perinatal

American  

[per-uh-nayt-l] / ˌpɛr əˈneɪt l /

adjective

1. occurring during or pertaining to the phase surrounding the time of birth, from the twentieth week of gestation to the twenty-eighth day of newborn life.

---

perinatal British  

/ ˌpɛrɪˈneɪtəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or occurring in the period from about three months before to one month after birth

---

Other Word Forms

• perinatally
  adverb

---

Etymology

Origin of perinatal

First recorded in 1950–55; peri- + natal

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

perinatal

They also said an NHS pathway includes a referral into the RUH perinatal mental health team.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

“Every perinatal mental-health disorder is temporary and treatable, no matter what the symptoms,” Wendy Davis, the president and CEO of Postpartum Support International, told me.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

At 32, I started battling unrelenting headaches—clearly perinatal symptoms and sleep deprivation, I was assured by doctors as a new mom.

From Slate ● May 6, 2026

Home births are also associated with higher risk of perinatal death, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

The UK has just 52 paediatric and perinatal pathologists and 13 are due to retire in the next five years, according to the Royal College of Pathologists.

From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2025

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---