Or maybe they are more likely to walk into a weekly pre-natal appointment, with your care provider, near the 40th week of your pregnancy. At this point in your pregnancy induction may be discussed for a variety of reasons. If your goal is to have a vaginal delivery you ought to know about the Bishop score.
Which Bishop and his score in what? The score is all about the status of your cervix and the location of the baby's head in relation to your pelvis. (What any of this has to do with a Bishop, I have no idea!) The higher the Bishop score, the more likely an induction will work and result in a vaginal delivery. Anything less than an 8 is deemed not favorable. So, if I wanted to avoid an induction, until it is truly medically necessary, I would ask my care provider about the status of my cervix and the location of the baby's head. That way I could calculate my own Bishop Score!
So through my truly terrible artistic abilities, let me show/explain what you need to find out:
Which Bishop and his score in what? The score is all about the status of your cervix and the location of the baby's head in relation to your pelvis. (What any of this has to do with a Bishop, I have no idea!) The higher the Bishop score, the more likely an induction will work and result in a vaginal delivery. Anything less than an 8 is deemed not favorable. So, if I wanted to avoid an induction, until it is truly medically necessary, I would ask my care provider about the status of my cervix and the location of the baby's head. That way I could calculate my own Bishop Score!
So through my truly terrible artistic abilities, let me show/explain what you need to find out:
1-Cervix Position
So the angle of the dangle of your cervix changes in preparation for birth.
During most of your pregnancy your cervix is pointed towards your back (posterior cervix).
As birth time approaches the cervix moves to point toward your front (anterior cervix).
1-Cervix Position
So the angle of the dangle of your cervix changes in preparation for birth.
During most of your pregnancy your cervix is pointed towards your back (posterior cervix).
As birth time approaches the cervix moves to point toward your front (anterior cervix).
2-Cervix Softness/Ripeness
Like a banana without the brown spots.
During pregnancy your cervix is hard and rubbery like the tip of your nose.
As labor progresses it get more compressable and a bit softer like pinching your ear lobe between your thumb and finger.
When your cervix gets really soft it feels mushy like the inside of your cheek.
3-Cervix Effacement
Usually expressed as a percentage.
The cervix has a length to it, so as it effaces, it gets shorter/thinner.
I like to compare it to a tree stump at 0% effacement and a very tasty crepe at 100% effacement.
Which one do you think will open more easily?
4-Cervix Dilation
How big is the hole?
Will the baby's head fit through it yet?!?
Expressed in centimeters from 0-10 centimeters.
5-Baby Station
All aboard! Oops I mean time to leave, mommy wants to see what you look like. AND she would like to sleep on her stomach again!
Baby Stations range from -4 at the pelvic brim to 0 at the Ischial Spines of your pelvis to +4 crowning.
I always remember that the positive numbers are a positive sign that the baby is almost out.
There is a fun little calculator for the Bishop Score and some different graphics here. I hope my art capabilities didn't leave you scratching your tilted head.