Primigravida

Primigravida is a clinical term used in obstetrics to describe a woman who is pregnant for the first time. It is distinct from primipara, which refers to a woman who has given birth once. A woman in her first pregnancy is primigravida, whereas a woman who has previously carried a pregnancy to viability and delivered is a primipara. Gravidity and parity are broader concepts: gravidity counts pregnancies, and parity counts pregnancies carried to viability.

Clinical relevance and assessment

Primigravidas receive standard antenatal care like other pregnancies, including early booking, routine screening, and age-appropriate counseling. Parity can influence risk profiles; in some settings, first pregnancies are associated with longer labor and a higher likelihood of interventions such as cesarean or instrumental delivery, as well as perineal trauma with vaginal birth. Risk assessment during pregnancy focuses on age, body mass index, prior obstetric history, and other medical conditions.

Management

Standard prenatal care is applicable, with attention to nutrition, folic acid supplementation, and screening for infectious diseases, anemia, and gestational diabetes as indicated. Birth planning for primigravidas often includes education about labor progress, pain management options, and expectations for the first delivery.

Complications

Compared with multigravidas, primigravidas may have a higher risk of labor dystocia and cesarean delivery in some populations. Some data suggest a modestly increased risk of conditions such as preeclampsia in first pregnancies, though risks are influenced by age, obesity, and comorbidities. Overall, management is guided by individual risk factors and standard obstetric care.

See also

Primipara; nullipara; multipara.