Small pelvis running in family

star1 · Apr 4th, 2012, 10:18 AM

Hi all

Having a small pelvis runs in my family - my mum, maternal aunt and maternal grandmother all had issues because of this. My aunt is blind in one eye after having been born using forceps in a traumatic birth, and both my mum and aunt had emergency c-sections with their first child and planned c-sections with other children

I'm really worried I will have the same issues, but when I raised my concerns with the midwife she just shrugged it off and said we will have to wait and see how labour goes. I'm also worried because at my 20 week scan the baby's head size was in 90th percentile!

I originally opted for the birth centre which is at the hospital (same floor as labour ward). However, now I'm thinking maybe I should opt just to go straight for the labour ward as I think I will have problems progressing in labour too and the doctors on the labour ward will be more open to looking at solutions earlier (including emergency c-section). This would mean I couldn't get the water birth I was hoping for though. What do you girls think?

Star x

aliss · Apr 4th, 2012, 10:24 AM

Have any of them been diagnosed with cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)?

I would ask them the real reasons for their labours. Actual diagnosis and information. The head size of the baby does not really matter, their heads mold. It is the shoulder width that could cause issues in the birth when it comes into contact with the pelvic bone (shoulder dystocia, which my son had).

Where they using interventions in their labour? Where they on their backs? Where they induced? These things all critically factor into why labours often go wrong, rather than actual physiology of the mother.

I would really do a lot more research at this point, talk to your midwife, talk to your family members and get the real reasons for their labours being like that because CPD is very rare and if shoulder dystocia was an issue with your aunt then there are probably reasons that it occurred.

Good luck!

Tacey · Apr 4th, 2012, 10:27 AM

I think this is quite a reassuring link. In our mothers' and grandmothers' days, lying down on your back was the standard way to deliver, and there's not really a worse position than that for keeping your pelvis from opening widely. The pelvis expands, and the baby's head moulds to shape, so it's very hard to predict. It would be worth looking into good positions for labour. Why do you think you'll have problems with progressing in labour? It sounds like you have lots of fears about the birth, and I think you'd find it really helpful to look into positive stories about birth, especially as you're hoping for a water birth. Ina May Gaskin is a good read for showing the power of women's bodies to birth.

aliss · Apr 4th, 2012, 10:31 AM

BTW I myself am having a home water labour (except delivery) after severe shoulder dystocia. The key is to really research and do your homework, and make a decision that YOU are comfortable with. I know girls who go straight to c-section after what I had, but that's their choice and they are comfortable and know their risks. There's no wrong answer here - but I would really do your research about why those things happened because I'm almost positive your relatives were giving birth in ways that likely contributed to the outcome rather than it being a physiological issue.

star1 · Apr 4th, 2012, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliss

Have any of them been diagnosed with cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)?

I would ask them the real reasons for their labours. Actual diagnosis and information. The head size of the baby does not really matter, their heads mold. It is the shoulder width that could cause issues in the birth when it comes into contact with the pelvic bone (shoulder dystocia, which my son had).

Where they using interventions in their labour? Where they on their backs? Where they induced? These things all critically factor into why labours often go wrong, rather than actual physiology of the mother.

I would really do a lot more research at this point, talk to your midwife, talk to your family members and get the real reasons for their labours being like that because CPD is very rare and if shoulder dystocia was an issue with your aunt then there are probably reasons that it occurred.

Good luck!

My mum just said she was diagnosed with a small pelvis - it was definately medically confirmed (she wouldn't be the sort of person to know the medical term anyway). She said that she was in labour for a really long time which is why I thought it was failure to progress. Unfortunately it is a difficult subject to bring up as my sister (my mum's first child) tragically passed away shortly before her 2nd birthday, and I don't have any contact with my aunt at all (she lives in Australia and i don't even have a phone number / address). I'll try and bring up the subject again with my mum if / when the time is right

jenmcn1 · Apr 4th, 2012, 10:36 AM

What I will say is that generally speaking (not in all cases) but we tend to foloow in the footsteps of our mom's side!
My grandmother needed a forceps delivery with here first born, and then my mom needed a forceps delivery when I was born...and I needed a forceps delivery when my son was born! Initially while pregnant with my son, I thought I should mention it to the doctor to check about possible complications, but I had decided in my mind that "it shouldn't be a problem"... Well in actual fact family history of labours does play a bit of a role in your labour. However it doesn't mean that you will for sure have the same problems as your mom and aunt etc...but its good to be aware of this, to mention it to your midwife, and to be prepared for whatever interventions may be needed. Its great to want a water birth and all that- but at the end of the day...its about having a safe delivery for both you and baby!!

aliss · Apr 4th, 2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by star1

Quote:

Originally Posted by aliss

Have any of them been diagnosed with cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)?

I would ask them the real reasons for their labours. Actual diagnosis and information. The head size of the baby does not really matter, their heads mold. It is the shoulder width that could cause issues in the birth when it comes into contact with the pelvic bone (shoulder dystocia, which my son had).

