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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Did your "childbearing hips" have any bearing on your ease of labour?

70 replies

Thandeka · 06/12/2009 14:50

Just wondering as I have been "blessed" with such hips since I was 14. Am expecting my first in 9 weeks and was hoping I would finally get a reward for such wide hips- but it probably doesn't work like that does it?

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Jujubean77 · 06/12/2009 19:32

I think it really depends on the shape of the baby - esp head size.

ChatterClausIsComingToTown · 06/12/2009 19:43

Narrow hips here and 3 large babies but all easy and very quick to birth.

JulesJules · 06/12/2009 20:08

Tragically, no.

My childbearing hips did nothing to help. I think size of baby's head and position are much more relevant. 24 hours of torture, sorry.

My 2nd delivery,a CS, was absolutely fine though...

toddlerama · 06/12/2009 20:10

It's pelvis size, not hip size. I have big old hips but wasn't even able to attempt labour due to biggish (not massive) babies and a poxy small pelvis.

YanknChristmasCrackers · 06/12/2009 20:12

Sorry...very wide hips here and ended up with labour that didn't progress beyond 4cm and an EMCS.

Chaotica · 06/12/2009 20:19

Another 'no help' here (sorry). Big hips and a ridiculously long labour (followed by a second labour that wouldn't even start).

You never know though - it might help in your case (in mine, the babies were not doing their bit).

abra1d · 06/12/2009 20:20

Women with toned muscles can actually find it harder to give birth.

I have wide hips but a narrow pelvic outlet. I had to have a CS with my first because he was breech and was very likely to get stuck.

hairymelons · 06/12/2009 20:44

I have wide hips and a large pelvis but DS was back to back so had a 76 hour labour! However, have been told by consultant obs friend that my broadness around the beam probably helped me get there in the end as if he'd got properly stuck I might have needed to go to theatre.
I was expecting an easy labour because my whole life I've been told I'll pop kids out like peas! Wasn't to be- there are so many variables, you never know how your labour will go. You can make a real difference to your experience of labour however things turn out by preparing well with various coping techniques (for me, was hypnobirthing relaxation stuff)so I'll be doing more of the same next time. And also hoping that number 2 gets in a nice position...

emmarussell · 06/12/2009 21:27

Think it's more about childbearing pelvis not hips. I remember visiting my friend in Kwazulu Natal South Africa when he was working in a rural hospital there. Many of the Zulu women had obstructed births and had to have c-sections because their pelvis' were narrow yet they were pear shaped with quite large bottoms.

emmarussell · 06/12/2009 21:27

Think it's more about childbearing pelvis not hips. I remember visiting my friend in Kwazulu Natal South Africa when he was working in a rural hospital there. Many of the Zulu women had obstructed births and had to have c-sections because their pelvis' were narrow yet they were pear shaped with quite large bottoms.

MadameDuBain · 06/12/2009 21:28

Nope. I'm tall, large-framed and pear-shaped with a fat arse lusciously wide hips, but my labour was 24 hours of agonising failure to dilate and DS's giant head getting stuck.

PotPourri · 06/12/2009 21:56

I like to tell myself that it's for childbearing - i.e. it is easier to carry the baby. Not necessarily birth it though

carocaro · 06/12/2009 22:37

I have large hip ans had two large baby boys and I was glad of my wide hips, they popped out in a few pushes each!

carriedababi · 06/12/2009 22:48

i have wide hips and had a 4th degree tear

so no

its one of thoses things SOME people say to slyly put you down.
imo

jadey24 · 06/12/2009 22:51

I'm built like a pencil have boney small hips and gave birth to a nice 8lb 4oz healthy bubba. My labour was long but that was cause she was back to back but despite that she came out nicely ( eventually lol )

StarlightMcKenzie · 06/12/2009 23:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nooka · 07/12/2009 00:13

I guess it partly depends on what you mean by having "wide hips", as it seems to be a bit of a euphemism for having a big bum, which is neither here nor there when it comes to giving birth. I am tall and have quite a broad pelvis (looking at where the pelvic bones stick out). I had two quite small babies (under 7lbs and on the long side) neither of which I managed to push out at all - but I think that's because I didn't go into labour naturally (both times my waters broke early and I had c-sections). My hips were good for propping babies on afterwards though!

ThumbleBells · 07/12/2009 01:12

sorry, body like an ironing board, no hips to speak of, labour was relatively easy.

However, I do have big feet and I gather that has more relation to the internal measurement of the pelvic opening.

ParanoidAtAllTimes · 07/12/2009 08:24

I have no hips (but quite a lot of waist- am very of those of you with womanly figures!) and had a very straightforward labour. Lots of good tips on here already- I drank lots of raspberry leaf tea in the last few weeks, listened to a hypnotherapy cd, used a tens machine and made a labour cd of my favourite music to concentrate on. Also being very active and upright was good. I don't know what it was that did the trick but I was able to stay really relaxed throughout which definately helped make it a positive experience. Good luck!

MadameDuBain · 07/12/2009 08:55

I do have a big bum but also genuinely wide hips (where the hip bones are) and big feet! But still didn't happen. It must be more to do with the inner opening of the pelvis not just how big it is overall.

loobylu3 · 07/12/2009 09:24

The important thing is the internal dimensions of your pelvis, not the external size of your hips.

Antiquarian · 07/12/2009 09:49

I have really narrow hips, size 6, but when the consultant did a sweep he said that I had nice childbearing hips. Everyone in the room giggled (there were a few) and I took it to mean that I had a bucket-life fanny. Wasn't sure whether to be pleased (easier labour) or upset (poor DH). Anyway, when it came to it, 30 hour labour with failed ventouse and then forceps, with large episiotomy. So not sure what that all means! Good luck!

zazen · 07/12/2009 11:27

My Specialist Gynae Physio says the same thing about having toned muscles and it not being good to push a baby out.

My muscles were extreeeemly toned when I was pg and I had an abdominal diastisis - where muscles were so toned, they didn't stretch, they just split right up my abdomen. After three days labour, I had a crash section. I wonder now were my muscles just too taut! Was I obsessing about being 'fit' to give birth!

Having a soft abdomen and pelvic floor is counter intuitive though isn't it, in our bikini edition life?
Maybe we are all brain washed to be toned and tight, when in fact we should be all soft and stretchy.

Good luck with the birth of your babe (and yourself as a mum). And I agree that it is indeed over a lot quicker than the 18 years following! LOL

I think remembering to relax is a skill that will serve very well for Motherhood - starting at the birth.

Undercovamutha · 07/12/2009 11:27

I haven't got proportionally large hips and I had 2 good/quick labours, giving birth to 7.5lb and 8.5lb babies.

beakysmum · 07/12/2009 11:57

Sorry, no link for me either. There really is no justice in life!

Agree, it's more to do with head size, position of baby etc etc. Good luck!