Perinataalissa

Perinataalissa is a Finnish medical term meaning "in the perinatal period." It refers to events, care, and outcomes around the time of birth, including late pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the early neonatal period. The perinatal period has variable definitions; many health organizations describe it as starting at about 22 weeks of gestation and ending between seven and 28 days after birth, with differences depending on whether the focus is on maternal or neonatal outcomes. In Finnish health literature, perinataalissa contexts cover obstetric care, neonatal care, and maternal–infant health outcomes.

Perinatal health indicators commonly discussed in this context include perinatal mortality (stillbirths and early neonatal deaths), preterm birth, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies. The concept also encompasses morbidity and long-term outcomes that occur during or shortly after birth, as well as the quality of care provided to mothers and infants during this period.

Clinical and public health relevance centers on optimizing outcomes through comprehensive prenatal care, risk assessment, and management of maternal conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, infection prevention, nutrition, and smoking cessation. Intrapartum care, timely delivery when indicated, and immediate neonatal resuscitation are also integral components of perinatal health. Data collection and surveillance of perinatal health support monitoring trends, evaluating interventions, and guiding policy.

The term perinataalissa is primarily used in Finnish-language sources; in English-language contexts, the equivalent expressions are "perinatal" or "in the perinatal period."