Can a baby's head get stuck? [Maybe dumb question lol]

[Butterfly89]

*sorry long post*

I know that its not uncommon for an extended arm or shoulder to get caught on the way out, but can the actual head get stuck? :[ I'm so freaked out about that because of loss of oxygen (for the baby, not me).

So my pelvis is short and shaped funny (weird genes, lol) and the way it was explained to me... is more like a V shape than a \_/ bowl shape and the pubic bone kind of wraps right around the front instead of being flatish and my hips are connected in a weird way that is sort of turned out and all my organs are smooshed in a close proximity... it's just the way some women in my family are. You can't really see it visually, but abdominal, foot, and hip problems run in my family. My cousin is the same and was told by her doctor if she ever gets pregnant, she is 100% a candidate for c-section, but I don't know how they can decide that so early. Unfortunately I can't compare birth to anyone because none of the relatives who have this ever had kids (or have not yet because they are young).

My doctor sent me for a referral and ended up deciding I don't need a c-section but he also can't ok me for a home water birth like I wanted. =( But I still want to try natural birth.

I know its EXTREMELY rare for a pelvis to be too small to deliver, but I'm afraid my lovely big-headed son will get stuck on the way out. Is this a big risk or is it just a rare thing that happens??

I've even been trying to figure it out by math, and I hate math, LOL. I knit baby hats and if I remember right, newborn head circumference is about 14" usually so that means a diameter of 4.5"ish... And I had no idea so I googled.. the average diameter of the... uhm vagina (I hope I can just type that word without the embarrassed smiley some day rofl) is about 2.5" normally toward the back and 1.5" toward the front... so that kind of alleviated my fears a tiny bit... 14 inches sounds a lot worse than 4.5" inches when you compare it that way.

The only thing I'm worried about is that my bones are too close together because (TMI) I can feel them internally. I know relaxin causes them to separate somewhat but when does that happen? So far I can't tell a difference really. =[

 

[Aims13h]

Lol, at one time I would have thought it was a silly question...nut not after the birth of my first son. I consider myself to be of average size- 5'5" 130-135 lbs prebaby. With my first son I was induced at exactly 40 weeks due to preeclampsia. After 2 days of labor and 5 hours of pushing the dr realized that his head was stuck and I had to be rushed into the or for an emergency c-section. He was so stuck under my pubic bone that a nurse had to hop in between my legs and push him back up the birth canal so the dr could pull him out. My little guy came out as healthy as can be 6 lbs 7 oz, with no cone head (believe it or not) lol.
I should have spoken up for myself after an hour or two of pushing with no success, but didn't know any better.
Remember to be your own advocate. If something doesn't feel right, say something! Wishing you a speedy, healthy delivery!

 

[Butterfly89]

See - I figured it was possible, lol! I asked the nurse at my OB's office and she gave me a face like I was crazy and said "women are made for birthing babies" and changed the subject to breastfeeding. I would feel better even if someone just felt where my pelvis is and told me "you'll be fine!". But going off of "the average person is fine" doesn't make me feel very confident about it.

To me it's like... the average person can eat three pieces of chocolate cheesecake at one time if they want and be fine. But if a person happens to have diabetes...that'd be dangerous. I wouldn't go around forcing people to eat all that cake because it's "usually fine". LOL Weird example but... hm.

 

[Aims13h]

lol ^^^. If it helps, I was told that I have a narrow pelvis and tipped uterus when I was younger?

 

[Butterfly89]

I was told the same several times! They said its not really something that should complicate my life in general but it apparently can make period cramps worse (but I also have endo so I'm not sure if its more from that).

I definitely still want to try natural birth but I want to make sure that I am prepared beforehand to use methods that ease a difficult birth like positioning and exercises. I guess I could study them anyway just in case. Or I want to be mentally prepared if it is a possibility I might have to have an EMCS instead of almost totally writing it off like I have been lately.

