The word "postnatal" refers to the period after a baby is born. It is spelled phonetically as pəʊstˈneɪt(ə)l. The first syllable is pronounced with a long "o" sound, while the second syllable is pronounced with a short "e". The stress is on the second syllable. This spelling is derived from the Latin roots post- meaning "after" and natalis meaning "birth". The word is commonly used in medical contexts to describe the care and health of mothers and newborns in the weeks and months after delivery.
Postnatal is an adjective that relates to the period of time immediately following childbirth. It refers to everything that occurs or is relevant to the period beginning with the birth of a baby and until the mother's body returns to its pre-pregnancy state. Postnatal can also be applied to the baby, describing the time after birth until the infant reaches a specified age milestone, usually within the first few months or year.
The term postnatal is commonly used in medical contexts, particularly in obstetrics and gynecology. It encompasses a wide range of physical, emotional, and psychological changes experienced by the mother during the recovery phase after giving birth. This includes the physical healing of the reproductive organs, breast milk production, hormonal adjustments, and emotional well-being.
In the context of the baby, postnatal refers to the time when the child is adjusting to life outside the womb. This involves developmental milestones such as gaining weight, developing motor skills, and adapting to the new environment. The postnatal period is crucial for both the physical and emotional well-being of the infant, as well as for establishing a bond with the parents or caregivers.
Overall, the term postnatal encapsulates the complex and transformative period of time immediately following childbirth, involving various physical, emotional, and developmental changes for both the mother and the baby.
Occurring after birth.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word postnatal is derived from Latin roots. Post means after or behind, and natal comes from the Latin word natalis, which means birth. Therefore, postnatal literally means after birth.