The word obstetrics is derived from the Latin term 'obstetric
meaning 'midwife'; this is also associated with the verb "obstare"
which means to 'stand by' or to 'stand in front of a pregnant
woman'. The much older term 'midwifery' was used instead of
obstetrics until the latter part of the 19t h century in both United
States and Great Britain. Even today in England, the term
'midwifery' carries the same meaning as that of obstetrics
