Multigravida is a medical term that refers to a woman who has been pregnant multiple times. The word is composed of "multi-" meaning multiple, "grav-" meaning pregnancy, and "-ida" indicating a female who has given birth. The pronunciation of "multigravida" is [mʌltiˈgrævɪdə], with stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is pronounced with a short 'u' sound, while the '-ida' ending is pronounced with a long 'i' sound. The spelling of this term is important for accurate medical documentation and communication.
Multigravida is a term used in obstetrics and gynecology to describe a woman who has been pregnant multiple times, regardless of the outcome of those pregnancies. The prefix "multi-" indicates multiple or many, and "gravida" refers to a pregnant woman. It is important to note that multigravida does not specify the number of pregnancies a woman has had; it simply indicates that she has been pregnant on more than one occasion.
The term multigravida is commonly used in medical settings to document a woman's pregnancy history. It allows healthcare providers to gather important information about a woman's previous pregnancies, which can be crucial in managing her current pregnancy and anticipating any potential risks or complications. By knowing a woman's gravidity and parity (the number of pregnancies that have reached viable gestational age), healthcare providers can tailor their care plans and monitoring strategies accordingly.
Multigravida is often differentiated from a primigravida, who is a woman experiencing her first pregnancy. Other related terms include grand-multigravida (a woman who has been pregnant five or more times) and para (short for parity) which refers to the number of pregnancies that have reached the stage of fetal viability (usually beyond 20 weeks). It is important to note that multigravida is a term used in medical contexts and should not be used to make assumptions or judgments about a woman's reproductive choices or experiences.
A pregnant woman who has been pregnant two or more times previously.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "multigravida" is derived from two Latin roots - "multi" meaning "many" or "multiple" and "gravida" meaning "pregnant woman".
The term "gravida" itself comes from the Latin verb "gravidare" which means "to be pregnant" or "to carry a burden". It is formed from the combination of "gravis" meaning "heavy" or "burdened" and "-ida" which refers to a female bearer or possessor of a specific quality.
So, when combined, "multigravida" literally means "a woman who has been pregnant multiple times" or "a woman who has carried multiple burdens" in a medical context, specifically referring to a woman who is pregnant for at least the second time.