Final answer:
When a baby is lost in the womb at term, it is called a stillbirth, rather than a birth or an abortion. An abortion is the intentional termination of a pregnancy, whereas a stillbirth is an unintended fetal death. The term birth usually implies a live baby being delivered.
Step-by-step explanation:
If someone loses a baby in the womb at term, the event is neither considered a birth nor an abortion in the conventional sense. A full-term loss is typically referred to as a stillbirth. A stillbirth occurs when a fetus has died in the uterus, during labor, or delivery after reaching the age of viability—around 24 weeks of gestation, in most cases.
An abortion is the intentional ending of a pregnancy, known as an elective procedure or a medically indicated one if it's done for health reasons. In contrast, a stillbirth is not an intentional act. The term birth implies a live baby being delivered, which is not the case in a stillbirth. While the term 'birth' may still be used administratively for the process of delivery, the crucial difference lies in the fact that the baby is not alive at delivery.
The question of terminology also reflects the abortion debate, a contentious issue viewed through various lenses including biological, political, legal, and moral perspectives. Those who support the right to abortion often refer to the term 'fetus', whereas opponents who view the fetus as an unborn child believe it possesses full rights of personhood. Importantly, the legal frameworks established post-Roe v. Wade determine the regulation of abortion based on fetal viability, not to be confused with the medical definitions of birth or stillbirth.