 In jurisdictions where midwifery is not a regulated profession, traditional birth attendants, also known as traditional or lay midwives, may assist women during childbirth, although they do not typically receive formal health care education and training.Medical doctors who practice in the field of childbirth include categorically specialized obstetricians, family practitioners and general practitioners whose training, skills and practices include obstetrics, and in some contexts general surgeons.These physicians and surgeons variously provide care across the whole spectrum of normal and abnormal births and pathological labour conditions.