Where they using interventions in their labour? Where they on their backs? Where they induced? These things all critically factor into why labours often go wrong, rather than actual physiology of the mother.

I would really do a lot more research at this point, talk to your midwife, talk to your family members and get the real reasons for their labours being like that because CPD is very rare and if shoulder dystocia was an issue with your aunt then there are probably reasons that it occurred.

Good luck!

My mum just said she was diagnosed with a small pelvis - it was definately medically confirmed (she wouldn't be the sort of person to know the medical term anyway). She said that she was in labour for a really long time which is why I thought it was failure to progress. Unfortunately it is a difficult subject to bring up as my sister (my mum's first child) tragically passed away shortly before her 2nd birthday, and I don't have any contact with my aunt at all (she lives in Australia and i don't even have a phone number / address). I'll try and bring up the subject again with my mum if / when the time is right

If your mother was actually diagnosed with CPD then I would make sure to make that clear to your midwife and have a good discussion with her.

A lot of women are scared of natural labour and will use the term "small pelvis" but most midwives realize that this isn't CPD, but rather a self-diagnosed term based on their own perception of physiology or looking back at labours without knowing the difference between CPD/dystocia etc etc...

If your mother actually was x-rayed and diagnosed with CPD then that's a different story and should be discussed. There are a variety of risk factors that she & you can help determine (ie. age is an issue, height etc) and then go from there. Good luck!!

Apr 4th, 2012, 10:18 AM	#1
star1 Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 172	Small pelvis running in family Hi all Having a small pelvis runs in my family - my mum, maternal aunt and maternal grandmother all had issues because of this. My aunt is blind in one eye after having been born using forceps in a traumatic birth, and both my mum and aunt had emergency c-sections with their first child and planned c-sections with other children I'm really worried I will have the same issues, but when I raised my concerns with the midwife she just shrugged it off and said we will have to wait and see how labour goes. I'm also worried because at my 20 week scan the baby's head size was in 90th percentile! I originally opted for the birth centre which is at the hospital (same floor as labour ward). However, now I'm thinking maybe I should opt just to go straight for the labour ward as I think I will have problems progressing in labour too and the doctors on the labour ward will be more open to looking at solutions earlier (including emergency c-section). This would mean I couldn't get the water birth I was hoping for though. What do you girls think? Star x

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Apr 4th, 2012, 10:24 AM	#2
aliss AutoSignup (SAAB) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Québec Posts: 24,437	Have any of them been diagnosed with cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD)? I would ask them the real reasons for their labours. Actual diagnosis and information. The head size of the baby does not really matter, their heads mold. It is the shoulder width that could cause issues in the birth when it comes into contact with the pelvic bone (shoulder dystocia, which my son had). Where they using interventions in their labour? Where they on their backs? Where they induced? These things all critically factor into why labours often go wrong, rather than actual physiology of the mother. I would really do a lot more research at this point, talk to your midwife, talk to your family members and get the real reasons for their labours being like that because CPD is very rare and if shoulder dystocia was an issue with your aunt then there are probably reasons that it occurred. Good luck!

Status: Offline

Apr 4th, 2012, 10:27 AM	#3
Tacey Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 5,978	I think this is quite a reassuring link. In our mothers' and grandmothers' days, lying down on your back was the standard way to deliver, and there's not really a worse position than that for keeping your pelvis from opening widely. The pelvis expands, and the baby's head moulds to shape, so it's very hard to predict. It would be worth looking into good positions for labour. Why do you think you'll have problems with progressing in labour? It sounds like you have lots of fears about the birth, and I think you'd find it really helpful to look into positive stories about birth, especially as you're hoping for a water birth. Ina May Gaskin is a good read for showing the power of women's bodies to birth.

Status: Offline

Apr 4th, 2012, 10:31 AM	#4
aliss AutoSignup (SAAB) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Québec Posts: 24,437	BTW I myself am having a home water labour (except delivery) after severe shoulder dystocia. The key is to really research and do your homework, and make a decision that YOU are comfortable with. I know girls who go straight to c-section after what I had, but that's their choice and they are comfortable and know their risks. There's no wrong answer here - but I would really do your research about why those things happened because I'm almost positive your relatives were giving birth in ways that likely contributed to the outcome rather than it being a physiological issue.

Status: Offline

Apr 4th, 2012, 10:36 AM	#6
jenmcn1 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 3,045	What I will say is that generally speaking (not in all cases) but we tend to foloow in the footsteps of our mom's side! My grandmother needed a forceps delivery with here first born, and then my mom needed a forceps delivery when I was born...and I needed a forceps delivery when my son was born! Initially while pregnant with my son, I thought I should mention it to the doctor to check about possible complications, but I had decided in my mind that "it shouldn't be a problem"... Well in actual fact family history of labours does play a bit of a role in your labour. However it doesn't mean that you will for sure have the same problems as your mom and aunt etc...but its good to be aware of this, to mention it to your midwife, and to be prepared for whatever interventions may be needed. Its great to want a water birth and all that- but at the end of the day...its about having a safe delivery for both you and baby!!

Status: Offline

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