What does midwife mean?
A midwife is a trained healthcare professional who supports women through pregnancy, labour, childbirth, and the period immediately after birth. The role includes monitoring the health of the mother and baby, providing comfort and guidance, assisting with delivery, and identifying when medical assistance is required. Midwives may work in hospitals, birth centres, homes, or community settings, and in many countries they provide routine maternity care independently, referring complex cases to obstetricians. The word combines the elements “mid” and “wife,” with “wife” historically meaning a woman rather than necessarily a married spouse. Although the role has traditionally been associated with women, modern midwifery is an inclusive profession, and the term is increasingly used without gender assumptions. The related word “midwifery” refers to the profession and practice of caring for women and babies during childbirth.
nounA trained healthcare professional who supports women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the immediate postnatal period, providing care and assistance during delivery. In modern healthcare systems, midwives may work independently or alongside doctors and other members of the healthcare team.
- A trained healthcare professional who provides care and assistance to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
"The midwife monitored the mother's progress and helped guide her through the final stages of labour."
"She asked to see a midwife when she became pregnant."
"The hospital midwife introduced the new parents to the care available after the birth."
The standard plural changes w to v: midwife becomes midwives.
"The community team includes nurses, midwives, and doctors."
The word “midwife” literally combines “mid” and “wife”: the “wife” element once meant a woman, not necessarily a married woman.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does midwife come from?
The word comes from Middle English midwyf, formed from the elements mid and wife, with wife originally meaning a woman. The compound referred to a woman who attended to women in childbirth. Its modern sense developed alongside the professional training and formal recognition of midwifery. The term is etymologically related to wife, while the first element belongs to the same Germanic family as mid and middle.
Related word forms
How midwife is actually used
The term is used in both British and American English. In contemporary healthcare, it is generally understood as a professional role rather than as a term limited to women, although usage and qualifications vary by country. “Certified midwife” and “nurse-midwife” are common regional forms.
Easily confused with midwife
A midwife is a trained professional who assists with childbirth and provides ongoing maternity care, whereas an obstetrician is a physician who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth, particularly medically complicated cases.