Usually about two weeks before delivery, your baby will drop into the birth canal. This is called being “engaged.” At this point, your baby is at station 0.
What station is baby in when labor begins?
This is measured in “stations.” A baby is at –3 station when the head is above the pelvis and at 0 station when the head is at the bottom of the pelvis (fully engaged). The baby is at +3 station when the head is beginning to emerge from the birth canal (crowning).
What does it mean when the baby’s head is at Station 0?
0 station. This is when the baby’s head is even with the ischial spines. The baby is said to be “engaged” when the largest part of the head has entered the pelvis. If the presenting part lies above the ischial spines, the station is reported as a negative number from -1 to -5.
What does station mean in labor?
Station is another term used to indicate the progress of labor, and it refers to the position of the baby’s “presenting part” in relation to the ischial spines in the pelvis. A zero station means the presenting part (usually the baby’s head) is level with the spines.
What is effacement in pregnancy?
Effacement means that the cervix stretches and gets thinner. Dilatation means that the cervix opens. As labor nears, the cervix may start to thin or stretch (efface) and open (dilate). This prepares the cervix for the baby to pass through the birth canal (vagina).
What is a zero station in pregnancy?
An imaginary line is drawn between the two bones in the pelvis (known as ischial spines). This is the “zero” line, and when the baby reaches this line it is considered to be in “zero station.” When the baby is above this imaginary line it is in a minus station.
What is the zero station of the pelvis?
An imaginary line is drawn between the two bones in the pelvis (known as ischial spines). This is the “zero” line, and when the baby reaches this line it is considered to be in “zero station.” When the baby is above this imaginary line it is in a minus station. When the baby is below, it is in a “plus” station.
What does it mean when your baby is engaged at station 0?
This is called being “engaged.” At this point, your baby is at station 0. This drop into the birth canal is called a lightening. You will feel more room for deep breaths, but your bladder may be compressed so you’ll need to urinate often. Frequent, small amounts of urine are common. See your doctor if there is pain or burning when you urinate.
What does station mean in obstetrics?
In obstetrics, station refers to descent of the fetal presenting part (hopefully the head) in the pelvis. An imaginary line is drawn between the two bones in the pelvis (known as ischial spines).
