How Do You Spell MIDWIFE?

Pronunciation: [mˈɪdwa͡ɪf] (IPA)

The word "midwife" is pronounced /ˈmɪdˌwaɪf/. The IPA transcription shows that the first syllable is stressed, with the "i" sound being short, like in the word "sit". The second syllable has a long "i" sound, like in the word "life". The "f" at the end of the word is pronounced with a voiceless consonant, which means that the vocal cords do not vibrate. Despite its spelling, "midwife" is pronounced differently from the similar-looking word "midwife" with a long "i" sound in the first syllable.

MIDWIFE Meaning and Definition

  1. A midwife is a healthcare professional who specializes in assisting and supporting women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. The term "midwife" originates from the Old English words "mid" (meaning "with") and "wif" (meaning "woman"), highlighting the core aspect of their role in providing continuous care for women throughout their reproductive journey.

    Midwives play a crucial role in promoting and maintaining maternal and infant health, ensuring safe and positive childbirth experiences. They possess extensive knowledge and skills in prenatal care, monitoring the health of both mother and baby, as well as providing emotional support and guidance throughout the pregnancy. During labor, midwives offer physical and emotional support, utilizing various techniques like massage, relaxation, and providing pain relief options as needed. They also assist in delivering the baby, monitoring the progress, and ensuring the well-being of both the mother and the newborn.

    Moreover, midwives provide postpartum care, helping women with breastfeeding, managing newborn care, and addressing any concerns or complications that may arise after childbirth. They are advocates for women's health, empowering mothers to make informed decisions about their care and offering personalized support based on their individual needs and preferences.

    Midwives can work in various settings, including hospitals, birthing centers, clinics, and even provide home births. Their holistic approach to maternity care emphasizes the natural and normal physiological processes of childbirth, while also recognizing the importance of medical interventions when required. Overall, midwives are recognized as essential members of the healthcare team, providing compassionate and skilled care to women during the transformative journey of motherhood.

  2. A female who assists women in child-birth.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for MIDWIFE *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for MIDWIFE

Etymology of MIDWIFE

The word midwife comes from Middle English midwif, which combines two Old English words: mid, meaning with or among, and wif, meaning woman. The term midwife originally referred to a woman who assists other women during childbirth. The Middle English word was derived from the Old English phrase mid wif, which directly translates to with woman. Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word have evolved to its current form, midwife.

Plural form of MIDWIFE is MIDWIVES

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