Obstetrical
/ˌɒb.stəˈtrɪk.əl/noun
Relating to pregnancy, childbirth, or the care of women during labor and after delivery.
Did you know?Latin obstetrix meant “midwife” and was traditionally connected with obstare, “to stand before,” evoking the midwife’s position before the woman giving birth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-
“To stand or remain upright”
Classical Latin
Latin
obstare
“To stand before, stand in the way, or oppose”
Classical Latin
Latin
obstetrix
“Midwife; literally associated with one who stands before”
Classical Latin
Latin
obstetricus
“Relating to a midwife or childbirth”
17th Century
English
obstetric
“Relating to midwifery or childbirth”
17th–18th Century
English
obstetrical
“Relating to obstetrics, pregnancy, or childbirth”