primiparous

Primiparous is an obstetric term describing a woman who has given birth once. It is commonly used to denote a first birth. The related terms include nulliparous (a woman who has never given birth) and multiparous (a woman who has had two or more births). Parity refers to the number of deliveries a woman has had that reached a viable gestational age.

In clinical practice, primiparous pregnancies are associated with certain labor patterns and risk profiles. First labors tend to be longer, particularly the latent phase, and the rate of interventions such as cesarean delivery and instrumental delivery is generally higher than in subsequent pregnancies. Perineal trauma is also more common in first births. These differences are influenced by a variety of factors, including maternal age, uterine tone, and overall obstetric history.

Management involves standard prenatal care and intrapartum monitoring appropriate to labor and obstetric indications. Care teams provide pain relief options, continuous support, and timely decisions about augmentation or cesarean delivery based on maternal and fetal status. Outcomes for the infant and the mother are influenced by factors such as maternal health, age, and access to quality care; parity itself is one element considered in risk assessment and counseling.