postpartum

adjective post·par·tum \ ˌpōs(t)-ˈpär-təm \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of postpartum

1 : occurring in or being the period following childbirth

postpartum depression

2 : being in or used in the postpartum period

postpartum mothers

—

postpartum

adverb

See postpartum defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of postpartum from the Web

The birth wipes Marlo out, and her wealthy brother (Mark Duplass), alluding to an earlier episode of postpartum depression, insists on hiring her a highly credentialed night nanny who will mind the baby and bring it to mom only to nurse.

— j.r. jones, Chicago Reader, "Like Juno, Diablo Cody's Tully is a tale of motherhood and waning youth," 10 May 2018
In Tully, Charlize Theron plays a mother of three struggling with postpartum depression and overwhelmed by her duties as a caretaker until a night nurse shows up to relieve some of the stress.

— refinery29.com, "Have Portrayals Of Black Motherhood On Screen Ever Reflected Real Life?," 9 May 2018
Or look at the public response to recent revelations by NBA star Kevin Love about his panic attacks, Mariah Carey about her bipolar disorder, and Chrissy Teigen about her struggle with postpartum depression.

— rebecca a. seligman, STAT, "Cultural confusion: the shifting line between sane and ‘unsane’," 8 May 2018
In 2015, after their daughter, Kyzia, was born, Ms. Whitefield sank into postpartum depression.

— abby goodnough, New York Times, "Injecting Drugs Can Ruin a Heart. How Many Second Chances Should a User Get?," 29 Apr. 2018
About 40 percent of women who give birth do not attend a postpartum visit — and rates are lower in areas with limited resources.

— vikki ortiz, chicagotribune.com, "New postpartum guidelines urge 'fourth trimester' treatment for mom after baby," 25 Apr. 2018
But more recent studies suggest that these results came from the fact that non-Western women don’t often conceptualize postpartum sadness and fear as being medical rather than cultural.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "Walking Through the Past Into New Motherhood," 10 Apr. 2018
Maybe a number to call in case what was probably postpartum depression comes back.

— meaghan o'connell, The Cut, "This Time, I’m Not Afraid to Give Birth," 9 Apr. 2018
Despite experiencing postpartum depression, Teigen had hope.

— megan decker, Harper's BAZAAR, "Chrissy Teigen Opens Up About Failed IVF Attempts and Her Second Pregnancy," 4 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'postpartum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of postpartum

from the Latin phrase post partum "after childbirth," from post "after" + partum, accusative of partus "act of giving birth, childbirth," from parere "to give birth to, bring into being" + -tus, suffix of verbal nouns — more at post-, ¹parturient

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1846

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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POSTPARTUM Defined for English Language Learners

postpartum

adjective

Definition of postpartum for English Language Learners

medical : relating to or happening in the period of time following the birth of a child

Medical Dictionary

postpartum

adjective post·par·tum \ (ˈ)pōst-ˈpärt-əm \

medical Definition of postpartum

1 : occurring in or being the period following childbirth

postpartum depression

2 : being in or used in the postpartum period

postpartum mothers

postpartum hospital rooms

postpartum

adverb

medical Definition of postpartum

: after childbirth

a blood sample taken 14 days postpartum

an infection occurred three weeks postpartum

Learn More about postpartum

Britannica English: Translation of postpartum for Arabic speakers

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postpartum

Definition of postpartum

postpartum

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Origin and Etymology of postpartum

POSTPARTUM Defined for English Language Learners

postpartum

Definition of postpartum for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

postpartum

medical Definition of postpartum

postpartum

medical Definition of postpartum

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postpartum

Definition of postpartum

postpartum

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Origin and Etymology of postpartum

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POSTPARTUM Defined for English Language Learners

postpartum

Definition of postpartum for English Language Learners

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postpartum

medical Definition of postpartum

postpartum

medical Definition of postpartum

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