maternal
Meaning of maternal: A finding, condition, or trait labeled maternal originates from or relates to the mother, as distinguished from paternal or fetal factors.
Definition of maternal
Maternal describes anything relating to, originating from, or connected through the mother, used to distinguish a characteristic, condition, or relationship associated with the mother from one associated with the father or with the offspring itself. The term appears across many areas of medicine, from pregnancy and childbirth to genetics and family history.
In the context of pregnancy, maternal health refers specifically to the health and wellbeing of the pregnant individual, as distinct from fetal health, which refers to the wellbeing of the developing fetus, even though the two are closely connected throughout pregnancy. Maternal history in genetics refers to traits, conditions, or genetic material passed down through the mother's side of the family.
Because maternal and paternal contributions to a child's health and genetics differ in certain respects, distinguishing between them can matter clinically, such as when identifying which side of a family a particular inherited condition has been passed through.
Used in a sentence
The maternal history was reviewed for conditions that could affect the pregnancy.
Good to know
Maternal and fetal health are closely linked during pregnancy but are evaluated as distinct considerations, since a condition affecting one does not always affect the other in the same way or to the same degree.
Word origin
Where “maternal” comes from
From Latin mater, meaning mother.