puerperal

American  

[pyoo-ur-per-uhl] / pyuˈɜr pər əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a woman in childbirth.

2. pertaining to or connected with childbirth.

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puerperal British  

/ pjuːˈɜːpərəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or occurring during the puerperium

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Other Word Forms

• postpuerperal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of puerperal

First recorded in 1760–70, puerperal is from the New Latin word puerperālis of childbirth. See puerpera, -al ¹

Example Sentences

While no official figures are collected for girls aged under 15, the WHO said mothers aged 10 to 19 face higher risks of eclampsia, puerperal endometritis and systemic infections than women aged 20 to 24.

From The Guardian • Mar. 5, 2019

Semmelweis, once described as a “savior of mothers,” discovered that cases of puerperal fever could be significantly cut by washing hands before surgery.

From New York Times • Jul. 25, 2018

Mary's own mother had died of puerperal sepsis 11 days after giving birth to her fame-bound daughter.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 10, 2018

Tolstoy’s wife Sofia almost died when she contracted puerperal fever after her fifth delivery, but he impregnated her again and again.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2016

The presence of germs in puerperal fever serves not only to fix cases hitherto doubtful in the category of septic diseases, but affords the most satisfactory explanation of the protean phenomena of puerperal fever itself.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various