Measurements on pelvis and birth canal

[CathyandHeathcliff]

I’m just wondering if this is an option.
I’m currently trying to make a decision between vaginal birth or elective c section. I was wondering if they can measure your pelvis capacity before the birth to see if you can genuinely fit a baby through it? I know some women have such a narrow pelvis that it just can’t happen.

I asked about this out of curiosity when I was pregnant with DS1 and was told that even if they come up with a measurement, your body produces hormones that make your pelvic bones separate and your hips get wider throughout pregnancy and so any measurement would be wrong by the time you get to the birth anyway. I then got horrendous SPD and sciatica because my hips opened up so much so they were right!!!

Unless you have a serious vitamin deficiency or other deformity of the pelvis, even a large baby would fit through! As PP said the pelvis stretches and the baby’s head also moulds slightly to pass through so measurements now wouldn’t really tell you anything helpful.

Your pelvic bones separate during pregnancy and labour to make way for the head. The baby’s skull also moulds to fit into your birth canal (that’s why the skull isn’t yet fused). A pelvic scan wouldn’t tell you anything useful.

Do you have any reason to think your pelvis won’t be wide enough? Are you particularly petite/small built?
My tiny, size 4-6, 4 ft11 best friend has had 4 children, the biggest of which was 9lbs 8oz.