You’ve probably heard the term “childbearing hips” before.
Perhaps your or another person’s bodily form was described using these words.
Saying that someone has childbearing hips, though, may sound a little strange — or even perplexing — given that the majority of women are built with the capacity to bear children.
Continue reading to find out what “childbearing hips” actually entail and why having them may make childbirth a little less difficult for certain women.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ If you don’t have hips that would be deemed childbearing, don’t worry.
✅ A difficult birth experience isn’t usually predicted by having larger, broader hips.
✅Regardless of the size or shape of your pelvis, childbirth is a difficult event.
✅ There is no way to predict how simple (or difficult) your birth will be until you are at the stage where you are prepared to give birth.
✅ In either case, take solace in the knowledge that your tiny bundle of joy will soon arrive after delivery has begun.
What does it mean to have “childbearing hips”?
To be clear, saying that a woman has childbearing hips does not imply that she has some unique capacity for childbearing that other women do not. Childbearing hips, in its most basic form, refers to a woman’s pelvic anatomy. This idiom is frequently used to describe ladies with broader or bigger hips.
There is no “one size fits all” for pelvic forms. Instead, they might differ greatly in size and shape between women. In general, some women are constructed with wider hips and pelvises, which may make it simpler for them to carry and deliver a baby.
Researchers assigned the pelvis one of four morphologies in the 1930s: gynaecoid, anthropoid, android, and platypelloid. It’s interesting to note that a more recent study indicates that there is more variance in pelvic morphologies than previously believed and that they can’t all be neatly categorized into these four groups.
Here are the qualities of each pelvic shape as they were initially defined, however, to comprehend why it is thought that they may affect birthing.
Gynaecoid pelvis
If you have a gynaecoid pelvis, your pelvis is often shallow and wide. This width provides more space for the baby to enter through the pelvis during labor.
So a lady who is said to have childbearing hips most certainly has a pelvis with the gynaecoid shape, which was thought to be best for labor and delivery. Another typical pelvic form is gynaecoid.
Another typical shape is an anthropoid pelvis. However, a gynaecoid pelvis differs in that it is broader from right to left. The hips of an anthropoid are broader from front to back.
Therefore, if you have an anthropoid pelvic shape, your buttocks and abdomen may be where you carry the majority of your weight. Your labor might take longer and be less comfortable than it would be for someone with a gynaecoid pelvis because of the less open form of this pelvis.
Anthropoid pelvis
Taller women are more likely to have an android pelvis, which is characterized by smaller buttock muscles and a narrow pubic arch. Because of this, it may be more challenging for babies, especially bigger ones, to pass through the pelvis during labor.
With this pelvic shape, you can surely give birth vaginally but be prepared for possibly lengthier labor.
Platypelloid pelvis
Narrowness is another characteristic of a platypelloid pelvis. Due to the extended time, it may take your baby to enter the pelvis due to this pelvic shape, your birth may also take a little longer.
This morphology differs from an android in that the pelvis of an android has a small pubic arch. A platypelloid has a subpubic arch that is broader. Therefore, as your baby reaches the pelvis, labor will be less difficult for you if you have a platypelloid pelvis.
In the past, a woman’s pelvis area was X-rayed to see if she could be able to give birth vaginally with some ease. Your OB-GYN may examine your pelvis to get a sense of the structure even if pelvic X-rays are no longer a component of the prenatal appointment. Recognize, however, that your pelvic shape does not definitely predict whether you will deliver vaginally or via cesarean section or whether your birth would be easier.
The size of the baby’s head, the mother’s health, and the baby’s posture during labor are just a few of the many variables that affect childbirth. The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that a woman’s body is built to give birth to a child. Your pelvic floor will naturally relax and stretch as labor progresses and your due date approaches in order to be ready for delivery. Your body’s secretion of the hormone relaxin causes this.
The little difference between your pelvic bones during pregnancy is what allows a baby to pass through your pelvic joints. However, even though the ligaments around your pelvis will loosen up before giving birth, the shape of your pelvis remains the same.
Does having childbearing hips make birth easier?
In conclusion, having childbearing (wider) hips may facilitate childbirth. A baby can easily slide between the pelvic bones thanks to wider hips. However, hip size isn’t the only element that influences how you give birth.
The reality is that while some women with smaller pelvic shapes have had easier births, some women with so-called childbearing hips have experienced difficult deliveries. There is no way to predict how you will feel until you give birth to the child.
Here are some other variables to consider:
Size of the baby
The size of your baby is one aspect that might significantly affect your labor experience. Although a woman with broader hips is more likely to experience a quicker, easier delivery, this might not be the case when giving birth to a huge kid.
In the event that the baby is slightly wider than the hips, the delivery may take longer. Nevertheless, giving birth to a tiny child may be easier for a woman who has a narrow pelvis, which is normally more challenging.
The position of the baby
Additionally, your baby’s position during pregnancy can affect how easy or difficult your delivery will be.
In the womb, babies are usually simpler to deliver when they are in the “head down” position. The good news is that most babies in the final weeks of pregnancy naturally shift into this position.
However, some infants switch to the breech position (bottom down). In this situation, your doctor might try rotating the baby and, if that doesn’t work, might recommend a C-section.
Your wellbeing
Be aware that birth can be affected by your health. Vaginal childbirth demands a lot of strength and stamina on your part. Therefore, you might not be able to push efficiently if you’re sick or have a medical condition that affects your physical strength or energy, which could cause your delivery to take longer.
Your constrictions
While unpleasant, weak uterine contractions—the tightening and relaxation of the muscles in your uterus—help push your baby out. Delivery could take longer if your contractions are weak.
However, keep in mind that women of all sizes and shapes can give birth to children of diverse sizes and forms, despite the fact that several circumstances may affect birth.