perinatal

adjective

peri·​na·​tal ˌper-ə-ˈnā-tᵊl 

: occurring in, concerned with, or being in the period around the time of birth

perinatal mortality

perinatal care

perinatally

ˌper-ə-ˈnā-tᵊl-(l)ē 

adverb

Examples of perinatal in a Sentence

The doctor took steps to prevent perinatal infection.

Recent Examples on the Web

Add a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, a loss, a lawsuit, a sick parent or a partner who travels, and the inventory stops being theoretical. — Simbiat Adighije, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

The prenatal period is when a fetus develops before birth, and the perinatal stage refers to labor, delivery, and the first few days after birth. — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 26 Sep. 2026

Moderating on behalf of BetterHelp were Sonni Williams, a licensed professional counselor specializing in perinatal mental health, and Gail Mitchell, Billboard’s Editor at Large, R&B/Hip-Hop. — Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 11 Sep. 2026

Intrusive thoughts and depressive symptoms, for example, are not uncommon in the perinatal period and do not usually require hospitalization. — Renee Sorrentino, STAT, 28 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for perinatal

• antenatal
• hiatal
• neonatal
• datal
• fatal
• nonfatal
• postnatal
• prenatal

Medical Definition

perinatal

adjective

peri·​na·​tal -ˈnāt-ᵊl 

: occurring in, concerned with, or being in the period around the time of birth

perinatal mortality

perinatal care

perinatally

-ᵊl-(l)ē 

adverb