OB foreign language

Every hospital is different but here are a few of our abbreviations:

FSE: Fetal Scalp Electrode

G4 AB1 P2 means she has been pregnant 4 times had 1 miscarriage/abortion and has 2 children, not including the one she is preggo with now

BTL: Bilateral Tubal Ligation

FF: fundus Firm

Pit: Pitocin

EFM: electronic fetal monitoring

SVE: Sterile Vag Exam

4cm 50%: she is 4 cm dilated, and is 50% thinned out

FC: foley cath

I can't think of any other ones right now, if I do later I'll post more. Enjoy working in OB its fun for the most part!

I used to work at a OB/GYN and they do have their own set of abbreviations. It takes awhile to get use to. Here's the ones we would use or see in hosp notes.

TAH- total abdominal hysterectomy

BSO- bilateral salpingooopherectomy (done with hysto's)

TVH- total lady partsl hyterectomy (don't think these are done anymore)

VBAC- lady partsl birth after cesaerean section

BTL- bilateral tubal ligation

G- gravida (number of pregnancies)

P- para (number of viable births)

A- abortion/miscarriage

These are usually in dashes in the chart ex. 3-1-2 or G3, P1, A2

It can also be done like this

T- term births

P- pre term births

A- abortions/miscarriage

L- living children

Done in chart the same way

SAB- spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)

FSE- fetal scalp electrode

GBS- group B strept

GC- gonorrhea

IUFD- intra uterine fetal death

SROM- spontaneous rupture of membranes

c-section or C/S- cesaerean section

CMV- cytomegalovirus

IUGR- intra uterine growth retardation

LMP- last menstral period

AB- abortion

AFP- alpha fetoprotein

IUP- intra uterine pregnancy

CST- contraction stress test

D&E- dilation and evacuation

LTCS- low transvers cesaerean section

pp- post partum

SGA- small for gestational age

TAB- therapeutic abortion (used if fetus will not be viable if carried full term)

D&C- dilation and curettage

AGA- appropriate for gestational age

BCP- birth control pills

FHR- fetal heart rate

FHT- fetal heart tones

Hope these help.

In response to the poster above me, at the hospital I work at we do TVH all the time. Our docs try that before TAH. It has a much faster recovery time and less time in the hospital. I would say 99% of our TVH goes home the next day. Most of our abbreviations are the same as yours I was just having a brain dead moment and couldn't think of anymore!

In response to the poster above me, at the hospital I work at we do TVH all the time. Our docs try that before TAH. It has a much faster recovery time and less time in the hospital. I would say 99% of our TVH goes home the next day. Most of our abbreviations are the same as yours I was just having a brain dead moment and couldn't think of anymore!

That's what I figured that it was just a personal preference with the doctor. I knew it had a quicker recovery than a TAH but I've heard "horror" stories from other doctors and TVH's. Yeah I think there are a few I missed also but it was good to remember them since I'll be starting that rotation next.

One you will hear but not see charted: FLK : "funny looking kid". This is not a slur, but generally translates as: "There's something not quite right about this baby, but I can't quite put my finger on it yet".

I've worked in OB for several years now and just when I think I get them all the more seasoned staff sneak in another abbreviation...

After about a year and a half I remember feeling like I knew what was going on and one of the reporting nurses said that a baby was an "FLK" I must have looked stumped but they continued with report. When she was finished I said "can we get back to the FLK" they were all amused because apparently it's a better way to say "funny looking kid" We get them from time to time LOL...

The first thing to do when you have a FLK is to look at the father. Often that explains everything.

The first thing to do when you have a FLK is to look at the father. Often that explains everything.

LOL LOL ROTFL!!! Isn't that the truth!

PNC = prenatal care

Terb = terbutaline (sp?)

IDGDM = insulin dependent gestational diabetic mother

IDDM = insulin dependent diabetic mother

PTL = pre-term labor

Hope I didn't repeat any already listed.

You'll just have to ask around, too, because each facility has some abreviations which are unique to that place. When I say 'do a sugar' to mean bedside glucose test or ask 'where's the glucometer?', everyone looks at me funny. One touch was the brand name of the machine used here for years - now its actually a Lifescan machine - but every one still terms it 'OTG' (One Touch glucose). The doctors even order it that way - LOL.

never ever use that abb. you are a lawyers dream if you do. I work for a med-mal attorney part time and let me tell you they are looking for things like this

Looks like you guys already got most of 'em. Forgive me if i'm repeating but here's a few we use regularly in L&D that I don't remember seeing:

HCV - Hepatitis C

TOLAC - trial of labor after cesarean

PROM - premature rupture of membranes

PPROM - pre-term premature rupture of membranes

IUPC - intrauterine pressure catheter

US - ultrasound

EFW - estimated fetal weight

AFI - amniotic fluid index

FM - fetal movement

CPD - cephalopelvic disproportion

a joke one that I've heard during report is WCO - won't come out (instead of CPD )