Skip to main content
prenatal

prenatal

46 3.8
Happening before a baby is born during pregnancy
  • adjective
  • /ˈpriːneɪtəl/
translation icon : prenatal
  • A prenatal checkup helps monitor the health of both the mother and the fetus before birth.
  • prenatal care
  • prenatal exposure
  • prenatal visits

It's the primary thing that's included in prenatal vitamins.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • You need prenatal vitamins, incidentally, they do incredible things for your nails, so that's a plus.

  • One easy way to do this is with prenatal vitamins.

  • The last girl I talked to was in the prenatal care section.

  • "Does Danny go to the prenatal classes with you?" she asked.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • And he was shocked at the state of prenatal testing.

  • We included several measures of mother's prenatal health behaviors in our models.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Pregnant women should carry a copy of their prenatal medical records, next-of-kin details, and insurance policies.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Our mothers met at a prenatal aerobics class.

  • Fetal monitoring is a critical component of prenatal care in high-income countries.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We want to see that when they're pregnant, they get prenatal care, that they get the nutritional supplements that they need during their pregnancy.

Synonyms

fetal
vsprenatal
  • Specialized
81 3.9

Relating to a baby before it is born

emphasizes pregnancy and mother care rather than only baby characteristics
in utero
vsprenatal
  • Specialized
8 7.9

The time when a baby is still inside its mother's womb

is used more for pregnancy care and maternal health than mere location
gestational
vsprenatal
  • Specialized
7 7.0

About the period when a baby grows inside the mother's womb

covers pregnancy care and maternal health rather than only development timing
antenatal
vsprenatal
  • UK
1 6.8

Happening before a baby is born, about being pregnant or care of the unborn child

includes care for both mother and fetus during pregnancy
preborn
vsprenatal
1 6.9

Relating to a baby before it is born

focuses on care for mother and fetus rather than just unborn status
antepartum
vsprenatal
  • Specialized
9.9

The time before a baby is born, especially before labor

concerns pregnancy care across the whole pregnancy rather than only pre-labor

Antonyms

3 4.1

About the time after a baby is born for the mother or newborn

Compounds

prenatal diagnosis
  • Specialized
1 4.0

Tests doctors use before birth to check if a baby has a genetic problem

How Early

preconceptional
  • Specialized
8.8
prenatal
46 3.8
perinatal
  • Specialized
3 7.5
postnatal
3 4.1

Surface Forms

prenatal positive

Morphology

prenatal = natal (transparent) = pre + natal

Given knowledge of 'natal', the prefix 'pre-' straightforwardly gives the meaning 'before birth'.

Etymology

Prenatal is made of pre- meaning 'before' and natal meaning 'birth', the same root as in native, which is about where someone is born. So prenatal means things that happen before a baby is born, like care and checkups.