midwife

Etymology

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).

noun

1. A person, usually a woman, who is trained to assist women in childbirth, but who is not a physician.
   A hundred years ago, a midwife would bring the baby into the world - going to a hospital to deliver a baby was either impossible or unheard of.
2. (rare, figurative) Someone who assists in bringing about some result or project.

verb

1. (transitive) To act as a midwife.
2. (transitive, figurative) To facilitate the emergence of.
   Thomas L. Friedman. "Attention: Baby on Board." New York Times. April 13, 2010. But the bigger objective was to help Iraqis midwife a democratic model that could inspire reform across the Arab-Muslim world and give the youth there a chance at a better future.