Alright, students, let’s be honest – the primip vs. nullip confusion is enough to give anyone a throbbing headache. If you’ve found yourself lost in the whirlwind of medical jargon, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Today, we’re going to break down the intricacies of these terms, demystify the confusion, and arm you with knowledge that can help set the record straight.
Understanding Primip in Pregnancy:
First things first, let’s tackle the term “primip” as it relates to pregnancy. Primipara, often shortened to “primip,” refers to a woman who is experiencing her first pregnancy or has given birth for the first time. It’s essentially a fancy way of saying ‘first-timer’ in the world of obstetrics.
Decoding Primip in Medical Terms:
In the realm of medical terminology, “primip” is an abbreviation for “primipara,” as mentioned earlier. It’s important to grasp that this term is exclusively used to describe a woman who’s going through her inaugural pregnancy or has just welcomed her first baby into the world.
The Difference Between Nullipara and Primipara:
Now, let’s address the confusion. Nullipara is another term that’s thrown into the mix. It describes a woman who has never given birth, regardless of whether she’s been pregnant or not. On the other hand, primipara (primip) focuses specifically on the first-time pregnancy or childbirth.
So, the distinction is clear: a nullipara has yet to experience the joy (or challenges!) of pregnancy or childbirth, while a primipara (primip) is navigating the journey for the first time. No more confusion here!
The Parity in Pregnancy:
In the realm of obstetrics, “parity” plays a significant role. It’s not just a fancy word; it helps healthcare professionals understand a woman’s reproductive history. The number that follows “P” is used to denote the number of pregnancies (including both full-term and preterm) a woman has experienced, with “T” representing full-term pregnancies and “P” standing for preterm pregnancies. So, if you hear “P1” or “T1,” it means that the woman has had one full-term pregnancy.
Setting the Record Straight:
Now, the grand finale – addressing the primip vs. nullip confusion. It’s essential to be clear about the terms we use in the medical field. By knowing the differences between primipara (primip) and nullipara and understanding the concept of parity, you’re equipped to educate your colleagues and ensure accurate communication in healthcare settings.
So, let’s all become advocates for precise terminology. No more calling a P1 a ‘Nullip’ or falling into the primip vs. nullip trap. With this knowledge, you’re ready to navigate the world of obstetrics like a pro, making a positive impact on the lives of patients and ensuring that the right information is delivered to those who need it most.
1. Let’s talk Latin for a second.
‘Nullus’ means ‘none’.
‘Primus’ means ‘first’.
‘Multus’ refers to there being more than one.
‘Parous’ refers to the bearing of offspring.
‘Gravid’ refers to the state of pregnancy.
2. This means that:
– ‘Nullipara’ (Nullip) = No deliveries before
– ‘Primipara’ (Primip) = Single delivery before
– ‘Multipara’ (Multip) = More than one delivery before
– ‘Nulligravida’ = No pregnancies before
– ‘Primigravida’ = In their first pregnancy
– ‘Multigravida’ = In their 2nd or more pregnancy
3. Important examples:
– a G1P0 is a Nullipara and a Primigravida.
– a G10P0 is also a Nullipara, but a Multigravida.
– a G2P1 is a Primipara but also a Multigravida
– a G5P4 is a Multipara and a Multigravida
– a P0+0 is a Nullipara and a Nulligravida
Bonus Information: everything that comes after the plus sign occurred before the age of viability and has no bearing on the parity of a woman.
Thank you.
Dr Tele TEDxTele has ended🙏🏾😅
Gravidity is the number of times a woman has been pregnant. Another term used to describe gravidity is gravida. When you are trying to determine the gravidity, keep the following in mind:
- The outcome of each pregnancy(meaning…did the baby live or did the mom lose the baby?) is not relevant. So in other words, if the baby lived or did NOT we still count this as a pregnancy.
- The current pregnancy is included in the count. Don’t let this confuse you when you are answering test questions…always make sure you count the current pregnancy (if she is pregnant) with the other past pregnancies.
- Multiple babies? We’re not counting the number of babies BUT just the pregnancy itself. Therefore, if the woman is pregnant with twins, triplets, quadruplets etc., the gravida is just ONE.
Parity is the number of times a woman hasbirthed or completed a pregnancy (meaning the baby is no longer inside mom’s body) at 20 weeks gestation or greater. When you are trying to determine the parity, keep the following in mind:
- The count includes babies born alive or stillborn at 20 weeks gestation or greater.
- Multiple babies? Just like with gravidity, we’re not counting the number of babies born/birthed. Therefore, if a mom completes a pregnancy at 20 weeks gestation or greater with twins, triplets, quadruplets etc., the parity is just ONE.
Now, for each term you need to be very familiar with their individual terms. If you look at them below you can tell that their prefixes (nulligravida vs nullipara) are the same BUT their suffixes are different. Therefore, if you know the meaning of each prefix and the correct definition of the suffix, determining the meaning of each word is easy.
Prefix meanings:
- Nulli: never or none
- Primi: first
- Multi: many
Terms to Know before trying the primip vs nullip debate:
- Nullipara: a woman has never completed a pregnancy at 20 weeks gestation or greater.
- Nulligravida: a woman has never been pregnant.
- Primipara: a woman has only once completed a pregnancy at 20 weeks or greater.
- Primigravida: a woman has been pregnant once or is currently pregnant for the first time.
- Multipara: a woman has completed two or more pregnancies at 20 weeks gestation or greater.
- Multigravida: a woman has been pregnant two or more times.
Gravida and Parity Examples (Scenarios to help understand primip vs nullip)
Example 1: During the health history collection on a female patient at a women’s health clinic visit, the patient tells you she is not currently pregnant but has been pregnant three times before. She states that at 39 weeks gestation she gave birth to a boy. However, the other two pregnancies ended at 7 and 10 weeks gestation. How would you calculate the patient’s gravidity and parity?
Answer: Gravida 3, Para 1
Rationale: The patient is NOT currently pregnant so we won’t count this in the gravida. However, she has been pregnant three times before. So, her gravida is THREE. The patient further explains that she has only completed ONE pregnancy at 39 weeks and the other two were completed at 7 and 10 weeks gestation. Remember parity is the number of pregnancies completed at 20 weeks gestation or more. Therefore, the patient’s parity is 1.
Example 2: A patient is pregnant with twins at 30 weeks gestation. This is her first pregnancy. How would you calculate the patient’s gravidity and parity?
Answer: Gravida 1, Para 0
Rationale: This is the patient’s FIRST pregnancy. Therefore, gravida is ONE (remember that the number of babies is NOT added to the gravidity). She is still pregnant and has not completed the pregnancy yet. Therefore, the parity is ZERO.
*However, let’s say she gives birth at 38 weeks gestation to twins. What would the gravidity and parity be now? Gravida 1, Para 1 (the parity changes since she has now completed the pregnancy…again the para ISN’T two because we don’t calculate the number of babies).
I hope this settles the primip vs nullip debate for you! 😊
