A List of Common Abbreviations Used on Parenting Forums

Try to join in on a conversation or parents’ forum online for the first time and you’ll be in acronym hell—that is, until you get the details on what they all mean, and then you’ll be in abbreviation heaven (we swear, it’s a lot quicker to type in SAHM than stay-at-home-mom in every post).

AF – aunt flo or menstrual cycle

AI – artificial insemination

BC – birth control

BCP – birth control pills

BD – baby dance (sex for the purpose of conception)

BF – breastfeeding

BFN – big fat negative (pregnancy test)

BFP – big fat positive (pregnancy test)

BIL – brother-in-law

BM – breast milk

C/S – cesarean section

CIO – cry it out

DC – daycare

DCP – day care provider

DD – dear daughter

DDB – due date buddy

DE – donor eggs

DH – dear husband

DIL – daughter-in-law

DPO – days post-ovulation

DS – dear son

DSD – dear stepdaughter

DSS – dear stepson

DW – dear wife

EBF – extended breastfeeding or exclusively breastfed

EDD – estimated due date or expected date of delivery

FF – formula feeding 

FIL – father-in-law

H&H9 – happy and healthy nine months (congratulations on your pregnancy)

HOM – high order multiples

HPT – home pregnancy test

IF – infertility

IVF – in vitro fertilization

L&D – labor and delivery

LO – little one

M/C – miscarriage

MIL – mother-in-law

ML – maternity leave

MW – midwife

NAK – nursing at keyboard

NIP – nursing in public

OPK – ovulation prediction kit

PG – pregnant

PP – postpartum 

PPD – postpartum depression

SAHD – stay-at-home dad

SAHM – stay-at-home mom

SAHP – stay-at-home parent

SIL – sister-in-law

SO – significant other

STBX – soon-to-be-ex (spouse)

TTC – trying to conceive

U/S – ultrasound 

WAH – work at home

WAHD – work-at-home dad

WAHM – work-at-home mom

WOH – work-out-of-home

WOHD – work-outside-home dad

WOHM – work-outside-home mom

XH – ex-husband

XW – ex-wife