Know Your Score – Before an Induction

March 23, 2011/

Knowing your Bishop’s score prior to agreeing to an induction when not medically necessary or setting the stage for a medically necessary induction can make a great difference in expectations, additional interventions and understanding for the process as a whole.  Knowing your score can help you determine the type of induction or whether or not to be induced at all.
Your score is based on a vaginal exam that takes into consideration the areas listed in the chart below.


Dilation, Effacement, Consistency and Position all have to do with your cervix. Station is telling where the presenting part of baby is in relation to the ischial spines. (sitz bones).

Are you a good candidate for induction based on your score? Do you need a ripener? Are you a VBAC mother?  What other factors are working in your favor or against success?
Induction is not an easy or guaranteed process. You can see the criteria toward success is telling even without discussing the additional risks leading to additional interventions, medications and/or cesarean.

Additional links and information on induction can be found in this previous post http://prepforbirth.com/2009/08/12/preparing-for-labor-induction/.

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2 Comments

  1. Bonnie B Matheson on March 23, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    I don’t believe in induction. It is almost never the right thing to do. Especially wrong if people are just “in a hurry to get things going”. Just wait. Nature knows how to do it. Just wait till your body is ready. DO NOT let anyone rush you. Try a birth center or a home birth. Stay away from anyone who believes birth should happen on a schedule. It will always fool you and make it’s own schedule every time.



  2. McMama on May 6, 2011 at 8:16 am

    While I agree that letting things happen on their own is almost always the best course of action, having this information on hand when pressed with induction is really useful. As a secondary VBAC mom, who has gestational diabetes, my providers are insisting on delivering by 39 weeks. I’m a surrogate, so I have to basically do what they say. If my choices are induction or RCS, I’m going to go for the induction if it has a chance of being successful.