What is the name for a doctor who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth?

A doctor who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth is an obstetrician. Obstetricians care for patients during pregnancy, manage labor and delivery, and provide medical care in the postpartum period after birth.

Obstetrics is distinct from, but closely linked with, gynecology, the medical specialty concerned with the female reproductive system outside pregnancy. Because the fields overlap, many physicians train in both and are called obstetrician-gynecologists, or OB/GYNs.

An obstetrician may monitor fetal growth, screen for complications such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, and perform procedures including cesarean delivery when medically necessary. A pediatrician, by contrast, treats children after birth; a urologist focuses on the urinary tract and male reproductive system; and a cardiologist treats heart and blood-vessel disorders. High-risk pregnancies may receive additional care from a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.