Obstetrics
/ˌɒb.stəˈtrɪks/noun
The branch of medicine concerned with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.
Did you know?Obstetrics comes through Latin obstetrix, meaning “midwife,” traditionally connected with obstare, “to stand before,” though the exact historical development of that association remains debated.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-
“To stand or be standing”
Classical Latin
Latin
obstāre
“To stand before, stand in the way, or confront”
Classical Latin
Latin
obstetrix
“A midwife; literally associated with one who stands before”
Late Latin
Latin
obstetricus
“Relating to a midwife or childbirth”
17th Century
English
obstetric
“Relating to childbirth and midwifery”
18th Century
English
obstetrics
“The medical discipline concerned with childbirth”