Quick question about use of the word "delivers" - Page 2

[Belle]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

I don't get that. When the Fed Ex guy delivers my packages I don't get an imagine that they were sent up from hell. He just hands them to me from where he got them.

"Deliver us from Evil" is a quote from the lord's prayer. I'm not sure of the context of the word deliver that is used in this sense because I've never heard it that meaning of the word deliver anywhere else. But it means to "save" the person. When someone uses the word deliver to refer to a baby's birth it has the same connotations. "Saving" the baby from the mother.

[nashvillemidwife]

Yes, I know where the quote is from. I just don't get images of evil in my head whenever I hear the word "delivers". "Deliver a package." "Deliver a pizza." "Deliver a baby." "Deliver us from evil." One of these things is not like the other.

[Belle]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

Yes, I know where the quote is from. I just don't get images of evil in my head whenever I hear the word "delivers". "Deliver a package." "Deliver a pizza." "Deliver a baby." "Deliver us from evil." One of these things is not like the other.

Yes. Not everybody has the same connotations with the word deliver. But just because you don't have images of being saved from evil by the word deliver doesnt mean others don't. Its not the first thing that pops into my mind but I guess we all work differently. That said I don't like people asking me who delivered my baby. As if I didn't have anything to do with it.

You've already said you usually use the word "attend" Which is what the OP was asking. I agree that "catches" minimizes the important and difficult work that you do.

[Pandme]

Originally Posted by nashvillemidwife

I don't get that. When the Fed Ex guy delivers my packages I don't get an imagine that they were sent up from hell. He just hands them to me from where he got them.

OK, this made me LOL. I agree!

It is a HUGE peeve of mine when people say the doctor or midwife "delivers" your baby. No, I deliver it, they assist or attend. Attend is a better word, I think.

[Mrs.Floyd]

Originally Posted by Belle

"Deliver us from Evil" is a quote from the lord's prayer. I'm not sure of the context of the word deliver that is used in this sense because I've never heard it that meaning of the word deliver anywhere else. But it means to "save" the person. When someone uses the word deliver to refer to a baby's birth it has the same connotations. "Saving" the baby from the mother.

Thank you for explaining that a little better than I did - that was just the only 'phrase' I could think of at the time... The point I was trying to get across was that the word 'deliver' can mean 'save' and as far as obstetrics is concerned, pregnancy is an emergency and they're saving the baby from the mother, that's why I don't get the warm fuzzies for that particular word.

And I agree with another PP, if you just have to use the word deliver, it should be MOM that is 'delivering' the baby and everyone else is just there to watch/assist/help/etc. When you say that the OB delivers the baby, it's like you're saying they're doing all the work or something. IDK it's just where my mind goes...