What does postnatal mean?
Postnatal means relating to the time after birth and is especially common in discussions of healthcare, recovery, and family life following childbirth. The term can describe the postnatal period, medical support offered during that time, or difficulties such as postnatal depression. It may apply to both the mother and the newborn, although some uses, particularly the noun postpartum, focus more narrowly on the mother's condition after delivery. Postnatal care commonly includes follow-up appointments, advice about feeding and recovery, screening for health problems, and emotional support. The adjective is formal and widely used in British and American English, with a particularly strong association with maternity services and public-health guidance. It is also sometimes contrasted with prenatal, which relates to the period before birth.
adjectiveRelating to or occurring after birth, especially during the period immediately following childbirth.
- Relating to the period immediately following birth.
- Relating to medical care, health, or conditions occurring after childbirth.
"The hospital provides postnatal care for mothers and newborns during the days after delivery."
"Her midwife arranged a postnatal visit to discuss the mother's recovery and the baby's feeding."
"The clinic offers specialist support for postnatal depression and other mental health difficulties after childbirth."
Postnatal care begins with one of life's biggest transitions: birth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does postnatal come from?
Postnatal was formed in English using the Latin prefix post-, meaning “after,” and the element natal, related to Latin nasci, “to be born.” The underlying adjective natal derives from Latin natalis, meaning “of or relating to birth,” which also gave rise to words such as prenatal and innate. The combined word developed in the modern period to describe care, conditions, and stages occurring after birth.
Related word forms
How postnatal is actually used
The term is used particularly in medical and public-health contexts. In British usage, it often appears in phrases such as postnatal care and postnatal depression; it can refer to both mothers and newborns, whereas the noun postpartum is usually used for the mother's condition.
Easily confused with postnatal
Postnatal is an adjective commonly describing the period or care after childbirth, while postpartum can function as an adjective or noun referring specifically to the condition of the mother after giving birth.