Childbirth and Little Ladies

[CoffeeOne]

Hello all. Currently 28 weeks with my first and having to remove my head from the sand and come to terms with the fact that this wriggly little dude has to come out of me!

Here's my question. I'm 5'2. Both me and my partner were 8lb+ babies so I'm not expecting a little one. I'm curious if the size of the mother has an impact on how well childbirth goes? I was chatting with a colleague who is an ex midwife and she mentioned that she really struggled with all her births that ended in emcs due to having size 3 feet?! Apparently this relates to the size of your pelvis?! Her babies never engaged. I have size 4 feet so that has worried me a little.

I'd love to hear stories of sucessful births from ladies on the smaller side :)

I am not smaller, being 5ft9, however my midwife told me mums like little babies, doctors like big babies. She said that a bigger baby means a better fit on the cervix with less room for little hands and arms, and also means that the body has something more substantial to push against.

I have a friend, again about my height, who has had 2 babies that didn't engage until they were actually coming out. I have a friend who is 5ft who had 2 wonderful water births.

I don't know anything apart from the experiences of others, but have a chat with your midwife. If they think you are measuring large and size will be a problem they would do a scan anyway I think.

Size 3 feet! I am 4'11 and gave birth 3 times with no problems at all. Foot size is a very old fashioned thing to consider! Something some old male doctor came up with no doubt.

NICE on the subject:
"Pelvimetry is not useful in predicting 'failure to progress' in labour and should not be used in decision making about mode of birth."
"Shoe size, maternal height and estimations of fetal size (ultrasound or clinical examination) do not accurately predict cephalopelvic disproportion and should not be used to predict 'failure to progress' during labour."

That make you feel any better?

Sure there will be lots of 5'2" women who had 10lb babies, with no probs along here shortly!

My dad was nearly 11 lbs and his mum only a small 5 ft 2 woman, and she got him out without any problems.

Also massive babies in the family does not necessarily mean yours will be. I was expecting a whopper (see above) and dd only tiny.

I'm 4'10'' and no-one has ever said anything to me about being unable to birth my children vaginally.

My first labour did end up with a section but that was because the garklet was posterior and caught up in his cord so could never have descended even though my waters broke etc. He weighed 7lbs3oz so size wouldn't have been the issue.

Am only 37w5d with my second and everyone is happy with my plans to have a vbac with labouring in a birthing pool. Nothing has been said about my size 2.5 feet!

There is a biological mechanism that means the baby tends to grow at a size suitable for the mother even if the father considerably bigger. Can't remember the name of it, sorry.

2 word: size of head - ok, 3 word

That's all that matter.

I had my first in 2003, so not that long ago, and when I ordered my notes after the birth it actually said 'query big baby, but mum is tall and size six feet....'

So I guess some midwives were still using the old fashioned method!

If you are concerned then talk to your midwife OP, bet he/she will have loads of positive stories and reassurance.

Thanks everyone feeling better already :) I'm not overly concerned, but it's always nice to read positive stories from people in a similar situation!

NICEy thanks for posting the guidelines that's reassuring.

Five feet one. Size 8 feet. Not a chance in hell of my 2 coming out vaginally. It is the internal diameter of the pelvis that matters and feet size (as stated already by others) has little to do with it.

Good nutrition has more of an effect over the generations.

Wow size 8 feet are big for someone so short! Unless you means kids size 8, then I would ask if your mother bound your feet when you were young!

I had babies too big to fit out naturally due to diabetes. Their ginormo heads couldn't engage in my pelvis. Not once did anyone ask me my foot size as you can see from the posts here it has no relation. I'm only 4ft 11in and had size 2/3 feet but feel that my body would have made babies the right size to fit out if it hadn't been for my diabetes.

MrsOzz

Rest of my family all super tall. I'm teeny tiny. The rest of me stopped growing but the feet carried on to match the rest of the family...

Have super big feet.

ok, i am five two, have birthed an 8.8, 11, 8.4 and 10lb babies, all naturally, no assistance needed, in fact the 11lber was a home birth...no idea what this baby is, but i am not worried, average head circ for my babies so far has been 38cm.
best advice, relax and let your body do what it knows it needs to do....and dont lean on your coccyx during birth!

the size of your feet is nothing to do with your pelvis!

5 2 i wear size 3 or 4 shoes.

ds1 8lb 7oz
ds2 9lb 3oz
ds3 9lb 5oz
ds4 10lb 13oz!

dd the tiniest at 8lb exactly.

all natural births, ds4 the biggest was the easiest and born in a birth pool, dd the smallest was the hardest as she was back to back.

oh and mine all had huge heads, ds4's head was 41cm!! stay upright, move around and try and be on all fours or kneeling for pushing, opens your pelvis up wider and is much more comfortable ime :) good luck xx

I am 5ft 1 size 3 feet and have had 3 back to back births (funny shaped womb). Big babies on both sides of the family but mine were DS 7lbs2 DD1 8lbs 2 and DD2 7lbs 3 and my biggest was by far the easiest to push out and give birth to. I had great births and no stitches at all.

Im 5 foot, size 2 feet, have two DD's, 7 lb 13oz and 9lb 4oz- second one was all completely natural, no stitches up and walking around shortly after I had her. Dont fret over it, you'll be fine :)

Short, size 4 feet, totally average baby (7lb10oz) delivery was absolutely fine. No problems at all.

Baby has tiny feet too though!

I am 5 foot 3, size 4 feet and am very slim usually around 7 stone. I wear kids trousers usually 12-13 and my labour was easy, only a little gas and air.

My mum is five foot, size 3 feet and was even less than 7 stone when I was born and she did it easily with both her kids.

As others have said I think its pretty irrelevant. I am 5ft 1 with size 4 feet and have had a preemie weighing 4 12 and an overdue baby weighing 8 3. With my preemie I was continuously monitored and lying on the bed after being induced. It took me over 2 hours to push her out. With DS who was 8 3 I pushed him out within minutes. I think it has so much to do with the position of the baby and how active your labour is. Relax and let your body do what it wants to.