What term describes the act of animals giving birth?

The term that specifically refers to the act of animals giving birth is parturition. This process involves the various physiological changes and stages a mother goes through as she delivers her offspring. Parturition is a crucial stage in the reproductive cycle, marking the culmination of gestation, which is the period of development within the womb before birth occurs.

In contrast, gestation refers to the entire period of pregnancy during which the embryo or fetus develops, but it does not specifically describe the act of giving birth. Fertilization is the process in which sperm and egg unite to form a zygote, and insemination is the introduction of sperm into the reproductive tract of a female, which precedes fertilization. Therefore, parturition precisely captures the moment of birth itself, distinguishing it from the other related reproductive processes.