The word 'midwife' simply means 'with woman'.
Midwives are trained healthcare professionals who specialise in normal pregnancy and birth. A midwife can be male or female.
Their key role is to look after a pregnant woman and her baby throughout her antenatal care, during labour and birth; and for up to 28 days after the baby has been born.
As long as everything is normal in pregnancy, a midwife can provide all antenatal care.
If complications arise, a midwife will refer the pregnant woman to a doctor who is trained to deal with special situations.
What are the different types of midwife?
Within the NHS there are both hospital and community midwives.
Hospital midwives are midwives who are based in a hospital obstetric or consultant unit, a birth centre or midwife-led unit.
They work in the antenatal clinic, labour ward and postnatal wards.
Community midwives typically work in teams and provide a degree of continuity of care. During pregnancy they see you either at home or at a clinic.
When you go into labour they are available for a home birth, or in a few places, they may come into the labour ward in the hospital to be with you.
Once your baby is born, they'll visit you at home for up to 10 days afterwards.
Community midwives also provide postnatal care for women who have been looked after during labour by hospital midwives.
Private independent midwives are used by some pregnant women. They work independently of the NHS and typically with women planning a home birth.
Depending on where you live and exactly what services you are going to buy, a home birth with an independent midwife can cost between £2,000 and £5,000. You will still be entitled to NHS treatment if you chose to use an independent midwife.
A doula is not a trained midwife, but is trained to support you before, during and after your child is born. Doulas are not available on the NHS.
Where do most births take place in the UK?
Most midwife-assisted births today still take place in hospital or midwifery units, but some women prefer to give birth at home.
The Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists support home births for women with uncomplicated pregnancies, and there are no laws that say that you have to go into hospital to give birth to your baby.
If you do decide to give birth at home - and your doctor and midwife agree to it – you must always have a plan for how to get to hospital in case problems occur during the birth.
What relationship will I have with my midwife?
Your midwife needs to be respectful, responsive and accepting of your wishes whenever medically possible.
It is vital that you and your midwife have a good relationship since this will help to make you feel safe and enable you to relax, aiding delivery.
What training has my midwife had?
Many midwives train as nurses before becoming midwives, but increasing numbers now qualify as a midwife without qualifying as a nurse first by specifically studying midwifery.
Student midwives are based at university and are studying for a degree in midwifery.
Once qualified, a midwife must be able to care for women throughout pregnancy, birth and during the postnatal period too, as well as care for newborn babies.
He/she must be able to detect problems and summon medical help if needed, and be trained in emergency procedures herself.
Midwives also have a role in health education and preparation for parenthood, such as teaching antenatal classes.
Contacting a midwife
If you become pregnant, see your GP or practice nurse and you can then be booked into what is called a booking clinic with a midwife.
They will start the process of antenatal care and arrange for scans and other routine tests that occur during pregnancy.
If you are well, and have no problems in pregnancy then you should not need to see an obstetrician (a doctor who specialises in childbirth) while you are pregnant or giving birth.
A typical antenatal regimen involves being seen by your midwife every four weeks until 28 weeks of pregnancy, then every fortnight until 36 weeks, then weekly until baby is born.
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