Obstetrics Common Abbreviations
The medical reports you will be required to analyze on the job will contain a variety of written abbreviations. To abbreviate or not abbreviate: that is the question... however, in practice, these terms are essential for professional documentation. In this section, we will introduce some of the medical abbreviations you are likely to encounter on the job, specifically those sourced from Delmar’s Comprehensive Medical Terminology.
Core Obstetric Terminology
Understanding these abbreviations is vital for maternal care and patient history. Below are common terms used to describe patient status and pregnancy history:
- OB: Obstetrics
- G: Gravida (pregnant)
- GPA: Gravida, Para, Abortion
- LMP: Last Menstral Period
- Primip: Primipara (first birth)
- Multip: Multipara (2 or more births)
- TPAL: Term, Pre-term, Abortion, Living
Fetal Monitoring and Diagnostic Tests
Electronic monitoring and laboratory tests provide critical data during pregnancy and labor. Common diagnostic abbreviations include:
- AFP: Alpha-FetoProtein
- CST: Contraction Stress Test
- EFM: Electronic Fetal Monitoring
- FHR: Fetal Heart Rate
- FHS: Fetal Heart Sound
- FHT: Fetal Heart Tone
- FSH: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
- HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
- NST: Non Stress Test
- UC: Uterine Contractions
Labor, Delivery, and Scheduling
The following terms are frequently used during Labor & Delivery (L&D) and when determining birth timelines:
- EDB: Expected Date of Birth
- EDC: Expected Date of Confinement
- EDD: Expected Date of Delivery
- C-section / CS: Cesarean section
- NSD: Normal Spontaneous Delivery
- SVD: Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery
Common Problems and Emergencies in Obstetrics
Medical analysis also requires an overview of clinical problems and emergencies, such as:
- Physiology of Pregnancy
- First Trimester Problems
- Second Trimester Problems
- Third Trimester Problems
- Maternal Collapse
- Maternal Mortality
Regarding Maternal Mortality in Australia (AIHW 2006), data for 2000-2002 recorded 95 deaths, with a rate of 11.1 per 100,000 maternities. The breakdown of these cases included 32 direct deaths, 52 indirect, 3 incidental, and 8 late deaths.