The word "obstetrics" is spelled with a silent "t" at the end. The IPA phonetic transcription for this word is /əbˈstɛtrɪks/. The initial "o" is pronounced as a schwa sound, while the "b" is pronounced as a voiced bilabial stop. The "st" cluster in the middle is pronounced as a blend of the voiceless alveolar stop and voiceless alveolar fricative sounds. Finally, the "ics" ending is pronounced as a single syllable, with a voiced alveolar affricate sound followed by a voiceless alveolar fricative sound.
Obstetrics is a field of medicine that specifically deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the overall care of women before, during, and after pregnancy. It is a specialized branch of medicine that focuses on the health and well-being of both the mother and the developing fetus.
The primary objective of obstetrics is to provide comprehensive healthcare services to women throughout their reproductive years. This includes prenatal care, where obstetricians monitor the progress of the pregnancy, perform regular check-ups, and advise on factors that could affect the mother or baby's health. Obstetricians also perform deliveries, either by vaginal birth or by cesarean section if necessary, ensuring the safe and successful delivery of the baby.
In addition to pregnancy and childbirth, obstetrics also encompasses the diagnosis and management of various reproductive disorders and complications. Obstetricians are trained to identify and treat conditions such as ectopic pregnancies, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia), and other potential complications that can arise.
The role of an obstetrician extends beyond the immediate delivery, as they also provide postnatal care to both the mother and newborn. They offer guidance on postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and newborn care.
Overall, obstetrics plays a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of women and babies during the reproductive process, from conception to delivery and beyond.
Midwifery, the branch of medicine which has to do with the care of the pregnant woman during pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The art and science of midwifery; the art of assisting women in child-birth, and treating their diseases during pregnancy.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* 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.
The word "obstetrics" comes from the Latin word "obstetricia", which is derived from the Latin verb "obstetrix" meaning "midwife". The term first appeared in English in the early 17th century, borrowed directly from Latin, to describe the branch of medicine concerned with the care of women during childbirth.