Small feet small pelvis?

[PregnantQuestions]

Is it true that small feet mean a small pelvis? I have UK size 3 feet. I am also very petite - 5’1” and underweight pre-pregnancy (and at the start of pregnancy). My DP (baby’s dad) is 6’2”.

My mum is 5’0” and also has size 3 feet. She had a very slow labour with my brother and his shoulders got stuck (shoulder dystocia). My brother was over 8lbs, so way too big for her pelvis.

My growth scans show my baby at 50th centile so I’m not expecting a small baby. I’m interested to hear the childbirth experiences of other petite women - especially if your DP is tall.

Husband 6"2, im 5"2. Size 4 feet.
Baby 1 was 7.4lbs
Baby 2 was 9.4lbs

Both absolutely fine deliveries, just had gas and air and no stitches or anything needed afterwards. Home same day with both

It's strange. I am small in height, small hands and feet etc but my figure is hourglass with small waist, wide hips. However I ended up with an emergency c section with my first and planned c sections for my next 3 births as I was told my pelvis is very small inside and at a slight tilt. I know some very petite slim women who have had uncomplicated vaginal births though so I think it's just something you can't really know about till it happens.

This is interesting. I'm at the other end of it, 6 foot with size 9 trotters and have delivered three babies with precipitous Labor. All under two hours x

I had heard this (and I also am the same height/shoe-size as you, and my ex a similar height, and I had EMCS after my kids failed to descend/labour to progress) BUT, when I spoke to a senior midwife (friend, not involved in my care) she said that it was an old wives tale that shoe/pelvis size are related, that evidence showed no connection, and that I'd just had bad luck.

My mum - (my dad 6ft)
4 foot 11 size 2 feet
Underweight
4 natural births
3 days labour for both
No stitches etc

Myself - (husband 6ft)
5 ft
Size 2 feet
Underweight
Very long labour
EMCS

So not really much help to you

I’m short, small feet. Dh 6’2. Ds was nearly 9lb and really long, born with no issues

My mum 5ft size 2 feet had five natural labours with no issues, and one of those was a 10 pounder

me, 5ft 5 size 3 feet had three natural labours with no issues all over 8lbs.

it’s a silly old wives tale. Ignore it.

My mum and sister are both just over 5ft and size 3/4 feet and have had 9 straightforward births between them, they were average sized babies.

I am 5ft and have size 4 feet and have a husband over 6ft but I had c sections, not due to size of baby or getting stuck though.

Under 5feet, size 2 feet and a 9lb 1oz dc3.

Wouldn't say so, size 7 here, 9lb 6oz baby who got stuck (shoulder dystocia) and had to be resuscitated. Don't think foot size makes the blindest bit of difference unfortunately.

5'4" size 6 feet, wide hips. Brilliant at being pregnant, useless at giving birth. Both got stuck!

I'm 5-4" with size 4 feet. My son was only 6lb14 at full term and I couldn't get him out, even with forceps in theatre they couldn't either so ended up having a category 1 c section. The surgeon said I have CPD which is a small/wonky pelvis so my next baby should be a straight c section.

Interestingly, my sister has very wide hips and big feet, size 7 I think and she has had vaginal birth with all her babies.

My mum had a difficult and long labour with her eldest. And my twin had to have forceps delivery with her eldest daughter and a planned c section with her second.

I don't know whether it's to do with shoe size or hip size but I do think family history should be taken into account.

Thank you everyone! Very interesting to hear about your experiences. Is the only way to find out if you have a small pelvis is during childbirth? @acupofteamakeseverythingbetter they definitely should take family history into account! The obstetrician laughed at me when I told her I was terrified due to my mum’s experiences. She said ‘well she had more than one child, didn’t she?’ Yes, but she struggled to push me out too! I was 7lb and she was in labour for several days. They used forceps on my head to drag me out and my mum lost loads of blood.

I’d love to give birth vaginally, but I think I’ll be opting for a c-section.

