Pregnancy Lingo You Should Know: TTC to FTM
So you’re TTC. But then you got a BFN and were so, so sad. That’s totally okay. Your OB said that even though AF made an unexpected appearance, you can start taking your BBT, do the BD, and get ready for a BFP.
Whew! With all of these acronyms, it’s kind of exhausting keeping up with the latest pregnancy lingo. Don’t stress: We’ve got you covered. Check out the pregnancy-related abbreviations you need to know RN! (Uh, that one would be “right now,” and not “registered nurse.”
AF = Aunt Flo
When she’s in town, the baby-making is on hold. When you’re trying to get preggo, this is one “relative” you don’t want to see. Aside from her visits ushering in a BFN (we’ll get to that one later), this acronym is also used during pregnancy planning. After all, if you don’t know when AF is coming, you can’t calculate your ovulation days.
BBT = Basal Body Temperature
This one’s another part of the planning process. Your BBT is the lowest body temp that you have in a 24-hour period. Immediately after your ovulation day, your BBT goes up. It’s not a dramatic rise, but you’ll typically notice a change in the 0.4 to 1.0 degree range. Charting your BBT helps you to better predict when you’ll ovulate — and that can lead to a BFP (we’ll get to that one too).
BD = Baby Dance
This isn’t the goofy happy dance that you do when you find out that you’re expecting. It’s the old-fashioned way of getting preggo — a horizontal mambo, if you will. That’s right: A BD equals the kind of sex that can get you pregnant.
BFN = Big Fat Negative
No hopeful mama-to-be wants to get a BFN. It’s shorthand for a minus sign, the lack of a second line, or a “not pregnant” on the little stick test.
BFP = Big Fat Positive
Yay! A BFP means it’s time to celebrate. It’s the opposite of a BFN, meaning the teeny-tiny pink plus sign just popped up on the test. When you finally get that BFP, it means your body has started its way down the nine-month road to bringing you a kiddo of your very own.
CM = Cervical Mucus
If you’re charting ovulation symptoms, your CM is majorly important, but since few people want to talk about “mucus” in any context, the CM acronym is kind of necessary. Your CM will seem slippery and get an egg-white consistency right before ovulation. And yes, you need to feel it to tell if your body is ready for some serious baby-making.
FTM = First-Time Mom
This is you! In the maternity world, a FTM is exactly what she sounds like — someone who is going to be (or already is) a mama for the very first time. Way easier to say than the super-technical “primigravida,” if you ask us.
HPT = Home Pregnancy Test
It’s that thing that actually gives you the BFN or BFP: You know, those pencil-like pee sticks that tell you if you are or aren’t. While HPTs used to be super-simple, technology has upped the ante and given mamas-to-be options that even include Bluetooth-enabled devices.
LP = Luteal Phase
The time between when you ovulate and when AF comes to visit is your LP. If you’ve gotten a fertilized egg during your LP, the lining of your uterus thickens and preps for pregnancy, and you’re on your way to a BFP!
PG = Pregnant/Pregnancy
Simple but essential, this may be the most important acronym of pregnancy.
TTC = Trying to Conceive
You’ll see this lingo pop up when anyone talks (or writes) about getting pregnant. It’s a handy way for folks to indicate that they’re actively trying for that BFP.