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ABO/Rhesus |
Blood types/groups. |
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Amniocentesis |
The taking of fluid (also called liquor pronounced like-or) from mother’s uterus to do tests. |
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Antenatal |
During pregnancy, before the birth. |
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Antibodies |
Proteins produced in the blood. Checks are done to see that the mother is not developing antibodies against her baby's blood group. |
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BP |
Blood pressure. |
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Booking |
Your first antenatal check. |
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Br, Breech |
Unborn baby is lying bottom down. |
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BSL |
Blood sugar level. |
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C, Ceph, Cephalic |
Unborn baby lying head down. |
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CVS |
Chorionic villus sampling—taking a small sample of placenta to test for Down syndrome and other abnormalities in the baby. |
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Cx (Pap) Smear |
Routine test to detect early warning of cancer of cervix (neck of uterus). |
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Down risk |
Test for level of risk of Down syndrome. |
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E, Eng, Engaged |
Unborn baby’s head has moved down into the mother’s pelvis ready to be born. |
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EDD |
Expected (estimated) date of delivery for baby’s birth. It is normal for the baby to arrive up to two weeks before or after this date. |
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Family doctor |
General practitioner, GP. |
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Fetal heart (FH) |
Unborn baby’s heart rate. |
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Fetal movements |
Unborn baby’s movements. |
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Fetus/Foetus |
Unborn baby. |
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FH (H) |
Fetal heart (heard). |
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Fifths above brim |
Position of unborn baby’s head in relation to the mother’s pelvis. |
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FMF: FMNF |
Fetal (baby) movements felt: fetal movements not felt. |
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Fundal height |
Size of uterus. |
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Gestation (gest’n) |
Number of weeks pregnant. |
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Glucose screen |
Blood test to see how well your body uses sugar. It is a test for gestational diabetes, a problem that sometimes develops during pregnancy and may be a problem for the woman and unborn baby. |
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Gravida |
The number of times you have been pregnant, including this pregnancy. Primigravida means first, multigravida means more than one pregnancy. |
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Hepatitis B |
Viral infection of the liver. |
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Hb |
Haemoglobin, how much iron is in your blood. |
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HIV |
The virus that may lead to AIDS. |
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Hypertension |
High blood pressure. |
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Lie |
The direction the foetus is lying in the uterus, such as transverse, longitudinal or oblique |
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Longitudinal |
The fetus is lying with its spine parallel to the mother's spine |
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LMP |
Last menstrual period. |
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Midwife |
A practitioner specially qualified to care for childbearing women and their babies. |
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MSU, MSSU |
Mid-stream specimen urine,. |
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NAD |
No abnormality detected (normal). |
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NE |
Unborn baby’s head not engaged (has not moved down into the mother's pelvis). |
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Neural tube defect |
Serious abnormality of the central nervous system - brain and spinal cord. |
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Obstetrician |
Specialist doctor with extra qualifications in pregnancy and childbirth. |
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Oedema |
Swelling of ankles, fingers or face. |
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Parity |
The number of babies you have already had. |
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PE, PETpre-eclampsia |
Pre-eclampsia or pre-eclampsia toxaemia (a pregnancy condition with high blood pressure and oedema.) |
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Placenta |
The afterbirth. |
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Postnatal |
After the birth. |
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Presentation |
The part of the baby which is coming first, such as breech, vertex/cephalic or compound (eg arm with the head) |
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Rubella |
German measles, a disease caused by a virus. |
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STD/STI |
Sexually transmitted disease/infection. |
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Syphilis |
A sexually transmitted disease. |
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T, FT, term |
Full – term, baby is ready to be born. |
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Transverse |
Unborn baby lying crossways in the uterus |
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US, ultrasound, scan |
An examination of an unborn baby using sound waves. |
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Uterus, womb |
Hollow muscle in which baby grows. |
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Uterine size |
Size of uterus. |
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VE |
Vaginal examinations, internal check of mother. |
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Vx, Vertex |
Unborn baby lying head down in uterus. |