 

[Koukla]

Contrary to popular belief, some babies ARE too big for a woman to birth, especially if there are underlying circumstances, as in your case. A nurse at an OBs office, of all people, shouldn't be spouting off that rhetoric- I mean, has she never seen an EMCS in her career? In any case, it sounds like your doc is willing to let you try vaginal but is aware of the situation and can keep a close eye on any warning signs. I'd discuss it further with him and ask about the risks vs. benefits of both vaginal and C-section, ask how long he'll let you push, etc.

 

[rainbowskin]

It can happen without having anything to do with your pelvic bones. I have a great wide pelvis perfect for childbirth I have been told but my boys head got stuck due to him being back to back. There are ways to get the baby to shift around in labor to get the head unstuck such as turning side to side with a leg up. Like the open said its best to speak up for yourself if something doesn't seem right and trust your instincts.

 

[Babybee5]

My second Ds got stuck on my pubic bone they couldn't figure out what was happening then all of a sudden I felt the urge to spew and leaned over the bed and boom he was unstuck so it as easy as turning sometimes to get them unstuck my DS had a lovely dint in his head for a few days from where he had been stuck

 

[Butterfly89]

LOL, I'll have to keep that trick in mind. I'm going to try to stay flexible in case I need to get into some weird yoga positions. I really hope they don't try to make me lay down. My goal is for them to say "I didn't even know a pregnant woman could bend that way" at the end of the birth. Yep.

I've been reading a lot of inspiring natural birth stories so I'm really into it now, lol. This is a direct shift from a week ago where I was like "omg birth is terrifying and the end of the world I need elective c-section NOW" ... I feel so much more educated now. Jessica Alba was a big inspiration. She is an awesome celebrity mom.

 

[Babybee5]

Natural is sooo much better my 3rd was an Csection and it was a horrible recovery I'm trying vbac this time and fingers crossed I can pull it off

 

[Butterfly89]

That's what I've been reading!! Initially, I was told because of my heart I'd have to have a c-section so I had my head set on that and was reading reasons why it was supposedly better to try and convince myself it wasn't just a scary big surgery. But I went through numerous cardio scans and stress testing and they decided I can do it. At first, I was scared about the idea of labour and was just focusing on the negative stories but I've found there are much more positives than negatives.

Good luck!! I really hope it goes well! My SIL had two VBACs and she said they were both easier than her c-section.

 

[patooti]

*sorry long post*

I know that its not uncommon for an extended arm or shoulder to get caught on the way out, but can the actual head get stuck? :[ I'm so freaked out about that because of loss of oxygen (for the baby, not me).

So my pelvis is short and shaped funny (weird genes, lol) and the way it was explained to me... is more like a V shape than a \_/ bowl shape and the pubic bone kind of wraps right around the front instead of being flatish and my hips are connected in a weird way that is sort of turned out and all my organs are smooshed in a close proximity... it's just the way some women in my family are. You can't really see it visually, but abdominal, foot, and hip problems run in my family. My cousin is the same and was told by her doctor if she ever gets pregnant, she is 100% a candidate for c-section, but I don't know how they can decide that so early. Unfortunately I can't compare birth to anyone because none of the relatives who have this ever had kids (or have not yet because they are young).

My doctor sent me for a referral and ended up deciding I don't need a c-section but he also can't ok me for a home water birth like I wanted. =( But I still want to try natural birth.

I know its EXTREMELY rare for a pelvis to be too small to deliver, but I'm afraid my lovely big-headed son will get stuck on the way out. Is this a big risk or is it just a rare thing that happens??

I've even been trying to figure it out by math, and I hate math, LOL. I knit baby hats and if I remember right, newborn head circumference is about 14" usually so that means a diameter of 4.5"ish... And I had no idea so I googled.. the average diameter of the... uhm vagina (I hope I can just type that word without the embarrassed smiley some day rofl) is about 2.5" normally toward the back and 1.5" toward the front... so that kind of alleviated my fears a tiny bit... 14 inches sounds a lot worse than 4.5" inches when you compare it that way.

The only thing I'm worried about is that my bones are too close together because (TMI) I can feel them internally. I know relaxin causes them to separate somewhat but when does that happen? So far I can't tell a difference really. =[

I can't help with all of your questions or the maths but I can say that I have what superficially look like very nice wide child bearing hips. The women in my family have had easy and natural births (mother and sister, built similarly). But I can feel the bones internally too and can say that if I were doing the numbers there wouldn't be room for a head in there.

