How to Understand Pregnancy Message Board Acronyms

Trying to conceive a child is a very exciting time in a couple's life. Frequently a woman will turn to the Internet for information about getting pregnant. One of the most useful places to chat with other women who are also trying to have children is pregnancy message boards. Newbies to the boards may find the lingo daunting due to the widespread usage of pregnancy abbreviations.

Instructions

    • 1

      Know the acronyms which apply to a woman before she gets pregnant. 2WW=two week wait (time after ovulation before you can take a pregnancy test), AF=Aunt Flo (e.g. menstrual period), BBT=basal body temperature (used to calculate a woman's fertile days), BCP=birth control pill, BD=baby dance (sex), BFN=big fat negative (on a pregnancy test), BFP=big fat positive (pregnancy test), CD=cycle day, CM=cervical mucous (conducts sperm to the egg), CY=cycle, DPO=days past ovulation, EPT=early pregnancy test, EWCM=egg white cervical mucous (best for optimum sperm travel), FRER=First Response Early Result (pregnancy test), FMU=first morning urine (best time to take a pregnancy test), HPT=home pregnancy test, LMP=last menstrual period (start date), LP=luteal phase (days after ovulation before start of next period), O=ovulation, OPK=ovulation predictor kit, POAS=pee on a stick (e.g. take a pregnancy test), RE=reproductive endocrinologist, SA=semen analysis, TCOYF=Taking Charge of Your Fertility (book by Toni Weschler about natural methods to achieve and avoid pregnancy, see resources below), TTA=trying to avoid (getting pregnant), TTC=trying to conceive, HCG=human chorionic gonadotropin (hormone produced by a pregnant woman that is detected by pregnancy tests) and HSG=hysterosalpingogram (test to see if Fallopian tubes are working).

    • 2

      Understand the acronyms that refer to a woman's situations while she is pregnant. EDD=estimated due date, M/S=morning sickness, PG=pregnant, PNV=prenatal vitamin and U/S=ultrasound.

    • 3

      Remember the acronyms that allude to circumstances after a woman births a baby. BF=breast feed, BM=breast milk, D&C=dilation and curettage (often performed after a miscarriage), DC=dear child, DD=dear daughter, DH=dear husband, DS=dear son, EBM=expressed breast milk (milk manually extracted using a breast pump), FF=formula feed, LLL=La Leche League (breastfeeding organization), M/C=miscarriage, SAHM=stay at home mom, WAHM=work at home mom and WOHM=work outside the home mom.

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