Revised March 2024
An alphabetical list of health-related abbreviations for use in documentation for Missouri WIC is provided below.
Standard medical credentials such as RD, LD, MD, may be abbreviated in documentation but are not included on this list.
A
Abbreviations beginning with A| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| A | assessment |
| Ab | abortion |
| abd. | abdomen/abdominal |
| ad lib | as desired |
| ADD | attention deficit disorder |
| ADHD | attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder |
| AEB | as evidenced by |
| AKA | also known as |
| a.m. | morning |
| amt. | amount |
| ante | before |
| appt. | appointment |
| ASAP | as soon as possible |
| Avg. | average |
B
Abbreviations beginning with B| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| B | breastfeeding woman |
| bbtd | baby bottle tooth decay |
| Bf | breastfeeding |
| bfpc | breastfeeding peer counselor/breastfeeding peer counseling program |
| bid | twice a day |
| bkft | breakfast |
| BLL | blood lead level |
| BM | bowel movement |
| BMI | body mass index |
| BP | blood pressure |
| BS | blood sugar |
| Btl | bottle |
| BUN | blood urea nitrogen |
C
Abbreviations beginning with C| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| C | child |
| CA | cancer/carcinoma |
| Ca | calcium |
| CHO | carbohydrate |
| CM | case management |
| CNM | certified nurse midwife |
| C/O | complains of |
| conc | concentrate |
| cont | continue |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| CP | cerebral palsy |
| CPA | competent professional authority |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| C/S | caesarian section |
| CV | clinic visit |
| CVB | cash value benefit |
| Cx. | cervix |
D
Abbreviations beginning with D| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| d | day |
| D&C | dilation and curettage |
| D/C | discontinue |
| DCN | departmental client number |
| DFS | Division of Family Services |
| DM | diabetes mellitus |
| DME | durable medical equipment |
| DNKA | did not keep appointment |
| DOB | date of birth |
| Dr. | doctor |
| DT | diphtheria and tetanus toxoids |
| DTP | diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis |
| Dx | diagnosis |
E
Abbreviations beginning with E| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| ebf | exclusively breastfed/breastfeeding |
| ebm | expressed breast milk |
| ed | education |
| EDC | estimated date of confinement |
| EDD | estimated date of delivery |
| EEG | electroencephalogram |
| EKG/ECG | electrocardiogram |
| enc | encouraged |
| ER | emergency room |
| ETOH | ethyl alcohol |
| eval | evaluation |
| exp | expiration |
F
Abbreviations beginning with F| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| Fa | father |
| FAS | fetal alcohol syndrome |
| fbf | fully breastfed/breastfeeding |
| FBS | fasting blood sugar |
| F&C | foams and condoms |
| Fe | iron |
| FHR | fetal heart rate |
| FOB | father of baby |
| FOD | feed on demand |
| FP | family planning |
| freq | frequent |
| FTE | full time employee |
| FTT | failure to thrive |
| F/U | follow-up |
| f/v | fruits and vegetables |
| FYI | for your information |
G
Abbreviations beginning with G| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| GA | gestational age |
| G&D | growth and development |
| GI | gastrointestinal |
| gm | gram |
| GRFA | grandfather |
| GRMO | grandmother |
| GTT | glucose tolerance test |
H
Abbreviations beginning with H| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| HC | head circumference |
| HCP | health care professional |
| HCY | healthy children and youth |
| hgb | hemoglobin |
| hosp | hospital |
| HR | high-risk |
| HRCP | high-risk care plan |
| hr. | hour |
| ht | height |
| ht/a | height for age |
| hx | history |
| H2O | water |
I
Abbreviations beginning with I| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| I | infant |
| ICU | intensive care unit |
| IDDM | insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
| i.e. | for example |
| ifu | infant follow-up |
| indep | independent |
| info | information |
| I&O | intake and output |
| IUD | intrauterine device |
| IUGR | intrauterine growth retardation |
| IV | intravenous |
K
Abbreviations beginning with K| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| K | potassium |
| Kg. | kilogram |
L
Abbreviations beginning with L| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| l | liter |
| Lab/lab | laboratory |
| lb | pound |
| LBW | low birth weight |
| lg. | large |
| LGA | large for gestational age |
| Lgt/a | length for age |
| Lgt/wt | length for weight |
| liq | liquid |
| lm | left message |
| LMP | last menstrual period |
| lt | left |
M
Abbreviations beginning with M| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| m | meter |
| M2M | month to month |
| mat | maternal |
| mcg | microgram |
| MCA | mid-certification assessment |
