What it means
A measure used in labor. The ischial spines, two bony points inside the pelvis, are station 0. Above them the station is written in centimeters as a minus number (from −5 to −1); below them as a plus number (+1 to +5). At +5 the head is at the vaginal opening. A fetus at station 0 is said to be engaged.
For the nurse
Station is checked by vaginal exam along with dilation and effacement, and recorded each time, for example "4 cm / 80% / −1".
Related terms
uterine contraction
A tightening and then relaxing of the muscle of the uterus (womb), as happens during labor.