What is
this abbreviation or acronym?
We often make use of
abbreviations on SPALS -- sometimes to save typing and
reading time; sometimes because certain words and
expressions take on special meaning for us; sometimes
because they are medical terms.
Pineland Press
maintains an excellent
list of acronyms
used in the misc.health.infertility and alt.infertility
newsgroups.
Fertility Plus
presents a full list of abbreviations
and acronyms commonly used
in the alt.infertility and misc.health.infertility news
groups (and also on SPALS).
The InterNational
Council on Infertility Information Dissemination (INCIID)
has established a
full glossary of infertility terms.
For the uninitiated,
here is a list of common abbreviations.
- $0.02
= two cents -- as in throwing in my two cents'
worth.
- AC
= Abdominal circumference -- a measurement of the
mother's belly in cross section, as an indicator of fetal
weight/growth, and used
with BPD and FL to estimate fetal age and
weight.
- AC
= Assisted conception
- AF
= "Aunt Flo" -- the activity of menstruation, as
in " I am expecting Aunt Flo" or "Aunt Flo
arrived".
- AFP
= Alpha-feto protein -- a pregnancy screening
test.
- Amnio
= Amniocentesis
- ART
= Assisted reproductive technology
- ASG
= alt.support.grief -- newsgroup providing general
grief support.
- BBT
= Basal body temperature -- a temperature reading
used determine a woman's fertile period.
- b/d
= Born and died
- BD
= Baby dancing -- attempting conception.
- BFN
= Big fat negative -- result on a pregnancy test.
- BFP
= Big fat positive -- result on a pregnancy test.
- BH
= Braxton Hicks -- as in Braxton Hicks
contractions.
- BIL
= Brother in law
- BPD
= Biparietal diameter -- a measurement taken of
the baby's head (from side to side), usually measured by
ultrasound after the 1st trimester and used
with FL and AC to estimate fetal age and
weight.
- BTW
= By the way
- CM
= Cervical mucus or calendar method
[learning most fertile time]
- CVS
= Chorionic
Villus Sampling
- D&C
= Dilation and curettage -- a procedure for
cleaning out the uterus.
- D&E
= Dilation and evacuation -- a procedure for
cleaning out the uterus by suction.
- DD
= Dear / darling daughter
- DH
= Dear / darling / devoted husband -- a term of
endearment.
- DHAC
= Doesn't have a clue -- can be used as an
adjective, noun or verb as appropriate, as in "my DHAC
sister" or "my friends are all DHAC's" or "my boss
DHAC".
- DO
= Doctor of Osteopathy -- a doctor graduating from
a school of osteopathy (a system of healing based on the
theory that most diseases are the result of structural
abnormalities of the body) who may specialize in the
manipulation of bones and joints to promote
healing.
- DPO
= Days past ovulation
- EDD
= Estimated date of delivery
- EPT
= Early pregnancy test
- FAQ
= Frequent asked question(s)
- FIL
= Father in law
- FL
= Femur length -- a measurement of the baby's
femur (the longest bone in the body) to assess fetal
growth, often used
with AC and BPD to estimate fetal age and
weight.
- FT
= Full term
- FWIW
= For what it's worth
- GBS
= Group B streptococcus
- GD
= Gestational diabetes
- GTT
= Glucose tolerance test
- GYN
= Gynecologist
- HCG
or hCG
= Human
Chorionic Gonadotropin
-- a hormone secreted by the placenta that is used to
confirm pregnancy, as well as to measure the progress of
a pregnancy.
- HELLP
= HELLP Syndrome -- short for Hemolytic anemia,
Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count.
- HPT
= Home pregnancy test
- HSG
= Hysterosalpingogram
- IMHO
= In my humble/honest opinion -- a signal that a
personal point of view is coming.
- IUGR
or IGR
= Intra uterine growth retardation
- IUI
= Intrauterine insemination
- IVF
= In vitro fertilization -- process for
fertilizing eggs externally and implanting those eggs
into the uterus.
- IYKWIM
= If you know what I mean
- LC
= Living child
- LMP
= Last menstrual period -- the date of the last
period prior to conception.
- LPD
= Luteal phase defect (or deficiency)
- M/C or m/c or mscg
= Miscarriage
- MIL
= Mother in law
- MKP
= misc.kids.pregnancy -- newsgroup for parents
planning or experiencing pregnancy.
- MP
= Monthly period
- Ms.
PP = Ms.
Perfect Pregnancy -- a person who blissfully had no
problems with their pregnancy.
- NICU
= Neonatal intensive care unit -- a specialized
nursery within a hospital where high-risk infants receive
personalized and dedicated care.
- NMP
= Next menstrual period -- the expected date of
the next period (which Trying Moms hope to
miss!).
- NST
= Non-stress test
- NTD
= Neural tube defect
- O
= Ovulation
- OB
= Obstetrician -- a medical and surgical
specialist in the branch of medicine dealing with
pregnancy and childbirth.
- OPK
= Ovulation predictor kit
- OT
= Off topic
- OTOH
= On the other hand
- PCOS
= Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- pg
= Pregnant
- PM
= Pregnant mom
- PROM
= Premature rupture of membranes
- PTM
= Pre trying mom -- one of the members on our
list, intending to become pregnant, but not yet ready (or
not yet permitted).
- RE
= Reproductive endochrinologist
- RL
= Real life -- as opposed to on the internet, as
in "my RL friend".
- RSI
= Repetitive strain injury -- a hand or wrist injury sometimes reported on SPALS arising from too much typing strain; also any other body injury from repetitive strain.
- SAH
= Stay at home -- usually used before Mom (SAHM)
or Dad (SAHD) or parent (SAHP)
- s/b
= Stillborn
- SIL
= Sister in law
- SO
= Significant other
- SSPL
= soc.support.pregnancy.loss -- newgroup providing
support for parents, family members and caregivers facing
pregnancy loss.
- TCF
= The Compassionate Friends -- a widespread real
life bereavement support organization.
- TIA
= Thanks in advance
- TM
= Trying mom -- one of the members on our list
currently trying to become pregnant.
- TTC
= Trying to conceive
- U/S or
u/s =
Ultrasound
- VBAC
= Vaginal birth after Cesarean
- WOH
= Work outside home -- usually used before Mom
(WOHM) or Dad (WOHD).
- WTEWYE
= What to Expect When You're Expecting -- a widely
purchased book on childbirth.
- YMMV
= Your mileage may vary -- meaning "this was my
experience, but my circumstances may be very different
from yours."
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