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midwife Definition

mid·wife (midwīf′)

noun pl. -·wives′-wīvz′

a person (now, esp., a specially trained nurse) whose work is helping women in childbirth

Etymology: ME midwyf < mid, with < OE (< Gmc mithi < IE *meti- < base *me- > mid, Ger mit, Gr meta) + wif, woman (see wife): basic sense “woman with, woman assisting”

transitive verb -·wifed′ or -·wived′, -·wif′·ing or -·wiv′·ing

  1. to assist as a midwife in the birth of (a child)
  2. to help bring about or bring into being to midwife a resolution to a conflict

midwife Synonyms

midwife

n.

accoucheuse, attendant, practitioner, assistant, obstetrician, one who delivers, sage-femme (French).

midwife Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • practice: The political backdrop provided by her stories describes the context in which black midwives practiced and continue to practice.
  • qualify: Newly qualified midwives worry that they will be found out for not knowing ' enough ' .
  • educate: I think someone should educate the midwives against this.
  • employ: If the Trust has a midwifery shortage it can employ an independent midwife, as other Trusts have done.
  • ring: Graham got back at about 9:30, and we decided to ring the midwife and let her know what was going on.
  • ask: If you are in any doubt ask the midwife, she may be able to guide you better.

Preposition: in

attendance: Additional drivers will be provided overnight so that, for instance, a maternity patient could be transferred with a midwife in attendance.

Adjective modifier

  • domiciliary: On returning to the UK Mary worked as a domiciliary midwife.
  • qualified: Separate module handbooks highlight the differing needs of qualified midwives.
  • registered: Even in England some women choose to birth their babies without registered midwives or doctors in attendance.
  • trained: Trained midwives will provide information at ante natal checks and use future appointments to help women to kick the habit.
  • independent: I mourn what has happened to independent midwives with the refusal by the RCM to ensure them.
  • experienced: Not rocket science you cry, every experienced midwife knows that!

Modifies a noun

shortage: We already have an acute nursing and midwife shortage in the UK that is affecting patient care.

Noun used with modifier

  • on-call: So I called the delivery suite who told me that Rachael, the on-call midwife, would ring me back.
  • trainee: The change in policy followed a landmark legal victory won by three trainee midwives, backed by UNISON, in June.
  • community: The service was provided in addition to routine visits by the community midwife.
  • consultant: EH asked if a new consultant midwife would be appointed now that Sue Burvill had left the Trust.
  • NHS: We were signed up with the Brierley midwives, a group of six NHS midwives in southeast London specializing in home birth.
  • student: Gloria arrived at 8.30 am with her student midwife, Sophie.

Browse dictionary entries near midwife

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  2. Midwest City
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  4. midweek
  5. Midway Islands
  6. midway
  7. midtown
  8. midterm
  9. Midsummer Day
  10. midsummer
  1. midwifery
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  6. miff
  7. MIG
  8. MIGA
  9. might
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