Prenatals

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Referring to supplements or vitamins taken during pregnancy to support fetal development and maternal health
2. Describing educational courses or resources focused on pregnancy and childbirth to prepare expectant parents
3. Pertaining to medical care or assessments conducted prior to the birth of a child to ensure the health of both mother and baby

Etymology: "Prenatals" is simply the plural of "prenatal," which is built from the prefix "pre-" (before) and "natal" (relating to birth). The base "natal" came into English from Latin "natalis," meaning "of birth," itself derived from "natus," the past participle of "nasci," "to be born," and ultimately from the same ancient root that gave English words like "genus" and "generate." The prefix "pre-" comes from Latin "prae," meaning "before" or "in front of," and reached English through Middle English. Joined to "natal," it produced "prenatal," a word describing what happens before birth. The term is a plain English formation, combining a Latin prefix with a Latin-derived base, rather than a classical coinage with a dramatic backstory. In its medical sense, "prenatal" was adopted to describe care and conditions during pregnancy, and the plural "prenatals" refers to the set of such checkups and tests that a pregnant woman undergoes.

Synonyms: antenatal care, prenatal vitamins, prenatal visits

Antonyms: postnatal, postpartum