Wondering WTH fellow mamas are banging on about in Facebook groups with acronyms such as DS1, TIA, AF being thrown around? Check out our guide to hopefully make all a bit clearer!

Breastfeeding terms:

  • EBF – Exclusively breastfed
  • EBM – Expressed breast milk
  • SNS – Supplemental nursing babies
  • HM4HB – Human Milk for Human Babies (milk donation)
  • CMPI – Cow’s milk protein intolerance
  • CMPA – Cow’s milk protein allergy
  • DF – Dairy free
  • LC – Lactation consultant
  • IBCLC – International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
  • BFI – Breastfeeding Friendly Initiative
  • PS – Peer Supporter
  • BfN – Breastfeeding Network
  • ABM – Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
  • NCT – National Childbirth Trust
  • LLL – La Leche League
  • TT – Tongue Tie

Breastfeeding clothing related terms:

  • OUOD – one up, one down 
  • OTT – [boob] over the top

Feeding terms:

  • TW – Traditional weaning (purees and finger food)
  • BLW – Baby Led Weaning (baby feeds themselves ‘normal food’, no intervention from parents)
  • FF – Formula Fed (*contextual, may clash with forward facing)
  • AF – Artificially Fed (*contextual, may clash with Aunt Flo)

Family terms:

  • OH – Other half
  • DH – Dear husband
  • DP – Dear partner
  • SO – Significant other
  • LO – Little one
  • LB – Little Boy
  • LG – Little Girl
  • DD – Dear daughter (can be followed by number to distinguish which one, e.g. DD1, DD2)
  • DS – Dear son (can be followed by number to distinguish which one, e.g. DS1, DS2)
  • MIL – Mother in law
  • FIL – Father in law
  • SIL – Sister in law
  • BIL – Brother in law

Healthcare terms:

  • GP – General Practitioner
  • HV – Health Visitor
  • MW – Midwife
  • NICU – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
  • SCBU – Special Care Baby Unit
  • WHO – World Health Organisation
  • NICE – National Institute for the Centre of Excellence

Misc group terms:

  • OT – Off topic
  • NBFR – Not breastfeeding related
  • NBR – Not baby related
  • TIA – Thanks in advance
  • OP – Original poster
  • IMO/IMHO – In my (honest) opinion
  • IYSWIM/IYKWIM – If you see/know what I mean
  • WSS – What she said
  • GWS – Get well soon
  • AFAIK – As far as I know
  • IIRC – If I recall correctly
  • SMH – Shaking my head
  • F – following (you can also get Facebook to give you notifications if you click the down arrow to the right of the post)
  • WTH – What the hell
  • AAsha – Ask Asha 😉

General parenting/birth terms:

  • TTC – Trying to conceive
  • AF – Aunt Flo
  • SAHM – Stay at home mum
  • FTM – First time mum
  • ECS – Elective Caesarean Section
  • DTD – Doing the ‘deed’
  • CIO – Cry it out
  • CC – Controlled crying
  • AP – Attachment parenting
  • Gp – Gentle Parenting
  • EC – Elimination Communication
  • ERF – Extended Rear Facing
  • FF – Forward facing (*contextual, may clash with formula feeding)

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