Obstetrics

Obstetrics is the medical specialty focused on pregnancy, childbirth, and care of the pregnant person and baby before, during, and after birth.

Prenatal care: Health care provided during pregnancy to monitor health, identify risks, and support the pregnant person and fetus. Regular visits track maternal and fetal health across pregnancy.
Pregnancy: The state in which an embryo or fetus develops in the uterus. It is the central biological process obstetric care follows.
Induction of labor: The use of medical or mechanical methods to start labor before it begins spontaneously. Clinicians may induce labor when continuing pregnancy poses greater risk.
Midwifery: The profession providing care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, with scope varying by jurisdiction. Midwives provide much routine maternity care and attend many births.
Vaginal birth: Childbirth in which the baby passes through the vagina. It is the main alternative to cesarean delivery.
Fetal monitoring: Methods used to assess a fetus’s heart rate and well-being during pregnancy or labor. Monitoring can reveal signs that labor is placing the fetus at risk.
Placenta: An organ formed during pregnancy that exchanges oxygen, nutrients, and waste between maternal and fetal blood. Its function supports fetal growth, and its disorders can endanger pregnancy.
Epidural analgesia: Pain relief produced by medication delivered into the epidural space around spinal nerves. It is a widely used option for pain relief during labor.
Obstetrician-gynecologist: A physician trained in both obstetrics and gynecology. These physicians manage pregnancy and birth as well as reproductive health.
Home birth: Childbirth planned to take place at home, usually with a midwife or other birth attendant. Its setting changes access to emergency interventions compared with hospital birth.

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