Total span broke after the happy event (9)

I believe the answer is:

postnatal

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'after the happy event' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'total span broke' is the wordplay.
'broke' indicates anagramming the letters.
'total'+'span'='totalspan'
'totalspan' anagrammed gives 'POSTNATAL'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for postnatal that I've seen before include "In period after birth" , "Immediately after birth" , "after delivery" , "a time of new life" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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