postnatal

adjective

post·​na·​tal ˌpōs(t)-ˈnā-tᵊl 

: 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

Additionally, bulk tissue analysis meant that changes in specific brain cell types weren’t resolved, and follow-up ended at postnatal day 41, so persistence of the behaviors into adulthood is unknown. —New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2025

Their Doula Program provides prenatal, postnatal, and postpartum support twice a week, offering at least three hours of direct daily assistance for individuals in custody. —Dominique Fluker, Essence, 10 May 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for postnatal

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

Kids Definition

postnatal

adjective

post·​na·​tal (ˈ)pōs(t)-ˈnāt-ᵊl 

: following birth

also : of or relating to a newborn child

postnatal care

Medical Definition

postnatal

adjective

post·​na·​tal (ˈ)pōst-ˈnāt-ᵊl 

: occurring or being after birth

specifically : of or relating to an infant immediately after birth

postnatal care

compare intranatal, neonatal, prenatal

postnatally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb