midwife

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A trained person who helps women during pregnancy and childbirth.

   The midwife stayed with her throughout the long delivery.

2. 2
   noun

   A person who helps bring about a new result or development.

   She is often called the midwife of the country's democratic reforms.

From Middle English midwif, corresponding to mid (“with”) + wif (“woman, wife, female”). It appears not to be entirely clear whether the original understanding was “with-woman” in the sense of “attending/assisting woman”, or “they who are with the woman” (namely the mother).

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