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| ==Origin== | | ==Origin== |
| The term ''midwife'' is derived from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English]: ''midwyf'', literally "with-woman", i.e. "the woman with (the [[mother]] at [[birth]]), the woman assisting" (in Middle English and [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English], ''mid'' = "with", ''wīf'' = "woman"). | | The term ''midwife'' is derived from [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English]: ''midwyf'', literally "with-woman", i.e. "the woman with (the [[mother]] at [[birth]]), the woman assisting" (in Middle English and [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._600-1100.09THE_OLD_ENGLISH.2C_OR_ANGLO-SAXON_PERIOD Old English], ''mid'' = "with", ''wīf'' = "woman"). |
− | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century 15th Century] | + | *[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_century 15th Century] |
| ==Definitions== | | ==Definitions== |
| *1: the art or [[act]] of assisting at child[[birth]]; also : obstetrics | | *1: the art or [[act]] of assisting at child[[birth]]; also : obstetrics |
| *2: the art, act, or [[process]] of producing, bringing forth, or bringing about | | *2: the art, act, or [[process]] of producing, bringing forth, or bringing about |
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− | According to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Confederation_of_Midwives International Confederation of Midwives] (a [[definition]] that has also been adopted by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization World Health Organization] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_of_Gynecology_and_Obstetrics International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics]): | + | According to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Confederation_of_Midwives International Confederation of Midwives] (a [[definition]] that has also been adopted by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization World Health Organization] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_of_Gynecology_and_Obstetrics International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics]): |
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| A ''midwife'' is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery [[educational]] program that is duly [[recognized]] in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed [[course]] of [[studies]] in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally [[licensed]] to [[practice]] midwifery. | | A ''midwife'' is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery [[educational]] program that is duly [[recognized]] in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed [[course]] of [[studies]] in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally [[licensed]] to [[practice]] midwifery. |
| ==Description== | | ==Description== |
− | '''Midwifery''' is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care health care] [[profession]] in which providers offer [[care]] to childbearing [[women]] during [[pregnancy]], labour and [[birth]], and during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postpartum postpartum] period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the [[mother]] with breastfeeding. | + | '''Midwifery''' is a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care health care] [[profession]] in which providers offer [[care]] to childbearing [[women]] during [[pregnancy]], labour and [[birth]], and during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postpartum postpartum] period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the [[mother]] with breastfeeding. |
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− | A practitioner of midwifery is known as a ''midwife'', a term used in reference to both women and men, although the [[majority]] of midwives are female. In addition to providing care to women during pregnancy and [[birth]], many midwives also provide [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_care primary care] to [[women]], well-woman care related to reproductive health, annual [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gynecology gynecological] exams, family planning, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopausal menopausal] care. | + | A practitioner of midwifery is known as a ''midwife'', a term used in reference to both women and men, although the [[majority]] of midwives are female. In addition to providing care to women during pregnancy and [[birth]], many midwives also provide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_care primary care] to [[women]], well-woman care related to reproductive health, annual [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gynecology gynecological] exams, family planning, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopausal menopausal] care. |
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| In the term midwife, the morpheme -wife is pronounced as expected, but midwifery is normally pronounced /mɪdˈwɪfᵊri/ (mid-WIF-(ə)ree). | | In the term midwife, the morpheme -wife is pronounced as expected, but midwifery is normally pronounced /mɪdˈwɪfᵊri/ (mid-WIF-(ə)ree). |
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| Midwives refer women to general [[practitioners]] or obstetricians when a pregnant woman requires care beyond the midwives' area of expertise. In many parts of [[the world]], these professions work together to provide care to childbearing women. In others, only the midwife is available to provide [[care]]. Midwives are trained to handle certain more [[difficult]] deliveries, including breech births, twin births and births where the baby is in a posterior position, using non-invasive [[techniques]]. | | Midwives refer women to general [[practitioners]] or obstetricians when a pregnant woman requires care beyond the midwives' area of expertise. In many parts of [[the world]], these professions work together to provide care to childbearing women. In others, only the midwife is available to provide [[care]]. Midwives are trained to handle certain more [[difficult]] deliveries, including breech births, twin births and births where the baby is in a posterior position, using non-invasive [[techniques]]. |
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− | For low risk [[births]], compared with obstetricians, midwives offer lower maternity care cost, lower [[intervention]] rates, reduced [[mortality]] and morbidity as a result of fewer interventions, and fewer recovery complications.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwifery#Etymology] | + | For low risk [[births]], compared with obstetricians, midwives offer lower maternity care cost, lower [[intervention]] rates, reduced [[mortality]] and morbidity as a result of fewer interventions, and fewer recovery complications.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwifery#Etymology] |
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| [[Category: Health]] | | [[Category: Health]] |