perinatale

Perinatale refers to the period surrounding birth, spanning late pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the early neonatal period. In medical use, the term covers events from late gestation through the first days of life. In English the corresponding term is perinatal; perinatale is used in Dutch, German and some other languages.

Definitions vary: many sources define the perinatal period as starting around 22 to 28 weeks of gestation and ending seven days after birth; some definitions extend to 28 days after birth. Perinatal health focuses on preventing morbidity and mortality in both mother and child during this interval.

Perinatal care includes obstetric monitoring during pregnancy, intrapartum care during labor, delivery planning, and immediate neonatal care after birth, including resuscitation, thermal care, breathing support, infection prevention, nutrition, and parental bonding support.

Outcomes assessed in perinatal health include fetal deaths (stillbirths) and early neonatal deaths, as well as complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital anomalies, respiratory distress, sepsis, and maternal complications affecting pregnancy. The field uses perinatal mortality and morbidity rates to evaluate health services and public health strategies. Related topics include perinatal mortality and perinatal care.