Why do we call 1st time mothers "primips"?

[onlyboys]

Shouldn't it technically be nullips?

I'm a bit confused as I work through midwifery school. A nullipara is one who has not given birth to a term baby. A primipara is one who has given birth one time to a term baby. A multipara is one who has given birth more than once to a term baby.

By these definitions, it seems a misnomer that we call first time mothers "primips" so I figure I must be missing something.

Thoughts?

[sevenkids]

I was taught that "Primip" (primigravida) was a woman pregnant for the first time, and "nullip" (nullipara) a woman who has never been pregnant.

[onlyboys]

So, we aren't shortening "primipara" into primip, but rather "primigravida" into primip? It does sound cuter than primig.

And, a nullipara, at least according to Oxhorn-foote, is a woman who has not yet delivered a baby at term (or viability). A nulligravida is one who has never been pregnant. Anyway, color me confused.

[sweetsadie77]

You're mostly right. Someone in their first pregnancy is nulliparous and a primigravida. It is not delivering a term infant that makes one a primipara but delivering after 24 weeks gestation (although this is changing with the everlower age of viability, so the definition does vary a little).
So women in their first pregnancies are nullips, but I guess they're called primips in anticipation of their birth but it isn't technically correct.
A nulligravida is a woman who has never been pregnant.
It is confusing terminology, something I had to review before most of my exams. I think GTPAL is a clearer way of providing an obstetrical history.

[onlyboys]

Okay, whew.

I'm just glad I've not looked the fool saying "primip" for all these first time mamas I've been observing at birth.

[sevenkids]

Originally Posted by onlyboys

So, we aren't shortening "primipara" into primip, but rather "primigravida" into primip? It does sound cuter than primig.

And, a nullipara, at least according to Oxhorn-foote, is a woman who has not yet delivered a baby at term (or viability). A nulligravida is one who has never been pregnant. Anyway, color me confused.

I guess we do.....hmm.

Stedman's medical dictionary defines "Primip" as a woman pregnant for the first time OR a woman who has given birth for the first time and nullip as a woman who has never given birth. Seems like we use nullip and primip interchangably, though, correctly or not.


Now I'm confused.....

[DoomaYula]

Shhhh! Stop confusing the rest of us

[Charmie981]

You can solve the whole dilemma by using Primie or Primey instead of primip. Just take the second P off .

[onlyboys]

That's cute! Primie!

Don't worry, I'll not start lobbying for proper latin usage.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't totally off.