When the woman realizes she is pregnant, she becomes familiar with terms until then unknown. Understanding the medical language is complicated, including the reproduction field, and it is not strange finding term like amniocentesis or doppler, blastocyst or stroma, which sound like Chinese. It is undeniable that new mums are very nervous, especially if the path to achieve pregnancy was complicated and finally it was possible through assisted reproduction techniques; everything is new to new mums, for example the first ultrasound that can be compared to an incomprehensible hieroglyphics. To get ready for your first ultrasound we will show you how to interpret the most common abbreviations.
What do ultrasound abbreviations and initials mean?
Ultrasounds guide future mums during the whole pregnancy process and are essential to understand how the baby progresses, thanks to the ultrasound pregnancy is confirmed, and is possible to know the number of babies they are expecting, ruling out possible fetal abnormalities and reveal the fetal growth.
We talk about the meaning of the most common ultrasound abbreviations:
- CRL (crown rump length): is the distance expressed in millimeters between the top of the head (crown) to the bottom of the buttocks (rump). This measurement is taken between 7 and 13 weeks of pregnancy and can be used to estimate gestational age and due date.
- DPD (biparietal diameter): from one side to another of the head; measurement given in millimeters.
- LMP (last menstrual period): determines the date of last menstruation of the future mum.
- EDD: estimated date of delivering.
- HD (head circumference): determines the baby head circumference, expressed in millimeters.
- AC (abdominal circumference): determines the baby abdominal circumference expressed in millimeters. It is used to know the weight and length of the baby, especially in the last stage of the pregnancy.
- FL (femur length): it measures the length of the femur (thigh bone) express in millimeters.
- EFW (estimated fetal weight). Is the estimated weight of the baby, expressed in grams.
- FHM (fetal heart movement). It measures fetal heart movements.
- FG: to find out the gender of the baby, male or female.
- AF: amniotic fluid.
Ultrasounds have evolved over years and every time provides more detailed information. The latest technologies are 3D and 4D ultrasound by which future mums can see their baby with the best quality image. In Eva Clinics we want to put all our patients in contact with this experience, for this reason women who get pregnant in within our Eva Clinics will receive a discount of 20 euro on this type of ultrasound (more information about Eva Club).
