postnatal

adjective

post·​na·​tal ˌpōs(t)-ˈnā-tᵊl How to pronounce postnatal (audio)
: occurring or being after birth
specifically : of or relating to an infant immediately after birth
postnatal care
postnatally adverb

Examples of postnatal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While Jackson South will no longer do deliveries, patients will still be able to get prenatal and postnatal care at the hospital, a Jackson Health executive told the Herald on Thursday, noting that maternal care extends beyond delivery. Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2025 For nearly half of America’s children, Medicaid supports everything from prenatal and postnatal care to preventive health care and glasses when they are needed. Linda Darling-Hammond, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 In addition, pregnant patients and new parents may have more limited options for prenatal and postnatal care. Rachel Rebouché, The Conversation, 3 July 2025 In one study, researchers induced postnatal stress in a mouse (confining her, forcing her to swim) and separated her from her pups at unpredictable intervals. Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for postnatal

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of postnatal was circa 1859

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Postnatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/postnatal. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

postnatal

adjective
post·​na·​tal (ˈ)pōs(t)-ˈnāt-ᵊl How to pronounce postnatal (audio)
: following birth
also : of or relating to a newborn child
postnatal care

Medical Definition

postnatal

adjective
post·​na·​tal (ˈ)pōst-ˈnāt-ᵊl How to pronounce postnatal (audio)
: occurring or being after birth
specifically : of or relating to an infant immediately after birth
postnatal care
compare intranatal, neonatal, prenatal
postnatally adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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