Obstetric medicine

Obstetric medicine, similar to maternal medicine, is a sub-specialty of general internal medicine and obstetrics that specializes in process of prevention, diagnosing, and treating medical disorders in with pregnant women. It is closely related to the specialty of maternal-fetal medicine, although obstetric medicine does not directly care for the fetus. The practice of obstetric medicine, or previously known as 'obstetric intervention,' primarily consisted of the extraction of the baby during instances of duress, such as obstructed labor or if the baby was positioned in breech. Obstetric medicine, similar to maternal medicine, is a sub-specialty of general internal medicine and obstetrics that specializes in process of prevention, diagnosing, and treating medical disorders in with pregnant women. It is closely related to the specialty of maternal-fetal medicine, although obstetric medicine does not directly care for the fetus. The practice of obstetric medicine, or previously known as 'obstetric intervention,' primarily consisted of the extraction of the baby during instances of duress, such as obstructed labor or if the baby was positioned in breech. Obstetric physicians may provide care for chronic medical conditions that precede the pregnancy (such as epilepsy, asthma or heart disease), or for new medical problems that develop while the pregnancy is already in progress (such as gestational diabetes, and hypertension). By the 19th century, obstetrics had become recognized as a medical discipline in Europe and the United States. Formal training in obstetric medicine is currently offered in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada. Obstetrics gains its origins from the observation that, through out historical record, women have accompanied other women during the birthing stage of their pregnancy. Similar findings can be observed in Anthropological research of tribal birthing practices, ancient Egyptian depictions, and even scriptures in the Old Testament illustrate the presence of a woman figure, be it doctor or relative, present among the birthing of a baby. During the 17th century, doctors were weary about the connection between midwifery and medicine, and thus failed to acknowledge it's credibility. The practice of women assisting women through labor was viewed as uneducated. However, as time progressed, a new perspective among pregnant patients grew, where by they sought for mid-wives to deliver their babies. For example, in Wales and England, under 1% of people delivered their babies at home, which was a testament to the rise of midwives, that led to the present day professional field of Obstetrics. The roles of physicians in the process in delivering babies expanded as 17th century aristocrats utilized the best medical practitioners they could find.