Maternal Acronyms in Obstetrics

Study Notes

Maternal Acronyms

Gravida (G): Refers to the number of times a patient has been pregnant, including the current pregnancy.
Parity (P): Indicates the number of births (live or stillbirth) after 24 weeks. Twin deliveries count as one event for parity.
Gestation (Gest): The period of time during which a fetus develops inside the womb.
Induction of Labour (IOL): A medical procedure used to stimulate contractions before natural labor begins.
Assisted Rupture of Membranes (ARM): A procedure where the amniotic sac is deliberately ruptured to facilitate labor.
Female Infant / Male Infant (FI / MI): Designations used to differentiate the sex of newborns.
Lower Segment C Section (LSCS): A surgical procedure performed to deliver a baby through incisions in the lower segment of the uterus.
Emergency C Section (EmCS): A cesarean delivery that occurs due to unexpected complications during labor or delivery.
Elective C Section (ElCS): A planned cesarean delivery that is scheduled in advance for non-emergency reasons.
Vaginal Birth after Caesarean / Trial of Scar (VBAC / TOS): Refers to the process of attempting a vaginal delivery after having a previous cesarean section, with an associated risk of scar dehiscence.
Pre-eclampsia Toxaemia (PET): A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often affecting the liver and kidneys.
Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH): High blood pressure that develops during pregnancy, which can lead to serious complications if left untreated.
Intra-uterine Death (IUD): The death of a fetus within the uterus at any stage of pregnancy.
Still Birth (SB): The birth of a baby that has died in the womb after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Neonatal Death (NND): The death of a baby within the first 28 days after birth.
Group B Strep Infection (GBS): A bacterial infection that can be present in the mother and may affect the baby during or after birth; commonly noted in medical records.
Breech Presentation (Br): A positioning of the fetus in the womb where the feet or buttocks are positioned to be delivered first instead of the head.
Transverse Lie (Trans): Fetal position where the baby lies sideways in the uterus, which complicates vaginal delivery.
Cephalic / Vertex Presentation (Ceph): The normal position for a fetus during delivery, where the head is facing down.
Occiput Posterior (OP): A position where the back of the baby's head is against the mother’s back, making delivery more challenging.
Occiput Anterior (OA): The ideal fetal position for delivery where the baby's face is toward the mother’s spine.
Placenta Previa (PP): A condition during pregnancy where the placenta partially or wholly covers the cervix, leading to complications during delivery.
Normal Vaginal Delivery (NVD): A standard delivery method characterized by the baby being born through the birth canal without medical interventions.
Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes (SROM): The natural breaking of the amniotic sac, which can signal that labor is beginning.