What is a Bishop Score?
If your provider is talking about an induction, knowing your Bishop Score can be a helpful tool in gauging how successful an induction may be. A Bishop score takes in to account five things:
Position - where the cervix is within the pelvis.
Posterior, Middle or Anterior.
Consistency - how the cervix feels.
Firm, Medium or Soft.
Effacement - how thin or thick the cervix is.
0-30%, 40-50%, 60-70%, 80% and above.
Dilation - how open the cervix is.
0cm, 1-2cm, 3-4cm, 5+cm
Station - where the head of the baby is located within the pelvis.
-3, -2, -1 or 0, +1 or +2
The Bishop Score is system that allots points on a scale of zero to three based on the status of the above criteria. Patients can score anywhere from 0 to 13 points. This tool was created by Edward Bishop in 1964 and is widely used to this day.
If a score of 6 or less is obtained, medications to help ripen the cervix may be used.
If you were induced, did you know what your bishop score was beforehand? Asking what your bishop score is before the start of an induction can be a great informational tool for birthing families!
As a birth doula, I recommend my clients ask their providers about their score when the conversation of induction comes up.
*This post is for informational purposes only. Always speak to your doctor about any medical questions you may have.