Kenneth Saldua

Maternal-Newborn Abbreviations
WCU Ontario

Maternal-Newborn Nursing Abbreviations/Terminology List

1. AFI (Amniotic Fluid Index) is a rough estimate of the amount of amniotic fluid and is
an index for the fetal well-being. It is a part of the biophysical profile.
2. AGA ( Average for Gestational Age) - describes a fetus or newborn infant whose size is
within the normal range for his or her gestational age. The measurement is calculated
based on the estimated gestational age (how many weeks the mother was pregnant) in
comparison to what is considered normal height, weight, head size, and developmental
level for a child of the same gestational age and gender.
3. AMA ( Advanced Maternal Age) Usually defined as age 35 or more for the mother at
the time of delivery of her baby. Advanced maternal age predisposes to Down Syndrome
(trisomy 21). The risk of having a Down syndrome baby rises with maternal age.
4. AMNIO ( Amniocentesis) Amniocentesis is a procedure in which amniotic fluid is
removed from the uterus for testing or treatment. The amniotic fluid contains fetal cells
and various chemicals produced by the baby and having it evaluated will help identify
certain problems with the baby.
5. AROM ( Artificial Rupture of Membranes) also known as an amniotomy, may be
performed by a midwife or obstetrician to induce or accelerate labor. The absence of a
fluid buffer between the fetus and uterus stimulates uterine contractions, which are also
promoted by the rush of prostaglandins from the amniotic fluid.
6. BPP ( Biophysical Profile) measures the health of your baby during pregnancy. The
BPP measures your baby's heart rate, muscle tone, movement, breathing, and the amount
of amniotic fluid around your baby. BPP is done in the 3rd trimester.
7. CST ( Contraction Stress Test) A contraction stress test checks to see if your unborn
baby will stay healthy during the reduced oxygen levels that normally occur during
contractions when you are in labor. The test is done when you are 34 or more weeks.

8. CVS ( Chorionic Villus Sampling) is a test done during early pregnancy that can find
certain problems with your baby. It is generally done when either you or the father has a
disease that runs in the family, or if the mother is at the advanced maternal age.
9. DVT ( Deep Vein Thrombosis) During pregnancy makes the woman more likely to
have a blood clot. This is due to the changes that are said to reduce bleeding out during
birth. But also when you are carrying a baby there is a reduction of the speed of blood
flow going to your veins which send blood to your legs and back to your heart.
10. EDC or EDD ( Expected Date of Confinement) Is an estimation of when your due date
or delivery date will be. This is not a definite date that the baby will come out is more of
an estimation.
11. EFW ( Estimated Fetal Weight) Is an estimation for the weight of the fetus, this is done
in an ultrasound where they measure the abdominal circumference (AC) and the
biparietal diameter (BPD).
12. FAS ( Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) Fetal alcohol syndrome is growth, mental, and physical
problems that may occur in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol during pregnancy.
13. FFN ( Fetal Fibronectin) - is a special protein that literally holds your baby in place in the
womb. After the 35th week of pregnancy, it begins to break down naturally, and is
detectable. If your body is getting ready to give birth prematurely, FFN may be detected
before week 35.
14. FHT ( Fetal Heart Tones) fetal heart tones (FHT), is very rapid, much faster than an
adult's. In fact it starts out near 180 beats per minute (BPM) and around 12 weeks
gestation settles into the normal range of 120-160 BPM for the remainder of the
pregnancy.
15. FM (Fetal Movement) is the motion of a fetus caused by its own muscle activity. It is
important to keep track of how much the baby moves just in case there is something
wrong. Women should start feeling the baby move around weeks 18-20.

16. FSE ( Fetal Scalp Electrode) A fetal scalp 'clip', or electrode, is a small, circular,
corkscrew-shaped needle attached to a coated wire. The clip is covered with a long,
protective, flexible, plastic covering and guided up through the mother's vagina by the
caregiver doing an internal examination. Is only used to monitor the baby's heart rate
during labour, usually if external monitoring is not being reliable.
17. Gs and Ps ( Gravida and Para) Gravida is the number of pregnancies that the woman
has and Para indicates the number of >20 wks births.
18. GBS ( group B streptococcus) s a type of bacterial infection that can be found in a
pregnant womans vagina or rectum. A mother can pass GBS to her baby during delivery.
19. GDM ( Gestational Diabetes Mellitus) is any degree of glucose intolerance with onset
or first recognition during pregnancy.
20. hCG ( Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) is produced during pregnancy. It is made by
cells that form the placenta, which nourishes the egg after it has been fertilized and
becomes attached to the uterine wall. Low hcg can be a possible miscarriage or an ectopic
pregnancy and high hCG can be multiple pregnancies and molar pregnancies.
21. HELLP ( Hemolysis, Elevated Liver Enzymes and Low Platelets) HELLP syndrome is
a group of symptoms that occur in pregnant women who have: H hemolysis (the
breakdown of red blood cells). EL -- elevated liver enzymes. LP low platelet count.
22. IDDM ( Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus) is a form of diabetes in which patients
have little or no ability to produce insulin and are therefore entirely dependent on insulin
injections.
23. IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction) refers to the poor growth of a baby while in the
mother's womb during pregnancy. Specifically, it means the developing baby weights less
than 90% of other babies at the same gestational age.
24. IUPC ( Intrauterine Pressure Catheter) is often used in labor induction to help measure
the exact force of the contractions during labor. This can help your doctor or midwife
determine the amount of pitocin to use.

