midwife
MID-wyfe
/ˈmɪdwaɪf/
A person, typically a woman, trained to assist women in childbirth.
Modern midwives are often highly trained medical professionals who focus on natural, low-intervention births.
The story behind the word. From Middle English, 'mid' meant 'with' and 'wif' meant 'woman'. So, a midwife is literally the 'with-woman'—the person who stays with the mother during labor.
Word relationships
- birth attendant: Birth attendant is a broader term that can include doulas or untrained helpers.
Commonly confused with
- doula: A doula provides emotional and physical support but does not perform medical tasks; a midwife delivers the baby.
Word family
- midwifery (noun): The profession or practice of being a midwife.
Collocations
- certified nurse-midwife
- call the midwife
- midwife-led care
- traditional midwife
Example sentences
- "They chose a midwife because they wanted a more personalized, home-like birth experience." Birth plan
- "A midwife is a person who has successfully completed a midwifery education programme." Professional definition (World Health Organization)
Memory hook
The 'mid'-wife is 'with' the 'wife' (woman) during birth. The 'with-woman' helper.
When not to use
Do not use 'midwife' for a doctor; use 'obstetrician' if they have a medical degree (MD).
Fun facts
- In many European countries, midwives attend the majority of births, while in the US, obstetricians are more common.
Related words
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