Beyond Dilation: Understanding Baby’s Station During Labor
Movies often focus on one dramatic moment in labour — the announcement that someone is “10 centimetres dilated!” But in reality, there’s another equally important part of the story: the baby’s station.
Station describes how far your baby has descended into your pelvis. It’s measured in relation to the ischial spines — small bony landmarks inside your pelvis.
Negative numbers (–4 to –1) mean the baby is still high.
Zero (0) means the baby’s head is level with the ischial spines.
Positive numbers (+1 to +4) show the baby moving down through the birth canal, with +4 meaning baby is almost crowning.
Why does this matter? Because the station helps determine when it’s time to push. Many birthing people feel an undeniable urge to push when the baby has descended far enough — this is called the Ferguson reflex. Others, particularly those using epidural or spinal pain relief, might not feel this instinct as strongly. In those cases, knowing the baby’s station becomes an important part of understanding how labour is progressing and when to support pushing.
In the Couples Active Birth Workshop with Suzanne Swan, you’ll learn how to use knowledge like this to make informed, confident decisions during labour. Together, you’ll explore how to ask the right questions in the birthing space:
How’s the baby? (Heart rate is good.)
How’s the mother? (Vitals such as blood pressure and temperature are good.)
Mother and baby are both well — so what’s next?
Then, you can ask: What is the baby’s station? And what can we do to encourage the baby’s best position in the pelvis?
These simple, mindful questions can guide care, reduce unnecessary interventions, and help birth partners actively support progress — using movement, breath, and positioning to encourage the baby’s descent.
Understanding both dilation and station gives you a fuller, more empowered picture of labour progress — one that celebrates the partnership between mother, baby, and birth team.