Obstetrics (from the Latin obstare, "to stand by") is the surgical
specialty dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during
pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (the period shortly after
birth). Midwifery is the equivalent non-surgical specialty. Most
obstetricians are also gynaecologists.
Gynaecology or gynecology
(see spelling differences) refers to the surgical specialty dealing
with health of the female reproductive system (uterus, vagina and
ovaries). Literally, outside medicine, it means "the science of women".
Almost all modern gynaecologists are also obstetricians.
