Live birth – the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life such as heartbeat, umbilical cord pulsation, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. A live birth is not necessarily a viable birth.

Stillbirth - death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception. The death is indicated by the fact that after such separation 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. Only fetal deaths where the product of conception has a birth weight of 500 grams or more or the duration of pregnancy is 20 weeks or longer are registered in Canada.

Miscarriages - pregnancies that end by spontaneous abortion before 20 weeks gestation. Some pregnancy rates are calculated using an estimate of miscarriages based on survey data. This is because most miscarriages do not require in-patient treatment.

Therapeutic abortion - the deliberate termination of a pregnancy resulting in the death of the fetus or embryo. Also called induced abortion.

Fetal loss - includes stillbirth, miscarriage, and ectopic pregnancy. Definitions vary according to whether ectopic pregnancy is included or not.

Pregnancy - the gestation process, from conception through to the expulsion of the product of conception from the body whether through miscarriage, therapeutic abortion, cesarean section, or vaginal delivery.