| MC+ | MO HealthNet/Medicaid |
| MDHQ | mandatory dental health questions |
| Mer | milk ejection reflex |
| MGF | maternal grandfather |
| MGM | maternal grandmother |
| MI | myocardial infarction |
| Min | minute |
| ml | milliliter |
| MMM | Medications and Mother’s Milk (Hale) |
| MMR | measles-mumps-rubella vaccine |
| Mo | mother |
| mo | month |
| MOC | mother of child |
| mod | moderate |
| MOI | mother of infant |
| MOWINS | Missouri WIC Information Network System |
| MS | multiple sclerosis |
| m/v | multivitamin |
| MVA | motor vehicle accident |
N
Abbreviations beginning with N| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| N | nonbreastfeeding woman |
| NA | nutrition assessment |
| Na | sodium |
| N/A | not applicable |
| NE | nutrition education |
| neg | negative |
| NICU | neonatal intensive care unit |
| NKA | no known allergies |
| NKFA | no known food allergies |
| NPO | nothing by mouth |
| Nutr | nutritionist |
| N/V or N&V | nausea and vomiting |
O
Abbreviations beginning with O| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| O | objective |
| OB | obstetrics |
| OC | oral contraceptive |
| occ | occasional |
| OTC | over-the-counter |
| OV | office visit |
| oz | ounce |
| O2 | oxygen |
P
Abbreviations beginning with P| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| P | plan or prenatal |
| PAT | Parents as Teachers |
| Pb | peanut butter |
| Pbf | partially breastfed/breastfeeding |
| PCE | participant centered education |
| PCS | participant-centered services |
| pe | program explanation |
| per | through, by |
| PGF | paternal grandfather |
| Pg | pregnant/pregnancy |
| PGM | paternal grandmother |
| PID | pelvic inflammatory disease |
| PKU | phenylketonuria |
| p.m. | afternoon |
| PML | premature labor |
| PMP | previous menstrual period |
| PMS | premenstrual syndrome |
| pnv | prenatal vitamin |
| PO | phone order |
| po | by mouth |
| pos | positive |
| Pp | postpartum |
| PPD | postpartum depression |
| prn | as needed |
| Prep | prepare for |
| Pro | protein |
| PTE | part-time employee |
| pt | patient/participant |
| p/u | pick up |
| PWD | powder |
Q
Abbreviations beginning with Q| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| Q or q | every |
| qh | every hour |
| qhs | every night at bedtime |
| qid | four times a day |
| qt | quart |
| q2h, q3h, etc. | every 2 hours, every 3 hours, etc. |
R
Abbreviations beginning with R| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| RBC | red blood count |
| Rcmd | recommend |
| re: | regarding |
| rec | recommended |
| reg | regular |
| Rf | risk factor |
| R/O | rule out |
| ROI | release of information |
| r/s | reschedule |
| rt | right |
| r/t | related to |
| RTC | return to clinic |
| RTF | ready-to-feed |
| RTU | ready-to-use |
| Rx | prescription |
S
Abbreviations beginning with S| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| S | subjective |
| Sa | spontaneous abortion |
| Sahm | stay at home mom |
| SE | side effects |
| SGA | small for gestational age |
| sm | small |
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program |
| SOB | shortness of breath |
| S/S | signs and symptoms |
| SSDI | social security disability income |
| SSI | social security income |
| SSN | social security number |
| Staph | staphylococcus |
| STD | sexually transmitted disease |
| Strep | streptococcus |
| Sts | skin-to-skin |
| Svg | serving |
T
Abbreviations beginning with T| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| T&A | tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy |
| tab | tablet |
| TB | tuberculosis |
| TBI | traumatic brain injury |
| Tbsp | tablespoon |
| TC | telephone call |
| Td | tetanus-diphtheria vaccine |
| tid | three times a day |
| Temp | temperature |
| tol. | tolerate |
| tsp | teaspoon |
| Tx | treatment |
U
Abbreviations beginning with U| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| Ua/UA | urinalysis |
| US | ultrasound |
| UTI | urinary tract infection |
V
Abbreviations beginning with V| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| vag | vagina/vaginal |
| VBAC | vaginal birth after caesarian |
| Vit | vitamin when followed by specific letter |
| VLBW | very low birth weight |
| VO | verbal order |
| VS | vital signs |
W
Abbreviations beginning with W| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| w/ | with |
| WBC | white blood count |
| WC | WIC certifier |
| Wg | whole grain |
| WIC | Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children |
| wk | week |
| WNL | within normal limits |
| w/o | without |
| wt | weight |
| Wt/a | weight for age |
| Wt/ht | weight for height |
| Wt/lgt | weight for length |
X
Abbreviations beginning with X| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| X | times (2x, 3x, etc.) |
Y
Abbreviations beginning with Y| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|
| Yr | year |
| y/o | years old |
