midwifery

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

midwifery
    n 1: the branch of medicine dealing with childbirth and care of
         the mother [syn: {obstetrics}, {OB}, {tocology},
         {midwifery}]
    2: assisting women at childbirth

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Midwifery \Mid"wife`ry\ (?; 277), n.
   1. The art or practice of assisting women in childbirth;
      obstetrics.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Assistance at childbirth; help or cooperation in
      production.
      [1913 Webster]