Which statement best defines multiparous?

Which statement best defines multiparous?

• A. A woman has given birth to 2+ children after 20 wks gestation
• B. A woman who has given birth to exactly one child
• C. A woman who has never given birth
• D. A woman who has given birth to five or more children before 20 weeks

Answer: (A)

Parity in obstetric history counts how many pregnancies have reached a viable gestational age. Multiparous describes someone who has had two or more deliveries after about 20 weeks. Therefore, the statement that a woman has given birth to two or more children after 20 weeks gestation best defines multiparous. Pregnancy losses before viability (before 20 weeks) don’t count toward parity, which is why the other descriptions don’t define multiparous: one birth after 20 weeks is primiparous, never having given birth is nulliparous, and pregnancies ending before 20 weeks (even if numerous) reflect losses, not completed births contributing to parity.

Parity in obstetric history counts how many pregnancies have reached a viable gestational age. Multiparous describes someone who has had two or more deliveries after about 20 weeks. Therefore, the statement that a woman has given birth to two or more children after 20 weeks gestation best defines multiparous. Pregnancy losses before viability (before 20 weeks) don’t count toward parity, which is why the other descriptions don’t define multiparous: one birth after 20 weeks is primiparous, never having given birth is nulliparous, and pregnancies ending before 20 weeks (even if numerous) reflect losses, not completed births contributing to parity.