What does “Para” indicate concerning a woman's pregnancy history?

"Para" refers to a key term in obstetrics that indicates a woman who has carried one or more viable offspring to a gestational age of 20 weeks or more. This classification is crucial for understanding a woman's pregnancy history, as it helps healthcare providers assess her obstetric background and any potential risks associated with future pregnancies.

In obstetric terms, a viable offspring is typically defined as a fetus that has reached a gestational age at which it is likely to survive outside the uterus. This threshold is commonly set at 20 weeks of gestation. Therefore, "Para" is not merely about the number of times a woman has been pregnant or the total number of her live births; rather, it specifically focuses on her experience of carrying a pregnancy to the point where a viable delivery could occur. This detail is significant for managing maternal and fetal health during both current and future pregnancies.