midwife

Everyday

1. A trained nurse or health worker who helps women while they are pregnant, while they give birth and just afterwards. tree →
2. (figurative) A person who helps something new to come into being. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life a midwife visits a pregnant mum, helps the baby be born and checks the new baby. In stories, especially in history, the village midwife delivered babies at home. Phrases: community midwife, the midwife delivered the baby.

Examples

• The midwife helped my baby brother be born. tree →
• Mum saw the midwife every few weeks before the birth. tree →
• The midwife weighed the newborn baby. tree →
• My aunt is a midwife at the hospital. tree →
• In the old village, the midwife came to people's homes. tree →
• The midwife listened to the baby's heartbeat. tree →
• Men can be midwives too. tree →

Note

Irregular plural: midwives (f to v), like wife/wives. «Mid-» here once meant «with», so midwife = «with the woman». Both men and women can be midwives.

In Jewish tradition

The Hebrew midwives of Egypt, Shiphrah and Puah, are told by Pharaoh to kill Hebrew baby boys. Midwives also help at the births of Perez and Zerah.

Interpretation. The rabbis praise the midwives for fearing God and refusing the order. Some commentators say they were Jochebed and Miriam.

Examples

• And the midwives said unto Pharaoh: 'Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them.' (Torah EXO.1.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it came to pass, when she travailed, that one put out a hand; and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying: 'This came out first.' (Torah GEN.38.28, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Irregular plural: midwives (f to v), like wife/wives. «Mid-» here once meant «with», so midwife = «with the woman». Both men and women can be midwives.