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==Origin==

==Origin==

The term ''midwife'' is derived from [http://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 [http://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  

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]):

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.

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.

In the term midwife, the morpheme -wife is pronounced as expected (play /waɪf/), but midwifery is normally pronounced /mɪdˈwɪfᵊri/ (mid-WIF-(ə)ree).[2]

In the term midwife, the morpheme -wife is pronounced as expected, but midwifery is normally pronounced /mɪdˈwɪfᵊri/ (mid-WIF-(ə)ree).

Midwives are specialists in low-risk pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, although they are trained to recognize and deal with deviations from the norm as well as certain high risk situations. Obstetricians, in contrast, are specialists in illness related to childbearing and in surgery.[3] The two professions can be complementary, but may be at odds in some countries, where obstetricians are taught to "actively manage" labor, while midwives are taught not to intervene unless necessary. Most midwives are familiar with the process of physiological management and the use of gravity in aiding the process of labor.[4]

Midwives are specialists in low-risk [[pregnancy]], [[childbirth]], and postpartum, although they are [[trained]] to recognize and deal with deviations from the norm as well as certain high risk situations. Obstetricians, in [[contrast]], are specialists in illness related to childbearing and in [[surgery]]. The two [[professions]] can be complementary, but may be at odds in some countries, where obstetricians are taught to "actively manage" labor, while midwives are taught not to intervene unless [[necessary]]. Most midwives are familiar with the [[process]] of physiological management and the use of [[gravity]] in aiding the [[process]] of [[labor]].

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]].

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.

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]