postpartum

adj

1. (not-comparable)After giving birth (often defined as within 30 days after childbirth).

   “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.”

adv

1. (not-comparable)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.”

noun

1. (uncountable)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.”

2. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, informal, uncountable)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.””

   “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.”