Antenatal

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Pertaining to the medical care and monitoring conducted during pregnancy prior to childbirth that supports the health of both the mother and the fetus
2. Connected to the series of healthcare measures and assessments performed from conception until delivery aimed at ensuring maternal and fetal wellness
3. Relating to the time before a baby is born, focusing on the mother's and baby's health during pregnancy

Etymology: "Antenatal" is a plain compound, built from the Latin prefix "ante" meaning "before" and "natal," which comes from "nātālis," meaning "of birth." That Latin adjective grows from "nāscor," "to be born," so the word's core idea is simply the time before a child is born. English formed it by joining the prefix directly to "natal," the same root that gives us "natal" in words like "neonatal" and "natality." The word's meaning follows its parts closely. It describes what happens before birth, most often the medical care given to a pregnant woman, such as antenatal clinics and checkups. The "ante-" prefix is the same one found in "antedate" and "antechamber," all carrying the sense of coming before something else. Its pairing with "postnatal," meaning after birth, shows the two terms as a clear before-and-after set.

Synonyms: pre-natal, before birth