Acronyms

Regarding type of birth:


 * CBAC - Cesarean Birth After Cesarean section
 * C/S - Cesarean Section
 * ERCS - Elective or Emergency Repeat Cesarean Section
 * HBAC - Home Birth After Cesarean Section
 * RCS - Repeat Cesarean Section
 * UBAC - Unassisted Birth After Cesarean Section
 * UA, UB or UC - Unassisted Birth or Unassisted Childbirth
 * VB or Vag - Vaginal Birth
 * VBAC - Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section


 * VBAcC - Vaginal Birth After Classical Cesarean


 * VBAMC - Vaginal Birth After Multiple Cesareans


 * VBA2C,VBA3C,etc - Vaginal Birth After (Number of) Cesareans
 * WB - Water Birth

Regarding Fetal Presentation:


 * BR - Breech
 * OA - Occiput Anterior
 * LOA - Left Occiput Anterior
 * ROA - Right Occiput Anterior


 * ROP - Right Occiput Posterior
 * OP - Occiput Posterior
 * LOA - Left Occiput Anterior
 * LOP - Right Occiput Posterior
 * OT - Occiput Transverse
 * LOT - Left Occiput Transverse
 * ROT - Right Occiput Transverse
 * VTX - Vertex

Regarding Medical Conditions:

GBS - Group Beta Strep, Group B Strep

GD - Gestation Diabetes

HELLP - H emolysis E levated L iver enzymes L ow P latelet count

IUGR - Intrauterine Growth Retardation

UR - Uterine Rupture

Other acronyms and abbreviations that you might find in your medical records, on birth websites, or blogs:

AMA - Against Medical Advice

AROM - Artificial Rupture of Membranes or Amniotomy

BCP - Birth Control Pills

BF - Breastfeed, Breastfeeding      BH - Braxton Hicks contractions       CTX - Contractions

DEM - Direct-Entry Midwife DIL - Dilation

DPO - Days post-ovulation

DX - Diagnosis

EDD - Estimated Due Date, Estimated Date of Delivery

EFF - Effacement

EFM - Electronic Fetal Monitor

EPO - Evening Primrose Oil

FHR - Fetal Heart Rate


 * FHT - Fetal Heart Tones

FTP - Failure to Progress


 * GA - Gestational Age

GTT - Glucose Tolerance Test


 * HX - History

LBW - Low Birth Weight

LGA - Large for Gestational Age

LMP - Last Menstrual Period


 * MC - Miscarriage

MW - Midwife

NFP - Natural Family Planning

NST - Non-Stress Test

OB - Obstetrician

OFP - Optimal Foetal Positioning

PROM - Premature Rupture of Membranes

ROM - Rupture of Membranes

RX - Treatment, prescription (Treatment can also be written as TX)

RRL - Red Raspberry Leaf

SGA - Small for Gestational Age

SROM - Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes

STA - Station

TOL - Trial of Labor

TOLAC - Trial of Labor After Cesarean

TTC - Trying To Conceive

US - Ultrasound

UR - Uterine Rupture


 * UTI - Urinary Tract Infection

Regarding Professions:

CNM - Certifiend Nurse-Midwife

CPM - Certified Professional Midwife

FP - Family Practitioner

GP - General Practitioner

LM - Licensed Midwife

LM - Lay Midwife

MW - Midwife

OB/GYN - Obstetrician/Gynecologist

Regarding Professional Organizations:

AAFP - American Academy of Family Physicians

AAP - American Academy of Pediatrics

ACNM - American College of Nurse-Midwives

ACOG - American Congress (formerly College) of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

AMA - American Medical Association

CBI - Childbirth International

DONA - Doulas of North America

IBLCE - International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners

ILCA - International Lactation Consultant Association

MANA - Midwives Alliance of North America

NARM - North American Registry of Midwives

SOGC - Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada

Regarding Publications:

BJM - British Journal of Medicine

JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association

NEJM - New England Journal of Medicine