Word
obstetrics
Phoneticsob·stet·rics
US/əbˈstɛtɹɪks/
UK/ɒbstˈɛtɹɪks/
Definition
n. the area of medicine that focuses on pregnancy and the birth of babies. It covers the care of a woman and her child before, during, and just after birth.
n. the branch of medicine and surgery concerned with childbirth and the care of women during pregnancy and the period immediately following delivery. Often paired with gynaecology as a combined medical specialty.
Examples
“She decided to specialize in obstetrics after medical school.”
“Advances in modern obstetrics have significantly reduced the risks associated with high-pressure pregnancies and complex deliveries.”
“The hospital's department of obstetrics recently implemented new protocols to ensure that neonatal care begins the moment a high-risk pregnancy is identified by the screening team.”
Examples
simple
“She decided to specialize in obstetrics after medical school.”
contextual
“Advances in modern obstetrics have significantly reduced the risks associated with high-pressure pregnancies and complex deliveries.”
complex
“The hospital's department of obstetrics recently implemented new protocols to ensure that neonatal care begins the moment a high-risk pregnancy is identified by the screening team.”
Usage
Usually takes a singular verb despite the 's' ending.
Real-World Examples
“At Marib General Hospital, maternity and obstetrics services have been temporarily suspended to free up additional resources for treating the wounded.” Etymology
From obstetric.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.