Abbreviations commonly used in pregnancy care

Question 1

LMP

Answer 1

Last menstrual period- first day used to calculate due date…subtracts 3 months from first day, add 7 days.

Question 2

EAB/TAB

Answer 2

Elective abortion/therapeutic abortion

Question 3

SAB

Answer 3

Spontaneous abortion, medical term for miscarriage

Question 4

MAB

Answer 4

Missed abortion, incomplete abortion, meaning a miscarriage that has not been fully expelled form the body

Question 5

TOP

Answer 5

Termination of pregnancy

Question 6

Trimester

Answer 6

Pregnancy= three trimesters
1st: LMP-14 weeks
2nd:14-28 weeks
3rd:28 weeks until delivery

Question 7

NSVD

Answer 7

Normal spontaneous vaginal delivery, normal birth

Question 8

VAD

Answer 8

Vacuum assisted delivery
Doctor applies suction cup to baby head and gently draws it out, when mother is unable to push effectively but baby=very low in pelvis

Question 9

OVD

Answer 9

Operative vaginal delivery- another term for VAD

Question 10

Forceps

Answer 10

Tools used to cradle baby’s head and guide it out of pelvis if mother unable to push effectively

Question 11

PCS

Answer 11

Primary cesarean section ; first time mother has delivered by caesarean

Question 12

RCS

Answer 12

Repeat cesarean section; mother has already had a previous C section, may also be ERCS (elective repeat…)

Question 13

VBAC

Answer 13

Vaginal birth after cesarean , requires informed consent signed

Question 14

TOLAC

Answer 14

Trial of labor after cesarean; if woman had previous c section and wants to have a VBAC, must go in trial of labor when contractions start

Question 15

Perineal lacerations

Answer 15

Natural tearing of tissue between vaginal opening and rectum
4 degrees:
1-minor, only skin(no stitches)
2-involves some muscle
3-some of the muscle of rectal sphincter
4- all the way through rectal sphincter,repaired by surgeon

Question 16

AROM

Answer 16

Artificial rupture of membranes-releasing waters around baby with plastic hook to start labor and help it progress

Question 17

SROM

Answer 17

Spontaneous rupture of membranes- water breaks naturally, may happen anytime or before/during labor

Question 18

IUI

Answer 18

Intrauterine insemination-sperm inserted directly into uterus to fertilize egg. When intercourse=not desirable, or has not been successful for pregnancy

Question 19

IVF

Answer 19

In vitro fertilization- eggs harvested form mother or donor fertilized in lab with father or donor sperm, placed into mother uterus

Question 20

Sono,sonogram ultrasound, scan, US

Answer 20

Looking at something inside the body by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off the internal structures to get a picture of what’s inside

Question 21

Nuchal translucency

Answer 21

Sonogram at 11-13 weeks, measures thickness of fold of neck. May be indicator of genetic problem like Down syndrome

Question 22

Anatomy scan

Answer 22

Done at 20 weeks. Comprehensive US to look for fetal anomalies- detect abnormalities in heart, brain, bones, facial features, kidneys, stomach, liver

Question 23

CVS

Answer 23

Chorionic villus sampling- placenta sample taken for analysis at 11 weeks or so- see if placenta/baby affected by Down syndrome (or other issues).risk of miscarriage 1-2%

Question 24

Amino

Answer 24

Amniocentesis- 100% accurate in Dx genetic issues, obtain fetal tissue for analysis. Needle into belly for amniotic fluid sample

Question 25

MFM

Answer 25

Maternal fetal medicine