Pregnancy Terms & Acronyms

Useful Pregnancy terms and acronyms used by medical personnel and in pregancy and c-section forums 

AFP -  Alpha-Feto Protein test for certain birth defects (also called MSAFP at times)

AROM - Artificial Rupture of Membranes (when the doctor or midwife breaks the waters)

B/P - Blood Pressure

Breech - baby that is positioned with its head-up instead of head-down.  Frank breech is butt-first, footling breech is feet first.

CBAC - Cesarean Birth After Cesarean; a better term than "failed VBAC."  Refers to a cesarean that occurs after a trial of labor (VBAC attempt)

Cephalic - A Head-down position of the baby

Classical incision/vertical incision - vertical (up-down) c/s incision but extending into upper uterine segment; most providers reluctant to encourage a future vaginal birth after this incision

CNM - Certified Nurse-Midwife; a midwife that is a nurse before becoming a midwife. Mostly does birth center and hospital births; can do most medical procedures (but not surgery)

C/S - cesarean section; cutting the baby out thru the mom's abdomen instead of a vaginal birth

D&C - Dilation and Curettage, or dilating the cervix in order to scrape out the contents of the uterus.  Can be done as an abortion to terminate a pregnancy or as medical treatment after a natural miscarriage (although a D&C is not required after a miscarriage)

DEM  -  Direct-Entry Midwife; a midwife that does not become a nurse first. Usually trained through accredited schools and apprenticeship; if they complete certification on a national level, they can become a CPM (Certified Professional Midwife). Some states also license midwives through state agencies

DH  -  Darling Husband (or damn husband, as the case may be!)

DS - Darling Son

DD - Darling Daughter

Dilation - the amount a cervix has opened in preparation for the baby's birth

Doula - a professional labor support person to assist you and your partner in labor

Effacement - the thinning and shortening of the cervix in preparation for dilation

EFM  -  External Fetal Monitoring; checking the heartbeat of the baby, usually through an elastic/velcro band placed around the mother's belly in labor.  Restricts the mother's movement

Engaged  -  when the baby's head has descended into the mother's pelvix and is putting pressure on the cervix, hopefully causing it to dilate and efface

External Version  -  trying to turn a poorly positioned baby (i.e. breech) manually from the outside of the mother's uterus; also called ECV,  for External Cephalic Version

GD -  gestational diabetes. A type of temporary diabetes in pregnancy. Often times it disappears after delivery but comes back at a later time.

Group B Strep or GBS  - an infection in the mother's vagina that can cause serious or even fatal damage to a baby during birth in a few cases; often treated with antibiotics during labor

HBAC -  Home Birth After Cesarean

Hematoma -  a fluid-filled 'bruise' of types on baby's head from birth or a vacuum extractor

Induction  - starting labor through artificial means instead of letting it start spontaneously

IUI  - Intra-Uterine Insemination, a fertility-assistance procedure

IUGR - Intra-Uterine Growth Retardation, where the baby does not grow at optimal rate

Ketones  - acid by-product produced when fat is used for energy; can potentially be harmful in pregnancy and is particularly a concern with gestational diabetes

lithotomy -  flat on the back with legs in stirrups, or partially propped up with legs in stirrups or pulled up by woman and partner/nurses; worst position for pushing physiologically

Low Transverse Incision  -  Low bikini (horizontal) incision made during a C-Section.  This is the best option for future vaginal birth and is the easiest to heal.

Low Vertical Incision  -  Low vertical (up-down) incision made during a c-section, if made in lower uterine segment future vaginal birth may be possible.

Macrosomia =  A baby that is larger-than-average - about 9+ lbs.

NST  -  Non-Stress Test, a prenatal test near term to determine the condition of a baby at risk for problems

OB  -  obstetrician or obstetrics doctor.

PIH  - Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension or preeclampsia. A rise in blood pressure during pregnancy. Also called pre-eclampsia (when other symptoms are present) or Toxemia of Pregnancy. 

Pit  - Pitocin, synthetic version of labor hormone 'oxytocin'.

Placental Abruption  - When the placenta pulls away from the wall of the uterus prematurely. Causes significant bleeding and can threaten the life of the baby and/or the mother

Placenta Accreta  - placenta that grows into the wall of the uterus.  May require a hysterectomy

Placenta Previa  -  a Placenta that is low-lying and partially or fully covering cervix; often requires a c-section.

PCO (PCOS)  -  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. A disease of too much insulin production and resistance to using that insulin effectively.  PCO women often experience symptoms like facial hair, infertility, a tendency towards diabetes/high blood pressure/high cholesterol, acne, etc.

Post-dates  -  A pregnancy term past 42 weeks. Some providers may also call shorter terms 'post-dates'

Posterior -  Baby positioned 'sunny side up', or face towards the mother's front; makes a much more difficult and painful labor.  Can be birthed vaginally but often requires a c-section.

Pre-Eclampsia  -  Rise in blood pressure in pregnancy accompanied by symptoms such as protein in urine, edema (swelling), etc. 

PROM  -  Premature Rupture of Membranes. This is when waters break before term

RE = Reproductive Endocrinologist. A specialist in infertility treatment

Seroma - The pocket of fluid that accumulates underneath an incision.  Larger women are somewhat more prone to this.

SNS -  Supplemental Nursing System; a way to feed the baby formula while the baby is nursing at the mother's breast.  A container goes around the mother's neck and a small tube is taped to the mother's breast so that while nursing the baby also sucks on the tubing to get supplemental formula.  A way to supplement baby without sabotaging nursing by using bottles

SROM -  Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes (when the waters break on their own)
 
TOL c/s - A c-section after a 'trial of labor'

Transverse -  Baby that is positioned sideways in the womb.  Requires a c-section.

Uterine Rupture -  This is rare but potentially catastrophic pulling apart of uterus.  More common after previous uterine surgery or c-section, but can occur without labor or even without previous c-section.

UTI = Urinary Tract Infection - An infection within the urinary tract.  Requires antibiotics if infection does not clear on its own.

VBAC -  Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

VBA2C  - Vaginal Birth After 2 Cesareans (and VBA3C, after 3 cesareans; or VBAMC, after multiple cesareans....)