Midwifery
Midwifery is a profession that provides health care for women, especially during pregnancy and childbirth. Midwives (practitioners of midwifery) have assisted women in giving birth. Midwives base their practice on the understanding that pregnancy and childbirth are natural processes and health care should be personalized to meet the needs of a woman and her family. While the practice of midwifery differs worldwide, most midwives provide prenatal care, assist the birth process, and offer emotional and psychological support to a woman and her family during the birth experience. In the United States a midwife may also perform gynecological checkups, including breast examinations and pap smears , provide birth-control advice, manage the specific needs of menopause , and, in some cases, serve as a primary care provider.