ostetrica

Ostetrica is the Italian term for a midwife, a health professional who specializes in pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Ostetriche are dedicated to supporting women through prenatal care, labor, delivery, and aftercare, with a focus on safe, evidence-based management of normal pregnancies while recognizing and referring complications when they arise.

In their practice, ostetriche provide prenatal assessment and monitoring of maternal and fetal health, offer education on nutrition, childbirth, and parenting, and help women develop birth plans. During labor, they monitor progress, assist with delivery, provide emotional and physical support, and employ non-pharmacological methods for pain relief. After birth, they oversee postpartum recovery, support breastfeeding, and offer guidance on infant care and family planning. They work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, birth centers, and community clinics, and often collaborate with obstetricians, pediatricians, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive care and timely referral if complications occur.

Training and regulation of ostetriche vary by country, but in many systems they are university-trained health professionals who obtain a professional qualification to practice midwifery and are registered with a national or regional professional body. The role of the midwife is central to maternal and neonatal health, with emphasis on physiological birth, preventive care, and early recognition of risk. Across different health systems, ostetriche may operate with varying degrees of autonomy and in different team configurations, but all share the aim of supporting safe and positive childbirth experiences.