What does postpartum mean?
Postpartum describes the time and experiences immediately following childbirth. It is most often used as an adjective, as in “postpartum care,” “postpartum recovery,” and “postpartum depression,” and is less commonly used as a noun for the period itself. In medicine, the term covers physical recovery, reproductive health, emotional well-being, and the care and support offered to a person after giving birth. Its use also extends to broader social and personal discussions of new parenthood. The word is standard in British and American English and carries a clinical tone, though it is now common outside medical settings as well. Derived from the Latin words meaning “after” and “birth,” postpartum is especially useful because it gives a precise name to a distinct stage of pregnancy and childbirth.
Relating to or occurring during the period immediately following childbirth.
"She received postpartum support from a specialist nurse."
This is the predominant part of speech and is standard in medical and general usage.
The period immediately following childbirth.
"During the postpartum, she focused on rest and recovery."
The noun is less common than the adjective and is usually used with a definite article.
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon; speakers usually use “the postpartum” to refer to the period.
"Her accounts of different postpartums highlight the varied experiences of new mothers."
Latin tells the whole story: postpartum means “after birth,” a phrase now closely associated with recovery, mental health, and the realities of new parenthood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does postpartum come from?
Postpartum comes from Latin post partum, literally “after birth,” with post meaning “after” and partum being the accusative form of partus, “birth.” The English medical term developed during the 19th century in relation to childbirth and the care of women afterward. Parturient, parturition, and primiparity belong to a related family derived from the Latin verb parere, “to give birth.”
How postpartum is actually used
Postpartum is used chiefly as an adjective in medical, clinical, and personal contexts. As a noun, it is less common and is usually introduced with the definite article, as in “during the postpartum.” The adjective is standard in both British and American English.
Easily confused with postpartum
Prenatal means relating to the period before birth, whereas postpartum means relating to the period after birth.
Postpartum refers to the time following childbirth, while postmortem refers to something performed after death.