Is your body ready for childbirth? Let's talk about the Bishop Score.

Your due date is approaching, and maybe even the day has passed. At a time like this, when the doctor examines you and says, "Let's look at the cervix," and then says, "The Bishop Score is this high," do you also think, "Oh, what does this mean?"? Many mothers feel that way. It's very normal. Don't worry, today we'll talk about what this Bishop Score is, what it means, and how it can be important for your delivery.

What is Bishop Score simply?

Simply put, the Bishop Score is a scoring system that measures how ready your body, especially your cervix, is for labor. Much like a school exam, your doctor will score you based on changes in your cervix and the position of your baby's head.

Imagine, your uterus is the room where the baby is. The cervix is ​​the door to that room. In order for the baby to come out, this door has to open wide. The Bishop Score measures how far this 'door' is ready to open, and whether the door locks are loose enough.

This score can range from 0 to 13. The higher the score, the more prepared your body is for labor. It also indicates that if labor is induced for some reason, the more likely it is that you will have a successful vaginal birth.

At what time do you watch this Bishop Score?

Doctors usually calculate this score after you've reached 40 weeks of pregnancy. This is because if you've been skipping days and still haven't started to feel any pain by 41 or 42 weeks, it's time to consider artificially inducing labor. However, sometimes, due to a health condition in the mother or baby, the doctor may want to look at this score even earlier.

But this test is not done every time.

How are these scores calculated?

Your doctor calculates this Bishop Score by focusing on five main factors. Let's see what those five factors are.

1. Dilation of the cervix: This measures how much the cervix has opened. The doctor will use his fingers to feel it and then move it a few centimeters. When it is fully dilated, it is about 10 centimeters.

2. Effacement of the cervix: This refers to how thin or short the cervix has become. The cervix thins as labor approaches. When it is 100% effaced, it is said to be "paper thin."

3. Consistency of the cervix: This measures how hard or soft the cervix is. A soft cervix opens easily. It's like the difference between the tip of your nose (hard) and your lips (soft).

4. Position of the cervix: As labor approaches, the cervix changes from being at the back to gradually moving forward. This is used to see what that position is like.

5. Fetal position or fetal station: This measures how far down the baby's head is in relation to a specific point in your pelvis. If the baby's head is still high, you get a negative (-) value, and if it's far down, you get a positive (+) value.

Your Bishop Score is determined by giving each of these factors a separate score, and finally adding up all five scores.

Sometimes, if you have a condition like preeclampsia during pregnancy, or if you have had a previous vaginal birth, your doctor may add an extra point to your total score because the painkillers are more likely to be successful at that time.

What does my Bishop Score say?

Okay, now let's say you've got a score. What do you want to understand from that?

• If you score 8 or more: This is a very good situation. It means your body is well prepared for labor. Labor is likely to begin naturally soon. Also, if labor is induced, it is very likely to be successful and result in a natural birth.
• If the score is between 6-7: This is a moderate condition. Inducing pain may or may not be successful. At times like this, the doctor will make the best decision based on your other health information.
• If your score is 5 or less: This means your body is not yet fully prepared for labor. If you try to induce labor at this time, it is unlikely to be successful.

Why is pain artificially induced?

There are several reasons why your doctor may suggest that you artificially induce labor. The main reason is that your pregnancy has progressed past 41-42 weeks. This is because continuing beyond 42 weeks increases the risk of complications for both the baby and the mother. Also, if the mother or baby have a health problem, the doctor may decide to induce labor if they feel it is safe to deliver the baby without waiting any longer.

The Bishop Score is an important tool that will help your doctor make this decision. So be open with your doctor about your score, what it means, and what to do next. Your safety and that of your baby are everyone's top priorities.

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