The placenta and other tissues that come out of the mother's body after a baby is born.
Compound of 'after' and 'birth' (Old English byrth, from beran, 'to carry'). The term is a direct translation of Dutch 'nageboorte,' coined in medical contexts during the 17th century when obstetrics became more systematized.
While the afterbirth might sound unimportant compared to the baby, it's absolutely vital—many mammals eat the afterbirth for nutrients and to hide evidence of birth from predators. It's such an important part of reproduction that the inability to expel it is a serious medical emergency.
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