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such expulsion or extraction,
breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the
umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord
has been cut or the placenta is attached. Heartbeats shall be distinguished from the transient
cardiac contractions; respirations shall be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or
gasps.
Live Birth Interval - The period from the date of the last live birth to the current birth.
Live Birth Order - The number of children born alive to a mother, including the current child.
Low Birthweight - Birthweight less than 2500 grams (5 1/2 pounds).
Neonatal Death - Live-born infant who dies before completing four weeks (28 days) of life.
Occurrence - County and state where the event occurred.
Perinatal Death - Fetal or Neonatal death.
Plural Delivery - Second or later delivery from a multiple gestation.
Plurality - Classification of a birth by the number of children born to the mother for a single
pregnancy.
Population - The total of all individuals in a given area.
Postneonatal Death - Death occurring between four weeks (28 days) and one year of age.
Pregnancy Interval - The period from the date of last live birth or termination to the current
birth or termination.
Pregnancy Order - The number of pregnancies to a female, including the current one.
Underlying Cause of Death - Disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events
leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the
fatal injury. Classifications used are from the International Classification of Diseases, 9th
Edition (ICD-9).
VBAC - Vaginal birth after previous Cesarean Section.
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