The Bishop Score: How to Have a Safer Induction

Inductions aren't for everyone, and can sometimes put a mother in danger if her body isn't ready for labor. By entering information from a vaginal exam, the Bishop Score is a relatively accurate way to see if induction would be a good decision, as well as if labor will happen soon on its own.

To break it down simply, it observes the status of the cervix and baby to see how close to labor a mom might be, even if she's not experiencing any contractions at all. Of course, in some situations, induction is life-saving regardless of the risks it might carry. But in most situations, a low-risk mother doesn't need an induction. Her body knows when it's ready to go through labor, and it's a beautiful thing to trust that intuition.

The Bishop's Score allows mothers to see if an induction would hurry things up in a low-risk way. Instead of just hoping for the best, they can test whether their cervix could handle an induction, which would make the birth easier for the baby.

So, what if my Bishop Score is high? I can go ahead with an induction and have peace of mind knowing my body is ready and can most likely handle the intrusive hormones included in an induction. Or I can choose natural induction methods like castor oil, membrane stripping, evening primrose oil, or nipple stimulation (ask me for more if you're interested!), knowing that my chances of success are higher because I'm closer to labor.

And if my score is low? The best choice is to wait for my body! In some situations, this isn't possible, but if I'm low-risk, I can use the above natural methods to speed up my body's readiness for a natural delivery.

Like all birth tools, the Bishop Score is not a perfect measurement. Some moms might have a high score weeks before birth if they've already delivered multiple babies. Other moms might have a low score and go into labor the next day. But overall, the Bishop Score has been a huge tool in the birth world and is accurate quite often.

---

Thanks to Mama Natural and ACOG for this information. The quotes referenced are from https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/the-latest/8-questions-to-ask-your-doctor-before-labor-induction.

For more information on the Bishop Score, visit https://www.mamanatural.com/bishop-score/?authuser=0

For a Bishop Score calculator, visit https://perinatology.com/calculators/Bishop%20Score%20Calculator.htm

For more information on natural inductions, visit https://www.mamanatural.com/induce-labor/