Is it true most Americans don't know what a midwife is?

[purplepoppy]

Today a friend told me very few people in America know what a midwife is. I've had a little Google and they exist in America but aren't as commonly used as in the UK. So without googling it, do you know what one is?

Yes

No

Updates

+1 y

This isn't a knock at Americans just want to know if what my friend said was true.

[zeitgeist057]

Two of my siblings were delivered at home with the assistance of a midwife.

I had a girlfriend who had a baby at home, but the doula she had arranged didn't show up, so I delivered the baby with her, just the two of us (and her 7 year old daughter).

I have no idea about the general education level of your average American, but I wouldn't be surprised if you did a poll and people didn't know common knowledge stuff like "What is margarine?" or "What does a stenographer do?". It's stuff you assume everyone would know, but not everyone does. How deep that ignorance goes? I have no idea.

[TonyV]

Yeah I dontnthink most teen or young 20s girls that didn't have the foresight to use a some form of birth control and got pregnant on accident are going to hire a midwife.
And that seems to be how most kids are born over here right now, by a bunch of idiots that don't take birth control or "don't use condoms cause it feels better", and let's not forget the dumbass's that believe in the pull out method.

[WhatTheHeckkkk]

It’s fairly common here in America. And I think many people know about them, or have heard of them. Well, at least from my knowledge. But I don’t think they’re used as often as other countries? A lot of parents rely on hospitals though, and don’t feel the need to have a midwife… However, since home births are becoming pretty popular now, midwives and doulas are in high demand.

[SaoirseS]

I highly doubt it’s true. I think most Americans do know. As popular as home births are, midwivery is pretty common here.


Death midwives (or death doulas) are rapidly becoming fairly common here as well.

[OlderAndWiser]

And you friend knows that because he read it on the internet? Americans know what a midwife is but it is true that they are not employed with as great a frequency here in the US.

[purplepoppy]

Actually she's a nurse and was told it by an American colleague. Personally I doubt it because I think most people would have at least heard the term on tv

[OlderAndWiser]

Yes, we all know what a midwife is and they are still in use though perhaps not as much as in the UK or on the continent.

[Apple1996]

I had a midwife for some of my pregnancies but didn't care for them. I prefer a real doctor

[lightbulb27]

we outsource everything here... its the economic design. Want a baby... outsource to sperm bank. Need your lawn mowed... hire it out. Want to have your baby delivered, go to a hospital (corporation). Midwife is another option for that process.

[Kaamraj]

The practice of mid-wife use to fall on experienced women of the community who used to deliver babies at home. That job has been taken away by hospitals with their scientifically trained medical staff. So, the term midwife is still common in places of the world where childbirth is done at home.

[Red_Arrow]

It is a woman who is engaged but has not yet married. So she is midway between single and married. Mid-wife.

[ArrowheadSW]

I think most adults know what one is. But true it really isn't that common here. I've known a couple of them over the years. And I know a lady who was going to go to grad school for it but she changed her mind.

[Anonymous]

My first wife had a midwife who was also by a strange coincidence, my escort. After the birthing, she said, "Well I've got some bad news and good news." I said, "Give me the bad news first." She said, "The baby that just popped out of your wife is half black." I said, "Damn, the good news?" She said, "It's dead."

[Bluemax]

Overwhelmingly most Americans know what a midwife is. My friend's sister is one. She practices in British Columbia but was trained in Seattle. We know what they are, we just don't use them much.

[Emilyis]

I do and there are thousand of them here in the USA. They usually work within a Dr's care but not directly with the Dr. They stay in touch just in case.

[libsaretards]

I'd estimate 70ish% of Americans do not know what a midwife is. A midwife is a woman who helps the mother give birth at home instead of in a hospital. The liability of a midwife is too high in the U. S.

[whirled_up_girl]

I don't know, I know what a midwife is from working in nursing and healthcare but I guess I don't know what the general public knows about them.

[bolverk]

As you say it is a common term in the UK, they are nurse practitioners who specialise in birth care for the mothers and new born baby’s, usually without the intervention of a gynaecologist, unless there are complications during the birth.

[thedaffodils]

Most Americans know a lot (they think so ) they got an opinion about every subject.. They love to talk and comment a lot... 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

[ChrisMaster69]

It probably depends on what insurance premium they are on.

