Understanding Your Maternity Notes

A look at the abbreviations you might notice on your notes from your LMC and what they mean.

Alb – Albumin. A protein in your blood which indicates how well your kidneys are working.

BPBlood Pressure

EDDEstimated Due Date

D – Descent. How far or deep into your pelvis your baby’s head is. This is measured in 5ths with 5/5 being completely above the pelvis and 0/5 being completely in the pelvic cavity.

Eng – Engagement. When your baby’s head moves down into your pelvis, at a descent evaluation of 2/5 or less.

FMF – Fetal Movement Felt. Your LMC will write this when they felt your pēpi kick during a check-up.

Fundus – Fundal height. The distance in centimetres from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. The measurement approximately corresponds to the week of pregnancy i.e. 30 weeks ≈ 30 cm.

FHHR – Fetal Heart Heard Regular

GLU – Glucose aka sugar

GFM – Good Fetal Movements

Hb – Haemoglobin. A protein found in your red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body. Iron is crucial for the production of haemoglobin. If you have low Hb levels you may need iron supplementation.

LMP – Last Menstrual Period. The date used to calculate your baby’s estimated due date.

NAD – No Abnormality Detected. It means everything seems normal.

OED/OedemaSwelling

PRESPresentation. The way your baby is lying, either head down, head up (breech), or sideways (transverse).

PosPosition. The way your baby is facing in relation to your pelvis.

T or Tr – Trace. This is in reference to the presence of protein or glucose found in your urine.