Decoding the Message Board Acronyms

As with any new undertaking, when pregnant or attempting to become pregnant, Google becomes your new best friend, and often your internet research is compiled of both reputable web resources, like the Mayo Clinic, the bump, the American Pregnancy Association, and the Baby Center, supplemented with a sprinkling of message board banter.

I don't know about you, but one of the most absurd and daunting challenges I've discovered thus far is all those ridiculous acronyms people are using in message boards. It's like these women are speaking in code and I don't understand how or when everyone learned all the codewords! I missed the memo. So, here is a collection of some of the most common I've encountered. Happy deciphering!

(For more, you can find the full list here: http://www.babycenter.com/community-help-abbreviations)

AF	Aunt Flo — menstruation/period
BBT	basal body temperature
BC	because, or birth control, or before children
BFN	big fat negative (pregnancy test)
BFP	big fat positive (pregnancy test)
CD	cycle day
CF	cervical fluid
CM	cervical mucus
CS or C/S	cesarean section
DH	dear husband
DP	dear partner
DPO	days past ovulation
EDD	estimated due date, or expected date of delivery
FTM	first time mom
HPT	home pregnancy test
IUI	intrauterine insemination
IVF	in vitro fertilization
L&D	labor and delivery
LP	luteal phase
MC or M/C	miscarriage
O	ovulation
O'd	ovulated
OPK	ovulation predictor kit
PG	pregnant, or pregnancy
POAS	pee on a stick (i.e. pregnancy test)
TTC	trying to conceive
US or U/S	ultrasound