25. LGA ( Large for Gestitional Age) Large for gestational age (LGA) means that a fetus or
infant is larger or more developed than normal for the baby's gestational age. LGA refers
to a fetus or infant who is larger than expected for the age and gender or with a birth
weight above the 90th percentile.
26. LMP ( Last Menstrual Period) is the noted last menstrual period that the mother had.
This is used to calculate the estimated delivery date.
27. NICU ( Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) is an intensive care unit specializing in the care
of ill or premature newborn infants. Their competencies include the administration of
high-risk medications, management of high-acuity patients requiring ventilator support,
surgical care, resuscitation, and advanced interventions, as well as chronic-care
management or lower acuity cares associated with premature infants such as feeding
intolerance, phototherapy, or administering antibiotics.
28. NST ( Non-Stess Test) is a simple, non-invasive test performed in pregnancies over 28
weeks gestation. The test is named non-stress because no stress is placed on the fetus
during the test. Movement, heart rate and reactivity of heart rate to movement is
measured for 20-30 minutes. If the baby does not move, it does not necessarily indicate
that there is a problem; the baby could just be asleep.
29. PID ( Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) refers to infection of the uterus (womb), fallopian
tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) and other reproductive organs
that causes symptoms such as lower abdominal pain. PID can damage the fallopian tubes
and tissues in and near the uterus and ovaries. PID can lead to serious consequences
including infertility, ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tube or elsewhere
outside of the womb), abscess formation, and chronic pelvic pain.
30. PPROM ( Prolonged Premature Rupture of Membranes) a condition in which the
membrane rupture occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy. You are most at risk if you
smoke during pregnancy, have had a previous early membrane rupture, or had vaginal

bleeding during your pregnancy. The symptoms of both conditions are leaking or gushing
of fluid from the vagina. The way to tell whether you're leaking amniotic fluid and not
urine is by taking the sniff test: If it smells like ammonia, it's probably urine. If it has a
somewhat sweet smell, it's probably amniotic fluid.
31. Preeclampsia Preeclampsia is when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure
and protein in the urine after the 20th week (late 2nd or 3rd trimester) of pregnancy.
32. PTL ( Preterm Labor) Preterm labor occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Signs of
preterm labor such as contractions or cramps
33. RDS ( Respiratory Distress syndrome) Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a
breathing disorder that affects newborns. RDS rarely occurs in full-term infants. The
disorder is more common in premature infants born about 6 weeks or more before their
due dates.
34. SGA ( Small for Gestational Age) means a developing baby in the womb or an infant is
smaller in size than normal for the baby's gender and gestational age. The most widely
used definition of SGA is birth weight below the 10th percentile.
35. SIDS ( Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is the unexpected, sudden death of a child
under age 1 in which an autopsy does not show an explainable cause of death. Almost all
SIDS deaths occur without any warning or symptoms when the infant is thought to be
sleeping.
36. SROM ( Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes) usually occurs during normal labor but
membranes can rupture before labor also and this can affect progress of labor.
37. STI ( Sexually Transmitted Infections) Are infections a person can get by having sex
(genital, oral or anal) with someone who has one of these infections. Many infected
individuals do not know they have an STI because some STIs cause no symptoms.
STIs pose special risks for pregnant women and their babies.
38. TTN ( Transient Tachypnea of Newborn) is a self-limited disease common in infants
throughout the world and is encountered by all physicians who care for newborn infants.

Infants with transient tachypnea of the newborn present within the first few hours of life
with tachypnea, increased oxygen requirement, and ABGs that do not reflect carbon
dioxide retention.
39. UC ( Uterine Contraction) a rhythmic tightening in labor of the upper uterine
musculature that contracts the size of the uterus and pushes the fetus toward the birth
canal.
40. VBAC ( Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) After having a c-section on your next delivery
you have a choice of getting a c-section again or try giving birth vaginally.
41. VE (Vaginal Exam) is an exam of the vagina. The HCP can see more if they place there
fingers in there to see where the labor is at.