Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

1 2

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

Petite and thin - giving birth naturally or cesarean?

34 replies

Sparklynails7 · 11/04/2018 20:27

I am petite and thin so I don't have "child bearing hips." I am terrified of giving birth not only because I am tiny, but because of my mother's experience. She was in labour for over 24 hours and almost died in theatre. She managed to give birth naturally, but almost had an emergency c-section. I am terrified that I will die giving birth, but cesareans also terrify me - how long does it take to recover and do the scars ever fade? Does anyone else who has a small frame have any positive experiences of giving birth? Or had a cesarean. Thanks.

OP posts:

Report

RandomMess · 11/04/2018 20:28

Size 8 hips 5', 4 DC heaviest 10lb 6oz. All unassisted deliveries despite being induced!

RandomMess · 11/04/2018 20:29

I was 6st 3oz when I got pregnant so probably only size 6 hips then as they are my slimmest point...

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 11/04/2018 20:30

It's not the outside of your hips that make them 'childbearing' it's the inside. So no one can look at you and tell whether or not you could give birth vaginally. That said, I have size 2 feet and more than one obstetrician has mentioned to me that there 'may' be a correlation between small shoe size and narrow birth canal.

CuckingFunt1987 · 11/04/2018 20:31

You honestly can give birth naturally . Our bodies are amazing so don't u see estimate nature . If you couldn't give both then you wouldn't have got pregnant . Good luck op

Youcanttasteracism · 11/04/2018 20:31

It doesn't matter what your scar looks like, what matters is having a happy, healthy baby at the end of it.

CuckingFunt1987 · 11/04/2018 20:31

Under not u see grrrr darn phone

CuckingFunt1987 · 11/04/2018 20:32

Birth not both - grrrrr shitty phone again

Sparklynails7 · 11/04/2018 20:33

RandomMess omg that is huge but I am the same weight as you were, but slightly shorter. JohnLapsley - I have heard of that and I guess it does sound plausible. I have size 3 feet.

OP posts:

MrsJayy · 11/04/2018 20:33

I am under 5ft and slim hipped I was given the option of trial labour with a section always on the back burner babies were prem under 5lLb gave birth vaginally with foreceps. Speak to your midwife ask your options

tiramisualwaystiramisu · 11/04/2018 20:35

I am a size 8 and 5 foot 1, so not super petite, but my DH is 6 foot 4. DC1 was born by emcs, but that was due to me having preeclampsia. I recovered very quickly from the op and the scar is barely visible (only DH and my best friend have even seen it).

Currently 36 weeks with DC2 and going for a VBAC. This one has measured on the smaller side all the way through, so I'm not too worried.

crazycatbaby · 11/04/2018 20:35

Just for balance I am definitely not petite and thin and needed a c section, as my mum did with both of us. My tiniest friend had the best labour of any of my friends

mathanxiety · 11/04/2018 20:37

My grandmother was 4'11" and had eleven healthy babies, with twins first, back in the early 1900s.

QueenAravisOfArchenland · 11/04/2018 20:38

I'm v petite and have had two straightforward vaginal births of average sized babies, no tearing.

LadyLancelot · 11/04/2018 20:39

Getting pregnant is in no way related to being able to give birth vaginally. What a stupid thing to say.

If you've considered all your options and feel a cs is right for you, it is your right to request one.

Shmithecat · 11/04/2018 20:40

My sil is 5'2, a size 6 on a fat day and had her last baby totally unassisted, from start to finish/getting back home from hospital with her 9lb daughter was 4 hours. You'll be fine.

RandomMess · 11/04/2018 20:41

Feet are a size 2 &3/4 - never did make a proper size 3!

Strippervicar · 11/04/2018 20:46

5"3 and was 40kg at booking. (50kg at 42 weeks.) Also size 2 feet. 3 day labour resulting in c section. However, I don't think size matters, more mindset. I 'knew' I couldn't do it and was refused an elective section because I didn't push hard enough.

Saying all that DD was 8lb 3, overdue and back to back.

It is your body and do what you feel best doing. If that is a section. So be it.

My scar is very neat 3 years on and I have no overhang. Just 2.5 very stubborn kilos to lose and stretchmarks.

Situp · 11/04/2018 20:48

I am tall, fairly well built and have hips I can sit a cup of coffee on. Everyone assured me childbirth would be a breeze. I had 1 foreceps, 1 elcs after failed attempt to turn a breech baby and 1 emcs.

I am not sure it makes any difference

insancerre · 11/04/2018 20:49

I was a size 6 when I got pregnant, 5 1 and 1\2 and just under 7 stone
I had a natural delivery, very quick and DS was 8 lb 6 oz
Just gas and air

Baubletrouble43 · 11/04/2018 20:51

tiny size 8 when I had my dd1 unassisted with no drugs(no time!) in under 3 hours. My best friend had her dd the year before and she had what you would call childbearing hips ( hourglass figure) and had a horrendous 48 hour labour with forceps ventouse etc. I dont think theres any connection.

BusySittingDown · 11/04/2018 20:52

I have a small frame and my DD1 was 8lbs 7.5oz and she was 57cms long and was delivered vaginally.

Quite a few people’s responses were “but you’re tiny! How did you manage that?”

I did have quite an extensive episiotomy and a bit of a bleed after birth but it was fine.

I must admit that I was a bit worried with my 2nd as subsequent babies are often bigger but she was actually smaller - 8lbs3.5 and 54cms but she had a bigger head.

Cheeseandapple · 11/04/2018 20:55

Ive just had 2 amazing birth classes and the lady explained how the pelvis is designed to open up during labour! Have you heard of active birth? The premise is that so long as you aren't on your back, stopping your pelvis from opening all the way, it's much easier for the baby to come out. Would highly recommend looking into active birth to find out, very interesting! Having said that, I also think you need to be calm and as relaxed as possible - do whatever you need to do!

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Baubletrouble43 · 11/04/2018 20:55

I had a caesarean with second pregnancy as it was twins and they were both breech and that was fine too.Nothing to worry about!

Namechange128 · 11/04/2018 21:03

5"2 and size 6, DD1 c section (not elective or anything to do with hips, she started getting into trouble very early in labour), DD2 large at 8lb 7oz and vaginal delivery, a couple of stitches but no drugs and generally much more straight forward than for lots of my larger friends.

I had hypnobirthing second time around, and if you are nervous REALLY recommend it, I had such a different experience afterwards. Even ending up with a section first time, it would have been really helpful for keeping me feeling calm, capable and in control at least to some extent

Sparklynails7 · 11/04/2018 21:04

I am so surprised by the amount of under 7 stone women who gave birth vaginally! I'm 6.5 stone so I was worried but now I'm feeling a little better. Might still look into c-sections because of my mum's traumatic experience. Thanks for sharing your stories!

OP posts:

Flip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.