Your Pregnancy Glossary
Do you flick through your pregnancy notes and wonder what on earth they actually mean? Do you hear language being used around you and wish they would just speak in plain English?! Hopefully this glossary of medical terms will help you unpick some of what you are seeing and hearing, if you'd like anything added, just shout!
G
Gravida
Number of pregnancies
P
Parity
Number of births to babies over 24 weeks gestation
G3P1+1
Gravida 3, Para 1 + 1
This would be a woman who is currently pregnant and has given birth once before, and has a miscarriage or termination before 24 weeks.
Primip/ Primagravida
Women who have not given birth before
Multip/multigravida
Women who have given birth more than once (to babies over 24 weeks gestation)
Grand Multip
Women who have given birth more than five times (to babies over 24 weeks gestation)
ROA
Right Occipital Anterior
Baby is head down, with their back facing diagonally forwards to the right
LOA
Left Occipital Anterior
Baby is head down, with their back facing diagonally forwards to the left
OA
Occipital Anterior
Baby is head down, with their back facing directly forwards
ROP
Right Occipital Posterior
Baby is head down, with their back facing diagonally backwards to the right
LOP
Left Occipital Posterior
Baby is head down, with their back facing diagonally backwards to the left
OP
Occipital Posterior
Baby is head down, with their back faching directly backwards.
LOT
Left Occipital Transverse
Baby is head down, with their back facing directly to the left.
ROT
Right Occipital Transverse
Baby is head down, with their back facing directly to the right
Breech
Baby is bottom down.
Frank Breech
Baby is bottom down, with both legs straight upwards by their head
Footling Breech
Baby is bottom down, with one or both feet below their bottom
Complete Breech
Baby is bottom down with their legs bent at the knees
Oblique (lie)
Baby is lying diagonally across the uterus (can be breech or cephalic)
Transverse
Baby is lying sideways across the uterus
Cephalic
Baby is head down
Presentation
Which part of the baby's body is presenting at the pelvis/vagina.
Lie
Which way is the baby lying in the uterus
Engaged
Baby's head is within the pelvis
2/5 Palpable
The amount of baby's head that can be felt above the pelvis- measured in 5ths. 0/5 palpable would be fully engaged.
Head Free
Baby's head is not engaged at all.
Brim
Top of your pelvis.
LMP
Last Menstrual Period
Used to date a pregnancy until a scan is used
USS
Ultrasound Scan
CRL
Crown Rump Length
The length of a fetus from head to bottom, this length is used to 'date' a pregnancy
SROM
Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes
When your waters have broken spontaneously
ARM
Artificial Rupture of Membranes
Part of the induction process, where a doctor or midwife artificially breaks your waters using a small plastic hook.
PROM
Premature Rupture of Membranes
When your waters have broken but you have not gone into labour or your baby has not been born in the UK this is currently within 24 hours.
BMP
Beats Per Minute
Relating to baby's heart rate
FH (FHR)
Fetal Heart Rate
Baby's heart rate (in utero)
FHH
Fetal Heart Heard
You may see this if they have not timed baby's heart rate
BP
Blood Pressure
CTG
Cardiotocograph
The machine used to monitor you contractions and baby's heart rate
EDD
Estimated Date of Delivery
DOB
Date of birth
ECV
External Cephalic Version
A procedure offered to women with a breech baby, where they will try to turn baby around
FBC
Full Blood Count
A blood test offered in pregnancy
FSE
Fetal Scalp Electrode
A way of monitoring baby's heart during birth where a small hood it attached to baby's scalp, after your waters have broken.
GBS
Group B Strep
GTT
Glucose Tolerance Test
Test for Gestational Diabetes
GDM
Gestational Diabetes
Hb
Haemoglobin
A low Hb in pregnancy may be an indication of anaemia
IOL
Induction of Labour
IUGR
Intrauterine growth restriction
When a baby's growth slows down or is below the expected level in pregnancy
LSCS
Lower Segment Caesarean Section
MSU
Midstream Specimen Urine
Where your urine is dipped with a dipstick or sent to a lab for testing- this can help indicate possible urine infections, thrush, diabetes, pre-eclampsia and other medical conditions.
NBBS
Newborn Blood Spot
A test given to new born babies to check for genetic conditions. Baby's heel is pricked and 5 spots of blood are sampled. Also known as the 'heel prick test'.
PPH
Post Partum Haemorrhage
Bleeding of over 500ml after birth
SBR
Serum Bilirubin
A blood test done on babies with symptoms of jaundice, to measure the level of bilirubin in their blood
SVD
Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery
A vaginal birth that was not induced or assisted with forceps or ventouse
TTO
To Take Out (Medicine)
Medicine that you take home from hospital
TOP
Termination of Pregnancy
UTI
Urinary Tract Infection
VBAC
Vaginal Birth After Caesarean
VE
Vaginal Examination