In plain words
The Bishop score is a way to measure the cervix before labor is started. A clinician checks five things: how open the cervix is, how thin it has become, how low the baby's head sits, how soft the cervix feels, and which way it points. Each part gets a number, and the total ranges from 0 to 13. A higher score suggests the cervix is more ready. A low score, often under 6, usually means the cervix is not yet favorable for labor. In that case, the clinician may use a method to soften and open the cervix before contractions are started. Mothers often hear their score during an discussion. The score is a guide. It does not predict how long labor will take.
The deeper version
The Bishop score (Bishop, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1964) sums scores for , , station, consistency, and position, each scored 0 to 3 or 0 to 2, for a maximum of 13. Totals of 8 or higher are generally associated with a higher likelihood of successful induction with alone, while low totals identify an unfavorable cervix that usually benefits from first. The score has moderate predictive value and is affected by inter-observer variation in cervical examination. Modified scores that omit or reweight components have been proposed. ACOG's Practice Bulletin on (No. 107, 2009) describes cervical assessment as central to choosing between ripening methods and oxytocin. Some researchers favor ultrasound measurement of as a complement, though evidence on routine use is mixed.
Where it comes up
- Induction: why, how, and what to askGetting Ready for Birth
- Going past your due datePregnancy: Your Body
- Signs labor is startingGetting Ready for Birth
- Writing a birth plan that actually helpsGetting Ready for Birth
What mothers here say about Bishop score
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Sources
- Bishop EH — Pelvic scoring for elective induction. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1964
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin No. 216: Induction of Labor, 2020