Professional
Technical
IVT
parous
Pronunciation: PAIR-us
Having given birth to one or more viable offspring.
Full Definition
Parous describes a woman who has experienced at least one birth of a fetus that reached viability (typically after 20 weeks of gestation or weighing more than 500 grams), regardless of whether the infant was born alive. This term is fundamental in obstetric classification and differs from gravidity, which counts pregnancies rather than births. Parous women often have different labor patterns and risk factors compared to nulliparous women, influencing clinical decision-making during pregnancy and delivery.
Usage
Usage note: Used in conjunction with numbers (e.g., 'para 2' means two previous births).
In Context
- "The parous patient had a history of two previous vaginal deliveries." — Obstetric history
- "Labor progressed more rapidly in this parous woman compared to nulliparous patients." — Labor progress notes
Also known as
multiparous (for multiple births)
Contrasted with
nulliparous
Don't confuse with
gravid
primigravid