Has anyone ever heard of this...?

Toreshi_Tobin · May 2010

So I was talking to my parents on the weekend about how I want to do everything as naturally as possible. I want to be in a hospital, in case of major emergencies and what-not, but I want to avoid any kind of drugs and the like.

Then my mom interrupts to tell me that she had to have a caesarean because her frame was too small to handle the birthing process, and that I should get used to the idea of doing it myself because I'm the same size and shape and will probably be forced to do so.

I want to call BS on her because that sounds ridiculous to me...I'm small yes, but 5'1" and 135 lbs isn't exactly minuscule, and I can not imagine being physically incapable of giving birth when I'm perfectly healthy.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? A few people have told me that it's an old attitude of 'the times', and that my mother could have birthed me just fine if she'd had the patience, but my father tells horror stories about how she was in labor for 35 hours and couldn't dilate enough, so now I'm worried. I really really really REALLY don't want to have a c-section (unless, of course, there's a danger to the baby if I don't) if I can manage it.

devilingucci · May 2010

Toreshi_Tobin:

So I was talking to my parents on the weekend about how I want to do everything as naturally as possible. I want to be in a hospital, in case of major emergencies and what-not, but I want to avoid any kind of drugs and the like.

Then my mom interrupts to tell me that she had to have a caesarean because her frame was too small to handle the birthing process, and that I should get used to the idea of doing it myself because I'm the same size and shape and will probably be forced to do so.

I want to call BS on her because that sounds ridiculous to me...I'm small yes, but 5'1" and 135 lbs isn't exactly minuscule, and I can not imagine being physically incapable of giving birth when I'm perfectly healthy.

Has anyone ever heard of this before? A few people have told me that it's an old attitude of 'the times', and that my mother could have birthed me just fine if she'd had the patience, but my father tells horror stories about how she was in labor for 35 hours and couldn't dilate enough, so now I'm worried. I really really really REALLY don't want to have a c-section (unless, of course, there's a danger to the baby if I don't) if I can manage it.

Your mom is right... This can / does happen. I'm not sure how often it happens though. I would talk to your OB about it.

msrkilpatrick · May 2010

It can happen, but is not very common. Just talk to your OB and make sure you both are comfortable with your birth plan.

rider5344 · May 2010

She is correct, this can/does more often than people know. With me, it's not my small frame, but my flat pelvis that is the problem.

lylyne21 · May 2010

I am n L&D nurse, and yes this can happen. It is not your frame that is too small but rather your pelvis/birth canal. You should not be forced to do anything you don't want to. Your Primary Care person should allow you to attempt labor and give you ample time to progress. As long as the baby is not in any distress, if the time comes and you are not progress/dialting, you and you DH will make the decision of what to do next.

lilmgirl · May 2010

Your mom is right. It can and does happen that some women just can't deliver a "normal sized" baby. That's one of the first things my OB checked and he told he thinks I should be able to, but will continue to measure/watch as I continue.

MrsPreK · May 2010

msrkilpatrick:
It can happen, but is not very common. Just talk to your OB and make sure you both are comfortable with your birth plan.

This. But it doesn't necessarily mean you'll end up with a c/s. My BF's mom was 5'1" and 100 pounds and had (3) 10lb babies naturally.

pawcall · May 2010

As other posters said, it CAN happen, but just because it happened to her doesn't mean it will happen to you. My mom delivered all three of us via c-section because her pelvis just won't accommodate a term baby. But I'm still plenty hopeful for a vaginal birth.

ETA: My mom is 5'7" and has a medium-to-large frame. So I don't think being "petite" tells you much of anything.

Ryan&Kristin062009 · May 2010

I feel like my dr told me this during a pap once (unless I dreamt that lol). I'm 5'1 and only 98lbs though. I have a very very tiny frame. I think it depends on the person. One of my friends is 5'8 and was around, I believe 160lbs and her birth canal was too small to deliver vaginally too, so I think it just depends on the person.

carrie204 · May 2010

My Dr with my first told me all through out my pregnancy that i had a small pelvis and i may end up in a c-section because of this. I tried for all i was worth to get that kid outta my crotch but he wouldn't come down. His head was literally stuck and not coming through my pelvis. He was a 7lbs 14oz baby... so average. My Doc later said she knew all along i was going to have a c-section but did let me try for a vaginal bitrth.

