Glossary of peripartum mental health conditions

Postnatal

Refers to the period after birth from the perspective of the child – not, as is sometimes incorrectly assumed, to depression in the person who has given birth.

Postpartum

The correct medical term for the period after birth from the perspective of the person giving birth. This is why we speak of postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety disorder. Postpartum has traditionally been associated primarily with the experience of mothers, as they undergo specific physical, hormonal, and emotional changes around childbirth. Research shows, however, that fathers can also experience significant mental health challenges in the postnatal period – referred to in the clinical literature as paternal postpartum depression.

Peripartum

Covers the entire period surrounding birth – pregnancy, birth itself, and the first weeks after delivery. This phase is marked by wide-ranging physical and emotional changes that affect the mother, father, and child alike.