Multipara is defined as what?

• A. Woman who has never given birth
• B. Woman who has given birth more than once
• C. Woman who has given birth exactly once
• D. Woman who has current pregnancy

Answer: (B)

In obstetric terminology, parity counts how many deliveries a woman has had past the point of viability. Multipara means two or more such deliveries, i.e., she has given birth more than once. This distinguishes her from nullipara (never given birth) and primipara (has given birth exactly once). A current pregnancy doesn’t determine parity, since parity refers to past births, not the present gestation. So the correct interpretation is a woman who has given birth more than once.