sil222 · May 2010

It has nothing to do with your weight or height but your hips! i had a friend who not small by anyone's standard and when she went to deliver the doctors found her pelvic bone was too small to all the head through so she had to have a csection. i think for the most part unless your bones are extremely small they will let you try to deliver natural first because things do stretch etc and if the baby never drops down they will do the csection instead.

i would stay positive and try for the natural birth first.

memelou10 · May 2010

Yup, it can happen. It happened to me. I'm 5'0 with a small frame & DD did not fit. She & midwife tore me up down there. I had alot of complications after giving birth and was put on bedrest for 2 months. They said that I can't deliver a baby over 7 pounds but I have so much damage down there my doc. wants to be on the safe side and do a C-Section.

ashleywebber · May 2010

Here is my advice to all pregnant moms (if they want it that is). I went in hoping to have an au natural birth (not to be a "hero" or something but because I figured if I could handle the pain, why get drugs). I was supposed to have a 10 pound baby but I was convinced if it worked I would do it (knowing I could get the drugs if I needed it). I had a great birth canal. I went 26 hours and only dialated to 5 cm. I did end up getting an epidural at the 20th hour to relax and sleep to see if I could dialate better. I did but not enough. I ended up with a c-section and was disappointed (even threw up a few times because I was nervous). It went fine and I had a perfectly healthy, hearty 9 pound baby with the biggest head. In hind sight I realized he could have gotten stuck and that would have been worse than a c-section. A great c-section is better than a bad vag birth and visa versa. Most c-sections go perfectly if that gives you some encouragement.

OHbrideinTN · May 2010

It happened to me, but my mom and my sister who are both very similar in size to me both delivered two babies vaginally. So it can happen, but I'm not sure how much genetics plays a role.

Toreshi_Tobin · May 2010

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions ladies! I'll keep hoping to go natural (I have much wider hips than my mother, so there's that), but I'll try to be reasonable (I seem to recall my doc having to use an extra small speculum once, which probably isn't a good sign).

My two reasons for wanting to avoid a c-section at all costs are that I'm scared to death (never had surgery before, unless you count removing my wisdom teeth, which isn't exactly very invasive), and not wanting any nasty scars (I'm sure the times have changed, but my mom's is pretty noticeable and not at all nice to look at, so I shudder at the thought). Even so, I'll try to get used to the idea, just in case.

kleopatra09 · May 2010

Don't let anyone discourage you from a natural birth if that is what you want. It will be the best experience. I have heard of this before, but I don't believe it is that common. Def talk to you doc about it, but "old timers" mentaility seem to be from a different, less women-independent time.

Go for it girl!

heidismith · May 2010

Like pps said, it can and does happen. But I would talk to your OB and let him/her know what your birthplans are.

izzourclue · May 2010

I have heard of this. Happened to my mom. My 1/2 brother was a 10 lb baby. I think it has less to do with size and more to do with the shape of your pelvis. I am not planning on a c-section, but I am prepared for the possibility. I have boy hips and babies are much bigger these days due to good prenatal care. There is such a thing as good birthing hips.

hjk5000 · May 2010

As others have said, it's not your weight or height, it's your pelvis. My aunt is 5' 1" and maybe 100 pounds and delivered 4 babies vaginally.

ETA: and all of her kids were 7-9 pounds at birth.

Lissa832 · May 2010

lylyne21:
I am n L&D nurse, and yes this can happen. It is not your frame that is too small but rather your pelvis/birth canal. .

This. My mom is tiny. She's 5'1" and 100lbs. She had three children naturally. Her frame is tiny, but her pelvis was adequate to birth children.

KJKNAJ · May 2010

I'm 5ft, 95lbs & had the easiest labour of anyone I know. It is to do with the pubic bone, not your overall frame.

kjg5445 · May 2010

it can happen but she should not tell you to get used to teh idea of a c-section. DS wasnt wanting to come out and he was only 6lbs 3oz. i was 20 minutes away from a c-section because he just wasnt sliding down like he needed to when i finally pushed him out, an episiotomy and many stiches later! im small, 5'1 and pre preg i was 100 lbs. ima little worried this time around since it was so hard for DS. so yeah its possible but i'd definitely always try instead of just having it in my mind it cant be done! im also worried because DH was born at nearly 9 lbs =/ ow!