I'd never heard this before! (Glad about that tbh)
I'm 5'1 with size 3 feet. Have "child bearing hips" apparently. DH is 5'8.
DD1 was 6lb13oz and caused a 3rd degree tear (because her hand was up at her head 🙄). DD2 was 8lb 6oz and I had an episiotomy with her.

@PregnantQuestions yes I was only made aware that I have CPD whilst I was in recovery after the c section.

Every midwife that examined me said that he was super low but when it came to pushing he just wouldn't budge. I do feel that I have narrow hips too which does make sense to me. I would have absolutely loved a vaginal delivery but knowing what I know now I will definitely be opting for c section next time.

Because of the failed forceps, my son had cephalohematoma (soft lump on his head) caused by the trauma which everyone said would go down but his actually never did and unfortunately calcified and so he still has the bump. As he's gotten big it's not as noticeable but is definitely still there.

Is your body shape and hip shape the same as your mum? My body shape is the same as my mum and my twin and we all had difficult labours but my older sister has a completely different body shape, wide hips and she hasn't had to have c sections.

I find it all very fascinating.

@acupofteamakeseverythingbetter your poor son - and you! Yes, we both have narrow hips so that’s why I’m scared.

Don't be scared. I practiced Hypnobirthing and it was honesty so incredible throughout my whole labour. I'm not sure if you're familiar with it but you learn a breathing technique which keeps you calm and in control and even when both our heart rates were incredibly high due to all the induction drugs I was so calm throughout the whole thing, the midwives kept commenting on how amazing I was coping with the contractions and how calm I was. Yes my labour didn't go to plan and it was quite intense as things weren't going to plan with my sons heart rate etc but I felt calm and breathed my way through it all. Hypnobirthing is definitely something I would recommend.

I would also recommend being flexible with your birth plan. My birth plan was to have a water birth and vaginal delivery.

However I was sent for a growth scan at 40+2 and it was discovered I had low waters and so was sent up to the ward to be induced. But my mantra was "I'll do whatever needs to be done to get my baby here safely" you just need to go with the flow sometimes but also have your boundaries in place. I know that sounds contradictory but I mean speak up if you need to and have your birthing partner advocate for you too. My mum was amazing at telling the midwives that enough enough, get him out.

When are you due?

I have size 2.5 feet and gave birth to an 8 lb baby (with an epidural, but still an OK delivery all things considered!)

Have size 3 feet am 4ft 10 ins.I have two children both born by very emergency c section.I am unwilling to discuss the reasons on this thread.
I had an aunt my father's twin sister who had the same build as me and had three children all born with no complications.
It is the luck of the draw I think.

We were under fetal medicine with one of our children for growth issues. I was surprised because I am 5'2" and DP 6'2". I couldn't believe our baby was small with Dad being huge. The consultant said to ignore dads height and size as his genes don't kick in until after birth.

Eitherway it's the head circumference I'd be more concerned about than anything else. You might have a heavy baby that's just long!

5'8 with size 5 and half feet. I also have tiny wrists and apparently a flatter than optimal pelvis. My dc all had heads on or above the 95 percentile though (which is linked to increased chance of intervention being required).

My Grandmothers, one 4'11 and one 5'2 had a brace of 10 to 12 pounders naturally (average head size).

5' was 6stone 3 pre first pregnancy with my hips being my smallest size wise, size 2.5 feet. DH 6'3" and a large baby.

4DC all induced all unassisted delivery without birth injury/stitches. My largest was 10lb6oz 🤷🏽‍♀️

There are so many factors. Pelvis shape, baby position etc.

My sister is 6ft tall with child-bearing hips and had shoulder dystocia, emergency Caesarian etc. Her husband and our dad both have huge heads.

I'm 5'9 straight up and down, not petite, size 7 shoe etc. I was told by my midwife during labour, I had a narrow pelvis 🤷‍♀️ tbf DS did get stuck and I did need an episiotomy but like his father he has broad shoulders and a large head! (Recent hat purchase age 7-8, he's 4)

Oh DH is 6'4