Glossary of Neonatal Terms
These guidelines are for new interns and medical officers (registrars should also read them). Interns and MOs carry a lot of responsibility in the Rahima Moosa Neonatal Unit, particularly regarding after hours work, and newborn resuscitation. These notes should clarify some frequently-asked questions. Please read them early in your time at Rahima Moosa. The guidelines are not meant to substitute
These guidelines are for new interns and medical officers (registrars should also read them). Interns and MOs carry a lot of responsibility in the Rahima Moosa Neonatal Unit, particularly regarding after hours work, and newborn resuscitation. These notes should clarify some frequently-asked questions. Please read them early in your time at Rahima Moosa. The guidelines are not meant to substitute for your judgment, and nor are they meant to be comprehensive. If you are in doubt as to how to proceed in a given situation you should contact a more senior person. If in doubt about any issues or you have suggestions to improve the guidelines, speak to the neonatal unit registrars or consultants.
| AGA | Appropriate for Gestational Age |
| ALP | Alkaline Phosphate |
| BPD | Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia |
| BW | Birth Weight |
| CAH | Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia |
| CLD | Chronic Lung Disease (=BPD) |
| CMP | Calcium, Magnesium and Phosphate |
| EBM | Expressed Breast Milk |
| ELBW | Extremely low BW (<1000g) |
| ESBL | Extended Spectrum B-lactamase |
| FBC | Full Blood Count |
| HIE | Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy |
| HMD | Hyaline Membrane Disease (RDS) |
| IDM | Infant of Diabetic Mother |
| IVH | Intra-ventricular haemorrhage |
| KMC | Kangaroo Mother Care |
| MAS | Meconium Aspiration Syndrome |
| MRSA | Methicillin-resistant Staph Aureus |
| MSL | Meconium Stained Liquor |
| NEC | Necrotizing Enterocolitis |
| NNE | Neonatal Encephalopathy |
| NNFU | Neonatal follow-up |
| NNJ | Neonatal Jaundice |
| PROM | Premature Rupture of Membranes |
| PVL | Peri-ventricular Leukomalacia |
| RDS | Respiratory distress syndrome (HMD) |
| ROP | Retinopathy of prematurity |
| SAH | Subaponeurotic hemorrhage |
| SBR | Serum bilirubin |
| SGA | Small for Gestational Age |
| TPN | Total Parenteral Nutrition |
| U&E | Urea & Electrolytes |
| VLBW | Very low birth weight (<1500g) |
Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital - Neonatal Care Handbook 2023; Glossary of Neonatal Terms
Last checked for updates: January 2024