[Choice Mom Culture] Lingo

As I've been diving in to all this research and various online community, I've run into a bevy of very common acronyms and phrases that I thought I would share.

TTC: Trying To Conceive

SMC/Single Mother by Choice; usually indicates that the poster shares some of the views of Jane Mattes, the original lead of the movement, published in the book "Single Mothers By Choice".

Choice Mom: usually indicates that the poster shares more of the views of Mikki Morrissette, an up and comer on the subject. Book and website site, "Choicemoms.org".

BFP: Big Fat Positive, or a positive pregnancy test result. Reason for celebration.

BFN: Big Fat Negative, or a negative pregnancy test result. Disappointment and sadness as a result.

IVF: In Vitro Fertilization, or the act of harvesting eggs and sperm, and creating embryos outside of body before inserting them back into the womb.

IUI: Interuterine insemination. Done at a doctor's office, the sperm is inserted much further up the reproductive tract. Thought to increase chances of conception.

ICI: Intracervical insemination. Can be done at home or in a doctor's office, with a simple tube and syringe. Otherwise known as the "turkey baster method".

T42: Trying to conceive a second child.

LH Surge/Surge: This is your body's signal that it's prime fertile period is coming up in the next 24-48 hours. Detected by urine tests every day, or blood tests. If your 'surge is positive'/your 'surging', it means you need to rush to your doctor's/sperm bank and attempt to conceive.

TWW: Two Week Waiting period. In between a conception attempt, there are two weeks of waiting time before pregnancy tests will be accurate on whether someone is pregnant or not. These two weeks are often emotionally hard, and trigger requests for support during, until they know one way or the other.

The Question: When your child asks you where their father is. Dreaded by many mothers, but usually very well prepared for and positively addressed by most choice moms with a variation of "We are a family of a mommy and a child and a grandpa", rather than the negative take of "You don't have a Father." Being up front about it is recommended.