prenatal

adjective

pre·​na·​tal (ˌ)prē-ˈnā-tᵊl 

1

: occurring, existing, performed, or used before birth

prenatal care

a prenatal test

prenatal vitamins

2

: providing or receiving prenatal medical care

a prenatal clinic

prenatal patients

prenatally

(ˌ)prē-ˈnā-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of prenatal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those practices include using drugs to delay or induce labor, discouraging ultrasounds and other prenatal care, and failing to transfer mothers to the hospital in potentially dangerous situations, according to the complaints. —Alyssa N. Salcedo, Journal Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024

The state's clinical measures of infant and maternal mortality, c-sections and inadequate prenatal care worsened but are all lower than the national averages. —Kate Murphy, Axios, 10 Dec. 2024

This is one of the reasons why seeing a healthcare provider, such as an obstetric-gynecologist (ob-gyn) or midwife, for regular prenatal care is important. —Corey Whelan, Verywell Health, 1 Dec. 2024

These centers provide prenatal care, nutritious food and clean water, assistance during childbirth, medical treatment, access to medicine and more. —Paulina Dedaj, Fox News, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prenatal

adjective

pre·​na·​tal (ˈ)prē-ˈnāt-ᵊl 

: occurring or existing before birth

prenatal care

prenatal development

Medical Definition

prenatal

adjective

pre·​na·​tal -ˈnāt-ᵊl 

1

: occurring, existing, performed, or used before birth

prenatal care

the prenatal period

prenatal testing

prenatal vitamins

2

: providing or receiving prenatal medical care

a prenatal clinic

a prenatal patient

called also antenatal

compare intranatal, neonatal, postnatal

prenatally

-ē 

adverb