Station - what does this mean.

[earthmama4]

Hi, I am due next Friday. Last appt the doctor said baby was at a -3 station. I am not sure what this really means. I know that -5 is floating and +5 is crowning, so where does that put me with -3? He feels low to me, and his head is definitely on my cervix (I can feel it when he squirms around!) I remember reading that subsequent baby's don't always fully drop until labor begins anyway, right? So does this measurement really have any meaning for subsequent births?

This is my fourth baby, but I have only had one vaginal birth (baby #3) and that was over 7 years ago. I am just trying to determine how much weight to give this station measurement considering all the factors and how close I am (I am dilating and effacing too). Also kind of wondering if I should expect this to be more like a first baby/labor since it has been so long since I gave birth last, or can I hope for a faster easier birth as a second timer? Any info is appreciated!

Earthmama4

hoping for my 2VBA2C!

[Katielady]

Here's a very brief summary of station, with a good diagram:
http://pregnancy.about.com/od/laborbasics/g/station.htm

From what I've learned, first babies generally "drop" or engage in the pevis sometime int he last weeks of pregnancy, while second and later babies tend not to engage until the mom is in labor. But there's no hard and fast rule, and it seems to be different for everyone. My advice would be to try to put it out of your mind, and focus on your pelvis relaxing and opening up.

I'm hoping for a VBAC myself and have struggled with this, as my first baby never dropped and it looks like this one won't either. I'm doing squats to try to help ease her down, but am trying not to stress over it as there's really no way of knowing what will happen once labor begins.

Good luck with your VBAC!

[nurnur]

:

doesn't really mean a thing, Im in the same boat going for my 2vba2c with baby #5 but only my second vaginal birth. the fruit falls from the tree when it is ripe. hang in there mama, these last weeks are the longest.