adjective
neonatal
nee-oh-NAY-tul/ˌnioʊˈneɪt̮l/
Relating to newborn infants shortly after birth.
The neonatal unit provides specialized care for premature babies.
Etymology
The combination of “new” and “pertaining to birth” narrows the meaning to infants newly born. It describes the period shortly after birth, rather than birth or birthdays generally.
In context
For example, the neonatal mortality rate -- that's the number of newborns who die before their first month birthday --
we sequence every newborn that goes to the neonatal ICU.
More examples
- A neonatal nurse checks the baby's breathing.
- Neonatal screening helps doctors identify certain conditions soon after birth.
- Parents learn how to recognize signs of neonatal infection.
Forms
neonatal
neonate noun — An infant in its first weeks.
Similar words
- newborn
- Describes babies themselves as recently born, not just related care.
- postnatal
- Refers to the period after birth, including maternal recovery.