What is the number of living children in the recording system for a woman with four living children, one preterm infant and one abortion?

In the context of perinatal and obstetric history recordings, the term "number of living children" specifically counts only those children who are currently living. In this scenario, the woman has four living children, which is the primary figure being measured.

The mention of one preterm infant does not affect the number of living children because preterm infants who survive are considered living children. An abortion, whether it is spontaneous or elective, is not counted in this figure as it does not result in a living child. Therefore, only the four living children are included in the tally.

This understanding is key for accurate documentation in maternal-newborn records, where differentiation between live births and other obstetric outcomes is crucial for both clinical and statistical purposes.