Our list of common abbreviations or acronyms should clear up any confusion about the shorthand we use in our private support group
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A:
We really do use a lot of abbreviations. Many of these may be familiar from other discussion areas on the internet, but several are shorthand for various prenatal diagnoses or tests, medical procedures, and so on. Some are unique to EWP— oops, we mean, Ending a Wanted Pregnancy. Below is an alphabetical list of as many as we could think of.
You certainly don’t need to memorize these, just let this list be your handy reference guide. If there are other abbreviations you think we should add, please drop us an email at endingawantedpregnancy at gmail.com.
ACC – agenesis of the corpus callosum, a brain defect
AF – Aunt Flo, an old euphemism for menstruation
AHC – a heartwrenching choice (a euphemism for abortion after poor prenatal diagnosis or for maternal health issues.)
AMA – advanced maternal age (may also mean against medical advice in some contexts)
AVSD – atrial ventricular septal defect, a heart defect
BBC – Babycenter, a parenting website with community forums
BC – birth control
BD – baby dance (a euphemism for sex with the intent of conception)
BF – breastfeed
BIL – brother-in-law
BTW – by the way
CI – conception issues
CMV – cytomegalovirus, a virus that can cause harm early in pregnancy
CTT – carry to term, in reference to prenatally diagnosed pregnancy
CVS – chorionic villus sampling, an early test for chromosomal anomalies
CW – content warning
DBF – dear boyfriend
D&C – dilation and cutterage, an abortion procedure
DD – dear daughter
D&E – dilation and extraction, an abortion procedure
DH – dear husband
DP – dear partner
DS – dear son (sometimes used for “Down syndrome” but T-21 is clearer)
DW – dear wife
DX – diagnosis
EDD – estimated due date or estimated delivery date
ETA – edited to add
EWP – ending a wanted pregnancy, also used to refer to this website and related support resources
FET – frozen embryo transfer
FFS – for fark’s sake
FIL – father-in-law
FISH – fluorescent in situ hybridization, a genetic screening following CVS or amniocentesis
FWIW – for what it’s worth
GC – genetic counselor
HG – hyperemesis graverdarium, a prenatal condition
HLHS – hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a heart defect
HPE – holoprosencephaly, a brain defect
HRHS – hypoplastic right heart syndrome, a heart defect
HTH – hope that helps
IC – incompetent cervix
IF – infertility
IUI – intra-uterine insemination
IUGR – interuterine growth restriction, a prenatal condition
IVF – invitro fertilization
IIRC – if I recall correctly
IMO – in my opinion
IMHO – in my humble opinion
IMNSHO – in my not so humble opinion
KWIM – know what I mean?
LC – living child
L&D – labor and delivery, an abortion procedure
MFM – maternal-fetal medicine specialist
MIL – mother-in-law
NIPT – non-invasive prenatal testing
NT – nuchal scan or nuchal translucency, a soft marker for genetic anomalies
NTD – neural tube defect
OB – obstetrician
OHC – Our Heartbreaking Choices, a book of compiled termination stories from many members of our community and edited by Christie Brooks.
OP – original poster, the person who started the discussion
OT – off topic
OTOH – on the other hand
PG – pregnant
PIG – pre-implantation genetic testing
PITA – pain in the a**
PM – private message
PPD – poor prenatal diagnosis
PPROM – premature rupture of membranes, a dangerous prenatal condition
Rainbow – “rainbow child,” a living child born following a pregnancy loss
ROFL – rolling on floor laughing
SB – spina bifida, a neural tube defect
SIL – sister-in-law
T-9 – chromosome 9 trisomy, a chromosomal anomaly
T-13 – trisomy 13 or Patau syndrome, a chromosomal anomaly
T-18 – trisomy 18 or Edward syndrome, a chromosomal anomaly
T-21 – trisomy 21 or Down syndrome, a chromosomal anomaly
TFMR – termination for medical reasons
TIA – thanks in advance
TS – Turner syndrome, a chromosomal anomaly
TTC – trying to conceive
TW – trigger warning (If you’re going to use a “trigger warning” please clearly state what the warning is about, as “trigger warning” alone is too vague to be of any value.)
TWW – two-week wait, between ovulation and taking a pregnancy test
TX – termination of pregnancy or an abortion
US or U/S – ultrasound, a prenatal test
WTF – what the f*ck?
YMMV – your mileage may vary (this may not be same for you as it is for me)