What does 4/5 HS mean in my maternity notes?

[QueenNeurosis]

Hi,

Am 37 weeks. At my midwife appointment this week she told me the baby's head was 'well in there' and wrote 4/5 HS in my notes. Had to rush off so forgot to ask what it meant and ccan't figure out what it means - head is 4/5 engaged or 4/5 free.

Any ideas?

Thanks everso much.

Picture a ruler running north to south, with markings going (at the top) from -5 to (at the bottom) +5. When the baby's head is AT the cervix, it is at 0 (zero) station - if it hasn't reached it yet, and is still up in the uterus, it is from -1 to -5 station - in your case, it's still pretty far up. On it's way out, the stations go positive, from starting to pass through the cervix (+1) to head all the way out (+5).

-5
-4 -> Where you're at currently. Head slightly engaged in pelvis.
-3
-2
-1
0 ---- > Cervix
+1
+2
+3

+4 -> Head crowning and visible
+5

That's incredibly helpful! Thanks so much.

No problem.