Congratulations, You're Pregnant! Let the decision-making begin.
Choosing a health care provider to care for you and your baby
during your pregnancy is one of the biggest decisions you'll
make. In the United States, women's choices once were limited to
an obstetrician or a knowledgeable family doctor. But in recent
years midwives became another alternative for women with low-
risk, uncomplicated pregnancies. Is a midwife a viable option
for you? The History of Midwives The word "midwife" comes from
Old English and means "with woman." Midwives have helped women
deliver babies since the beginning of history. References to
midwives are found in ancient Hindu records, in Greek and Roman
manuscripts, and even in the Bible. As early as 1560, Parisian
midwives had to pass a licensing examination and abide by
regulations to practice. Not all midwives had this level of
education, however. English midwives received little formal
training and weren't licensed until 1902. America inherited the
English model of midwifery.