Para is defined as what?

• A. Number of births past 20 weeks
• B. Number of pregnancies
• C. Number of living children
• D. Age at first pregnancy

Answer: (A)

Parity reflects how many pregnancies have progressed to fetal viability, typically defined as about 20 weeks of gestation. Because viability marks the point where a fetus could survive outside the womb, parity corresponds to the number of births that occur past 20 weeks—whether the outcome is a live birth or a stillbirth. Pregnancies ending before 20 weeks do not add to parity. Each pregnancy counts once, even if it ends in multiples (like twins) in the same pregnancy. Living children or age at first pregnancy are tracked separately and do not define parity. So, the best description is the number of births past 20 weeks.