[SaoirseS]

Good point. Most major insurance carriers here will cover use of midwives during pregnancy. Midwives must be trained, certified and licensed by a state board (at least where I live) as a Certified Nurse Midwife or Independent Certified Nurse Midwife in order to bill and collect payment from health insurance providers. Home births aren't the majority, but they're pretty common here. I think most people who have been around a day or two have at least heard of a midwife.

As I mentioned in another comment, another movement (although fairly new) is the rise of "Death Midwives" (aka: Death Doulas, Death Coaches, End-of-Life Coaches, etc.) promoted by the International End of Life Doula Association (INELDA). To me it's nothing more than a variation of home nursing/home hospice care. At this point health insurance carriers will not pay for use of death doulas. Who knows what the future holds, meanwhile I just sit back and watch the catfights over use of the term "midwife" in caring for the dying by midwives who assist in the delivery in babies - they insist only those who help deliver babies ought to have the right to use the term midwife.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Yes I do... Women may not use midwives as much these days but it was more common to have a midwife back in the day

[MTC29]

The wife of one of my colleges used a midwife for birth #2 and #3, but that is the only case of a midwife I am personally aware of.

[Lliam]

Oh, yes, I know what a midwife or doula is. I know women who used them. But I don't think it's a common practice here in the U. S.

[KrisPW]

I think most of us know what they are, and a few use them, but they are not as popular anymore.

[AviatorTom]

I agree most Americans don't use midwives for birth but I'm pretty sure the people (Americans) that I know at least know what a midwife is.

[IveGotNoName]

Had to make sure it was what I thought it was by translating it to my language, yes I know what it is

[andreasderjuengere]

I'm not ''American''. And so I do know what a midwife is.
What I DON'T know is the linguistic background that made her profession a...''-wife''

[MCheetah]

Yes, we know what that is. A midwife is a medically trained pregnancy buddy.

[BraveRiver]

There’s a midwife on staff in every hospital on the labor and delivery floor. Only people who won’t know haven’t had kids. They wouldn’t know about a Doula either.

[KostasKouvalis]

Very well may be. I've heard that term before, and I know someone told me what it was, but I completely forgot.

[worldscolide]

I do know what one is, I just don't see the use for one. Not when most mothers give birth in the hospital.

[Andres77]

Most likely.
There are a lot of ignorant folks around here.

[exitseven]

Even I know what a midwife is and I practically live under a rock.

[call_me_scar]

I don't know but I couldn't tell you what it is off the top of my head

[Jerre]

I voted A. The word midwife used to be quite common, but rarely used today. Nurse has just taken over for midwife.

[Pudsmucker]

My wife had a midwife to help her with her children she bore.

[Jamie05rhs]

Yes, I know what a midwife is. I was delivered by a midwife.

[driven159]

people in general don't know too much if their cell phone doesn't tell them they don't know a thing

[OddBeMe]

Don’t know. But most Americans can’t name the three branches of govt. so sure.

[EnglishEuropean]

If Americans don't know what a midwife is, how do they have babies?

[Snakeyes7]

I've heard of it but not enough to know what it is.

[jimmy2]

Because of Biden regime they want to teach 4 and 5 years old about reasicum and gays that all fucked ip

[dolemite89]

we know what it is that’s just not been a common thing for a century lol

[TX651]

Other than the TV program on PBS. on KLRU there probably wouldn't be much known at all.

[Anonymous]

i know you enjoy any opportunity mocking the US but this one ain't it chief

[katiesmuff]

I don't know, I know I know what a midwife is!

[Anonymous]

Maybe young immature people don't know, most people do know that

[Guy13]

Is that the Girlfriend or Second Wife 😉

[Msputiton]

They know of midwives as concept only

[Anonymous]

Don't believe everything you hear.

[Meatunnel69]

isn't that like a side bitch? 🇺🇸

[Likes2drive]

I know what it is but surprised to see how few do

[ManHater]

American's are relatively dumb people.

[GrantArmstrong]

"American's"

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it's a wife under 5'3".

[Anonymous]

Yes Americans know what the fuck midwives are.

[Jltakk]

Most people know what a midwife is.

[Anonymous]

No, I think most Americans know what a midwife is.

[jamartheg]

I have no idea what a mid wife is

[mistixs]

Yes I know

[legalboxers]

my mom was one

[ihatemylife123]

a 2nd wife to bang

[Fuentes]

No its not true

[SignedAutographs]

Yeah

[Anonymous]

yes -