Don't forget that both you AND the baby's head go through a process of moving and moulding. There are hormones involved as well.

I would say that the number one thing you can do to help you through is to start to get your head around relaxing and dealing with pain and "opening up" imagery and such. If you can avoid getting pain relief that will immobilise you, you are going to be able to squat, kneel and move in ways that will maximise the ability of your pelvis to be well positioned for LO to move through. If the doctors have looked into your situation and feel it is okay to birth I think that sounds very good. You can do this.

 

[Saphira]

I'm not sure how common it is but yes, the head can be too big. That was the case for my stepsister anyway. Her poor mom was in labor for nearly a full day until an emergency c-section was needed because baby wasn't getting anywhere.
My aunt is tiny, I'd estimate under 5ft, and needed c-sections for both of her kids and they were pre-planned sections because of her pelvis build.
So, it depends on what the doctors thinks ahead of time I suppose..

 

[summer rain]

My eldest's head got stuck but in this case it was a problem with him and not with me. He had some extra bone growth on the back of his skull (something hereditary that oddly runs in both mine and OH's family) and consequently his head didn't mould at all around the widest part. They had to give me an episiotomy as it was clear he was just stuck, they tried doing various manoeuvres on me even though I had SPD and these things aren't normally advised but it was an emergency. They had to give me an episiotomy and were going to try ventouse if that didn't work by itself, thankfully it did. He had a real cone head when he was finally born and he was in a bit of a bad way. He was fine in the end though xx

 

[deafgal]

My MIL had to do an emergency c-section because my husband's head was too big to birth. There was nothing wrong with her body either. they measured his head and felt there might be something wrong. but it turns out he is just a big, tall guy. I birth small babies (6lbs and 5lbs) and both of my babies ended up growing very fast and it didn't take them long to jump to 90 percentile weight and height. they are taking up their father's gene (I come from a bunch of short family, both of my parents are short) but for reasons, my body will not let them grow big like my MIL's.

 

[patch2006uk]

Have a nosey at the spinning babies website to help you understand how you can help LO get into a good position for labour and birth. If you need an emergency c-section, then so be it. But you may as well give yourself the best shot at a natural birth. C-sections are pretty miserable to recover from whilst trying to look after a newborn and adjust to parenthood.

 

[sam79]

A girl I work with just had an emergency c-section because ds head was too big. This was her 4th child, and all three previous had been vaginal births. They tried to get him out with the vacuum but couldn't get him through the cervix.

 

[Butterfly89]

I'm hoping it won't come to that, but if its best for baby, then of course! Otherwise though I want to try and do everything I can do get him out naturally. I figure if my pelvic floor/bladder does get messed up, they can fix it hopefully... or worst comes to worst and I'll have to save up to pay for it to be fixed, but I'd rather have those precious first weeks with my LO not having to recoup in bed from major surgery! Fair trade to me. A girl I worked with had to pay for a surgery after her VBAC because her second daughter was 10lbs with a big head and she pushed for so long her muscles just went out on her, but she said it was SO worth it compared to the c-section recovery. I keep reminding myself of that!

 

[Sherrie Park]

Yes, mine did due to small pelvic opening. I had a general practitioner, first mistake, as my doctor and he was not experienced with emergencies. I was left in the pushing stage for 7 hours! I got to the point of constant contraction and couldn't breathe. There was another doctor brought in and when he examined me, he determined the emergency and sent me straight to the O.R. My new doc told me later that my son's head was wedged into my pelvic bone and when they cut my belly open and tried to pull him out, he wouldn't come out. Another doctor had to reach up inside my vagina aND basically punch my baby in the head to get him to release. Had my original doc done the proper measurements, none of this would have happened. It could have been scheduled as a planned c-section. This was back in 1981 when ultrasound was not as advanced as it is now.

 

[x__amour]

I cannot have children naturally because of my pelvis. I have what they call, "insufficient pelvic space". It actually has been measured out and everything because I tried to VBAC with DS but they just can't fit.