My mother has a theory re: fast, easy labour vs slow, difficult labour?

[iamwhaticallpregnant]

I was wondering if anyone can say this was true for them or not. I was having a break down about my upcoming labour and it seems my mother has a little theory....

She said she has always thought I would have a 'too quick' labour - in so much as she thinks there will be more danger of me giving birth in a taxi on the way to the hospital as opposed to a 36 hour marathon. She believes this because I have - in her words "Incredibly strong hormones!" Meaning I have always suffered with the heaviest worst periods possible, murderous PMT, fantastical mood swings - I am a bit of a nightmare to be honest. I am up and down like a yo-yo! Do you think there is any truth at all in this?! strong hormones = fast labour?!

As a secondary query - I have very wide 'childbearing' hips? As she calls them. (She is full of compliments) do these genuinely help? as the name suggests.

The only two people I know who have given birth had apparently nightmare labours and they are both size 6 to 8, very calm and reasoned people - and I am not sure either of them even have hips?! Not that I am jealous, much.
Anyone think dear mother has a point?!

I think your Mum is trying to cheer you up.

My periods are barely noticeable - last 5 days, light bleeding, no mood swings or food cravings, hardly even registers in my head. My labour was 6 hours from first twinge to arrival.

My sister has horrendous periods and also managed an 'easy' labour so

I am a petite size 10 (when not pregnant) too so don't think the hips are the be all and end all either.

Labour is a physical feat though, so I do think the fitter and stronger you are, and the more relaxed you are the more likely you are to have an easier time of giving birth.

The main thing to know is that an easy birth is possible, even with your first and that whatever will be will be, so try to be pragmatic and put your worries aside. Tell yourself instead that you will be fine - much more helpful than reinforcing your negative feelings all the time.

Good luck - you'll be fine, and whatever happens - it is all worth it!

Sorry, it makes no difference.

I have (ahem) wide hips, horrendous periods and endometriosis. But had a horrible labour ending up with a CS.

For me it was nothing to do with my shape, or my medical history or hormones but to do with the fact that ds had a fused skull and literally couldn't fit out .

But don't worry about it - what will happen will happen.

I think the position of the baby before labour has a huge amount more to do with it than anything else. DS's position changed visibly in the weeks before I had him. He went from lying on his side, head down, to lying with his bum right between my ribs, which meant - bam! - I went from not a single stretchmark to a stomach of roadmaps overnight :( My bump dropped in an almost comical manner and I could feel my pelvis opening - meaning a very attractive waddle - in the last few weeks. I also had very regular braxton hicks for weeks. It was all really uncomfortable but it meant that by the time I actually went into labour everything was ready, it all went really smoothly and he was out in 9 hours which isn't particularly short but is pretty good for a first labour. Getting a baby out is a logistical thing - the contractions are important but if the baby isn't lying right then a lot of the labour will be spent moving him/her around to the right position (which is really slow and difficult) and if he/she is just stuck in the wrong spot, or your pelvis isn't allowing them through then it's just not going to happen.

That's why it's so so important to try to keep active in the last few weeks, even if you really don't feel like it, and to keep moving during labour if you possibly can so that each contraction is actually having the opportunity to either turn to the baby or push them downwards. If you're lying down there's a danger the contractions will just be pushing the baby ineffectually around the same spot or not pushing them at all. Standing up, or sitting upright means there's much more chance the head will drop the right way into the pelvis and all will go as smoothly as possible.

What worries you about labour?

Sorry but, in the nicest possible way, I think your mum talking mince!

I'm a pre-pregnancy size 8-10. 1st labour 12 hours and easy, 2nd labour less than 1 hour, and although medically straight-forward, was very traumatic for me and DH.

Everybody labours differently, and with each pregnancy the same person can experience a different labour from the last. I wouldn't stress about it too much and just keep an open mind. As long as both you and baby are healthy then who cares what the labour was like!

well it would seem that everyone has very different experiences and it might be very much the luck of the draw. thanks for all the useful info - i love the shelling peas idea. and thanks for being generally nice about my mother. cailinDana to answer Q - absolutely everything scares me about labour - but i am going to give positive thinking a try and visualize those peas being shredded!
thanks all

To add another in the mix, some have already mentioned pelvic size,
And they used to refer to the size of the woman's feet,
The smaller her feet the harder it was to labour naturally.
Especially if it was a big baby!

I'm slim build, no hips, uk size 3-4 shoe, not really moody or prone to Pms, light periods 48hrs max

Was in labour over 30 hours, but it was easy, (apart from the tiredness)
Didn't really hurt too much, (have had worse toothache) no pain relief, and was laughing and joking inbetween contractions, even in the pushing stage which lasted 1 hour.
DS was 7.1lb born so not big but not too small either.

4days 19hrs or Labour and I have murderous pmt. sorry but certainly doesn't apply to me.

And I have size 8 feet and erm 'child bearing hips'

Wide hips, heavy periods and a raging hormonal mess = over 80 hours of labour (and i had 2 pessaries and then the drip - only forceps were getting my DD out of me!)
Shame your mum's theory didn't work for me

I heard all sorts of theories about labours... everyone thought mine would be really easy... baby was in an excellent position (I thought) and I was very active right up to 40 weeks, walking 5 miles a day, spending time on all fours, did loads of yoga and hypnotherapy, felt VERY positive and relaxed about labour...
I am a size 10, a curvy one with proper hips and boobs...
Labour was 30 hours from waters breaking to delivery and apparently although baby was in a good position to palpate, her head was slightly tilted... it was uncomplicated and I did have her at home, but it was certainly neither quick nor easy!!!

I am now banking on the fact second ones are supposed to be quicker and easier!

(Oh and baby was quite small too! 6lb 14oz. So WHERE WAS MY QUICK, EASY LABOUR, DAMMIT?! )

It's true in my case!

I have strong hormones, horrid periods and HG in pregnancy.

I had a long latent stage with dd that wasn't particularly painful but then quick deliveries for both in fact ds was delivered by paramedics at home!!

i have wide hips but it was different for me each time also im lucky iv never had period pains also only have 3 day light periods with 5 weeks between

1st- 41+6 induced took 12 hours and had to have emergency c sec as babys heart beat dropped with each contraction and i only progressed to 5 cm

2nd- 39 weeks 9 hour 50 mins from waters braking to giving birth really strait forward no problems

3rd- 41 weeks 2 hours 27 mins waters didn't brake till pushing her out found labour more intense and painful

i wouldnt worry too much about what labour you have, it wont even cross your mind when your actually in labour. my only thought each time has been "get this baby out" and "ouch" as faxhthatpam said the beautiful baby at the end will make you forget everything
good luck and try not to worry.

Even doctors used to believe that "child bearing hips" would contribute to an easier labour. My mum got told by a doctor when pregnant with me that, at the age of 26, she was "quite elderly for a first time mother but with those hips we don't envisage any problems"

Size 6, normal periods but awful moods ;0)
First birth awful long and difficult.. baby got stuck lots of intervention needed.
Second baby quick and easy.. Basically flew out lol

Joining Anya knowlt in disproving your mums theory, have light periods, no pmt, don't react to hormones (only the slightest baby blues for about one day), size 10.... 4 hour labour!
Your MIL sounds like a bit of a pain.Talk about dropping insults in the guise of advice!!!