Antenatal
Antenatal simply means before birth, and the term is widely used in Singapore, the UK, Australia, and most Commonwealth countries in place of the American term prenatal. Antenatal care includes the full range of support from your first booking appointment through to delivery, covering blood tests, scans, group B strep screening, and birth preparation classes. You may also hear antenatal used in phrases like antenatal depression, which describes low mood or anxiety during pregnancy, not just after. Knowing the term helps you understand clinic letters, hospital paperwork, and health resources from KKH or NUH without confusion.
What This Means for You
Understanding Antenatal is an important part of your all pregnancy journey. During pregnancy, your care team will use this term regularly. Being familiar with it means you can ask better questions and feel more confident at your antenatal appointments.
Explore our Pregnancy hubGood to Know
Singapore hospitals and polyclinics use antenatal consistently in their documentation, so you will see it on appointment cards, referral letters, and government health guides.
Related Terms
Source: https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/glossary-of-pregnancy-and-labour
Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised advice.
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