Postnatal

Postnatal (Latin for 'after birth') is the period beginning immediately after the birth of a child and extending for about six weeks. The period is also known as postpartum and, less commonly, puerperium.

Biologically, it is the time taken for the mother's body, including hormone levels and womb size, to return to prepregnancy conditions.

Certain medical conditions occur postnatally, such as:

• Postnatal Depression
• Postnatal Psychosis - a more severe form of postnatal depression
• Sheehan Syndrome

In scientific literature the term is commonly abbreviated to PX. So that 'day P5' should be read as 'the fifth day after birth'.

'Postnatal' can also be used to describe the period of adjustment in the mother's daily life caused by the birth of a child.

See also

• childbirth
• prenatal