obstetrician
ob-stuh-TRISH-un
/ˌɒbstəˈtrɪʃn/
A physician who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
An obstetrician is a surgeon and medical doctor, whereas a midwife may have different levels of medical training.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'obstetrix' (midwife), which literally means 'one who stands before'. This refers to the person standing in front of the mother to catch the baby as it is born.
Word relationships
- OB: OB is the common medical shorthand for obstetrician.
Commonly confused with
- midwife: An obstetrician is a medical doctor/surgeon; a midwife is a trained professional who usually handles low-risk births.
Word family
- obstetrics (noun): The branch of medicine concerned with pregnancy and childbirth.
Collocations
- consult an obstetrician
- board-certified obstetrician
- obstetrician-gynecologist
- obstetrician's office
Example sentences
- "Because her pregnancy was considered high-risk, she was referred to a specialist obstetrician." Medical referral
- "The obstetrician performed an emergency C-section to ensure the safety of the infant." Career description
Memory hook
The 'OB' 'stands' 'before' the 'Trician' (technician) to help the baby. The birth doctor.
When not to use
Do not confuse with a 'gynecologist', who treats general female reproductive health. Many doctors are 'OB-GYNs' (both).
Fun facts
- The term 'obstetrician' didn't become common until the early 19th century; before that, men who assisted in births were called 'man-midwives'.
Explore more words
Optometrist, Pediatrics, orthodontist, pediatric, orthopedics, paramedic
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