Jackswife123 · May 2010

Toreshi_Tobin:
So I was talking to my parents on the weekend about how I want to do everything as naturally as possible. I want to be in a hospital, in case of major emergencies and what-not, but I want to avoid any kind of drugs and the like.
Then my mom interrupts to tell me that she had to have a caesarean because her frame was too small to handle the birthing process, and that I should get used to the idea of doing it myself because I'm the same size and shape and will probably be forced to do so.
I want to call BS on her because that sounds ridiculous to me...I'm small yes, but 5'1" and 135 lbs isn't exactly minuscule, and I can not imagine being physically incapable of giving birth when I'm perfectly healthy.
Has anyone ever heard of this before? A few people have told me that it's an old attitude of 'the times', and that my mother could have birthed me just fine if she'd had the patience, but my father tells horror stories about how she was in labor for 35 hours and couldn't dilate enough, so now I'm worried. I really really really REALLY don't want to have a c-section (unless, of course, there's a danger to the baby if I don't) if I can manage it.

I`m built the same (5'1 and 135). My mom had 2 c-sections b/c her "frame was too small". I had a vaginal birth. Everyone is different. If you want a natural vaginal birth GO FOR IT! Just keep options open b/c plans change.

MaggieGrace · May 2010

My thoughts on the subject.....

Yes, it does happen, but rarely. A Dr. can't definitively know the size of your baby before it is born. Ultrasound technology isn't that perfect. And, I hear this "diagnosis" happening so early in pregnancy that I doubt that the Dr. really knows the size of the pelvis and whether the baby will fit. I have never heard of someone having an x-ray to determine the size of the pelvis (not in this decade, at least). I think that elective c-sections happen more frequently because of this reason because Drs. prefer to schedule c-sections, for their schedule and for liability reasons. I know plenty of teeny women who have delivered large babies vaginally. I also think that sometimes a baby isn't well positioned, therefore no progress and the mom doesn't dilate, and that mom is told the baby "wouldn't fit" when it wasn't a fit issue, but a positioning issue. If the kid isn't perfectly head down, labor doesn't progress properly.

Balou127 · May 2010

my mom had all three of us by c-section because of her small hips, and my doc has said through out the years at my annuals that i am the same way and may have to also have a c-section. i dont think theres anyway to be sure just yet but i think it is very possible.

sleepingbeauty825 · May 2010

Lurking! I just wanted to add that all of these ladies are giving you great advice!

As far as the incision scar goes, it really is not that bad. Granted, it's not better than no scar, but it is not all that noticable. Mine is covered by my underwear/bathing suit bottoms. No one sees it but my H and myself. It is only about 5 inches across. I only know one person (a Bumpie) who has the vertical incision, and that's because she had another surgery in addition to her C.

Don't be skurred! H&H!

stephsteph77 · May 2010

Toreshi_Tobin:

Thanks for all the responses and suggestions ladies! I'll keep hoping to go natural (I have much wider hips than my mother, so there's that), but I'll try to be reasonable (I seem to recall my doc having to use an extra small speculum once, which probably isn't a good sign).

My two reasons for wanting to avoid a c-section at all costs are that I'm scared to death (never had surgery before, unless you count removing my wisdom teeth, which isn't exactly very invasive), and not wanting any nasty scars (I'm sure the times have changed, but my mom's is pretty noticeable and not at all nice to look at, so I shudder at the thought). Even so, I'll try to get used to the idea, just in case.

It happened to me. I'm 5'5" and a size 6. I fully dialated to 10 and pushed and pushed and pushed but DD just couldn't fit through my pelvis. After a totaly of 23 hours of labor I had to have a c-section. DD was 8lbs, 7oz.

As for the scar, it's totally not noticable to anyone but DH and doctors. It's in the very top of my hairline and about 4-5 inches across. My underwear and bathing suit bottoms cover it - even my skimpiest undies cover it completely.

AleciaMarie · May 2010

My mom was 4'11, 90lbs and delivered me naturally with no problems- I was 9lb.

I would reccommend the book "Pushed" to you. Yes, this does happen, but it is MUCH more rare than you would think. Nowadays, this country is so sue-happy that doctors will often scare you into thinking the baby "wont fit" when it's more that they are just wanting to do a C so that their chances of being sued are MUCH less.

KRISTA555 · May 2010

The PP's are right in that it does happen HOWEVER, from what my doc said, usually a woman's height and weight doesn't have much to do with how big of a baby she can push out.

There are large frame women who have a harder time pushing out a 6 pound baby, than a smaller fram woman has pushing out a 9 pound baby. The only way a doctor can really predict how you'll do, is if you have a hip issue or something else that is pre-existing. Otherwise, it's just an educated guess, and it's a wait-and-see. They won't know until D-day.

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