Everything you wanted to know about those funny little terms but were too embarrassed to ask.

Everything you wanted to know about those funny little terms but were too embarrassed to ask.

Amidst all the raging hormones and information you are suddenly bombarded with when that little urine stick turns from a positive to a negative, there are a whole lot of words, letters, numbers  and questions that you suddenly need to decipher, some of which you will never use again in your life!

This article looks at some of those acronyms on your pregnancy card that will help you to understand what is going on.

• Stages of Pregnancy

Pregnancy is divided into three Trimesters.

Overall, the pregnancy is supposed to take about 40 weeks. This is called Term, so if you have your baby at 40/40 it is delivered “AT TERM”.

“Term” is therefore defined as 40 weeks. So, if your week of pregnancy is 12/40 then you are at 12 weeks.

A pregnancy is divided into three phases, called trimesters, each trimester with its own significant milestones. The first trimester is the most fragile and sensitive period, during which all major organs and systems are formed. Most birth defects and miscarriages occur during the first trimester. During the second and third trimester, the fetus is fully formed and grows and matures rapidly. The trimesters are divided as follows:

• first trimester: 0 - 12 weeks
• second trimester: 12 - 24 weeks
• third trimester: 24 - 40 weeks

• The funny little letters on your card

LMP= last menstrual period, the first day of your last period, which helps in determining the age of your baby

EDD= expected date of delivery, which is 40 weeks from your LMP

EDC=expected date of confinement. Confinement is the same as delivery.

C= cephalic presentations – the head is down

Tr= transverse, the baby is on its side

Br= breech .The baby is head up, feet down

Gravida G and Para P= How many pregnancies and how many babies eg  G1P0, is first pregnancy, no deliveries. G2P1 is second pregnancy, one delivery.

Theses terms have different significance at different stages of pregnancy, so don’t be alarmed at what they mean! If in doubt, ask your doctor or midwife for an explanation.

Got a question?

Post a comment and I’ll see if I can decipher it for you.

PS I was born before 1980, so I don’t get a lot of techie type acronyms! LOL!