Etymology 1844, from Latin post (“after”) + partum (“giving birth”), form of partus, from pariō (“to give birth”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to bring forth”).
1
Of a mother After giving birth (often defined as within 30 days after childbirth).
A symptom; a diagnosis or treatment; etc; a symptom; a diagnosis or treatment; etc
A non-hormonal birth control capsule that women can insert just before sex. A rape kit that gives victims more agency and streamlines the evidence collection process. An overhauled design for a 150-year-old tool used in postpartum vaginal tearing.2021 June 8, Jacqui Palumbo, “These innovative designs are tackling taboo health issues for women”, in CNN:
Etymology 1844, from Latin post (“after”) + partum (“giving birth”), form of partus, from pariō (“to give birth”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to bring forth”).
1
After giving birth.
Nothing surprising there (although one relative of mine unequivocally LOVES being pregnant), but what particularly struck me was her complaint that it had messed up her feet, of all things. They had spread out and flattened under the weight of pregnancy, and hurt. It was getting on for a year postpartum and her poor feet were only just getting back to normal.2012 January 10, Amy Fleming, “The mother of all maternity shoes”, in The Guardian:
postpartum
noun
Etymology 1844, from Latin post (“after”) + partum (“giving birth”), form of partus, from pariō (“to give birth”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“to bring forth”).
1
The period immediately following childbirth.
Postpartum was hard. When I first thought about having a baby, postpartum wasn't on my mind at all. I was just excited to have a brand-new baby that I could call mine.2019, Maranda Bower, Supported in Postpartum: Stories of Rejuvenating Wisdom, page 54:
2
Abbreviation, Ellipsis, Informal Ellipsis of postpartum depression.
Brooke made a face at her. “You've always been disgustingly resilient. I had postpartum with Geoffrey. It was grim. But I know you'll be up and singing Christmas carols by tomorrow morning, checking on the roof project, telling everyone what to do.”2014, Christine Rimmer, The Earl's Pregnant Bride, Toronto, ON: Harlequin Enterprises, →ISBN, page 216:
When you were two months old … I was having a really hard time. Out-of-my-mind hard. I probably had postpartum and I hadn't dealt with, well anything, regarding the rape. I had dropped out of school, my parents knew I was pregnant but that was all they knew so they were pissed. I was beyond alone.2021, Carey Crim, “Never Not Once”, in Lawrence Harbison, editor, The Best Women's Monologues from New Plays, 2020, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 99: