What it means
A doctor trained in obstetrics, the care of pregnancy and childbirth. Many are also gynecologists, caring for the female reproductive system (OB/GYN). Obstetricians manage high-risk pregnancies, perform cesarean births and handle complications. Certified nurse-midwives also care for pregnant clients and attend births.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | OB |
|---|---|
| Spanish | obstetra |
| Also written | obstetricians |
Related terms
postpartum
The time after giving birth, usually the first six weeks, while the body returns to its non-pregnant state.
breech presentation
A position of the fetus in which the buttocks or feet, instead of the head, are lowest in the uterus.
cesarean
Relating to the birth of a baby through a surgical cut in the mother's abdomen and uterus.