Midwife: Gender and Professional Role

Midwife (Old English mid "with" + wif "woman") literally means "with woman." Historically and currently, the vast majority of midwives are women, but the profession is not gender-exclusive. Men can be midwives (sometimes called "midhusbands" colloquially, but professionally "midwife" applies to all genders).

Midwives provide prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, and well-woman care. Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) and Certified Midwives (CMs) are credentialed in the US.