International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences © 2013 Available online at www.irjabs.com ISSN 2251-838X / Vol, 7 (14): 1141-1146 Science Explorer Publications Importance and ways of fetal station measurement: designing and creating fetal station cymbal Sedighe Forouhari 1 , Seyede Zahra Ghaemi 2, *, Bahia Namavar Jahromi 3 , Alamtaj Samsami Dehaghani 4 ,Sima Gichlou 5 ,Maryam Asadi 6 1. Infertility Research Center, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 2. Department of Midwifery, Estahban Branch, Islamic Azad University, Estahban, Iran. 3. Infertility Research Center, Perinatology Research Center, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division, Department of OB-GYN, School of Medicine Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 4 . infertility Research Center, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division, Department of OB-GYN, School of Medicine Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 5. Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran 6. Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. *Corresponding author email: z_ghaemi@iauestahban.ac.ir ABSTRACT: Birth includes the period with strong uterine contractions. Accurate diagnosis of fetal station at delivery urinary tract is important for select a delivery method that result in providing health of mother and baby. The present study aims to investigate the methods for determining the fetal station during normal delivery and mistakes of determining fetal head station can result in labor disturbances. In this study, we investigated more than 40 articles in the field of fetal station exam. These articles are available on the scholar indexes such as PubMed and Google Scholar. The present study aims to investigate the methods for determining the fetal station during normal delivery and mistakes of determining fetal head station . RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS vaginal examination is not a reliable method to assess the delivery status and the amount of descent. The studies have introduced sonography as the gold standard for assessing the status of delivery in the second stage of labor. However, due to the high cost, complexity, and the need for professional personnel to use this method, it is not available everywhere. Therefore, a simple and inexpensive method is required to be designed. The researchers of the present study designed an instrument for assessing fetal station even in disadvantaged and remote areas with little training. Definition of fetal station Fetal station at normal vaginal delivery is described by the relationship between the fetus and the ischial spines located in the entrance and outgoing mouths of the pelvis. In the past, the longitudinal axis of the cervical canal at the top and bottom of the ischial spines was divided into to 3 or 5 parts (each about 1 cm). In 1988, The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) used a new method for fetal station and divided the upper and lower of the ischial spines to 5 parts. When the lowest presenting part of the fetus is in the same level as the ischial spines, fetal station is zero. On the other hand, if the presenting part of the fetus is in the upper part of the ischial spines, fetal station has a negative score from -1 (closer to ischial spines) to -5 (farther from ischial spines). However, in case it is in the lower part of the ischial spines, fetal station has a positive score from +1 (closer to ischial spines) to +5 (farther from ischial spines). +5 station is applied to the situations in which the head of the fetus is visible at the entrance of the vagina(Cunningham, 2010) .the term “Descent” is defined as the passage of the fetus in the the mother’s pelvis, which is the first prerequisite to vaginal childbirth. Diagnosis of fetal station is essential for understanding the degree of descent(Ghi et al,2009). In primiparous women, engagement may occur before the beginning of the labor mechanism, eventually stopping the descent process. In multiparous women,