I weigh a little over a 100 lbs. and 5'7 and am trying to plan my future. I want to have children but have apprehensions about childbirth. Does it actually matter how much you weigh or body structure? My hips are the actually only thing that are womanly.
2007-01-05 13:11:59 · 25 answers · asked by MrsalmostMom 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Childbirth is one day in your life.As painful as it may be, it is nothing compared to the joy of creating a new human being.
If the baby is too big to have a vaginal birth, the doctors will do a C-section.
2007-01-05 13:15:36 · answer #1 · answered by Cammie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll be fine. It doesn't make a difference. My grandmother is 4'11" and had a 19" waist on her wedding day. She had 3 children via natural childbirth (no drugs...and that was in the 50's when the drugged everyone!). All of her births were under 3 hours, and VERY easy. Now me on the other hand, I'm 5'5" and weighed 130 before pregnancy. I truly look like I'm built to birth babies. Guess what??? Not the case. After 48 hours of labor hell, my daughter was taken by cesarean. You never can tell. Either way, its the 21st century... you and the baby will survive. Remember, pain is only temporary.
2007-01-05 13:17:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Not it doesn't. Even very small women can give birth to large babies without anymore pain than other women experience. And if for some reason there were to be problem a csection could be handled in an emergency unlike hundereds of years ago when men looked for women with large hips so they would bear children more safetly. Which even then didn't assure anything.
My tiny little friend recently amazed us all when she gave birth to a 10 lbs son without any additional intervention and it all went very smoothly.
2007-01-05 13:57:34 · answer #3 · answered by Wicked Good 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have only ever broken 100 lbs when I have been pregnant.
I have had 3 uncomplicated pregnancies, 3 unmedicated vaginal births and 3 healthy, normal sized babies. (7 lbs 13 oz boy, 7 lbs 7 oz girl and 8 lbs girl.)
Your pre-pregnancy weight doesn't really matter all that much. Just be sure you eat healthy and gain a healthy weight during your pregnancy. (I gained about 27 lbs each time.)
There is no way to really know about the size of your pelvic outlet ahead of time because right before labor/during labor there are hormones released that loosen up everything to help your body to make more room for baby to be born. Stay active in labor and if possible, use more upright positions to push in. (Squatting is great as it opens up your pelvis wider than other positions.)
Hope that helps!
2007-01-05 13:24:14 · answer #4 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can't judge a book by its cover. It is not the size of the women but the structure of the pelvis that will or will not allow a baby to be born vaginally. I am 5'4", small framed and had no difficulty with childbirth, now I am on my fourth pregnancy. The only way to know is to try!
2007-01-05 13:16:00 · answer #5 · answered by katester 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
honey your hips are the only thing that matters. They have very elastic cartilage in them(only women have this!) that is built for childbirth. every women has the same amount. My mom had three children, all at home without pain killers. SHe was 5'7 and 106 pounds before pregnancy. She gained about 20 pounds during pregnancy and two weeks later she lost that weight. You will do fine!!!
2007-01-05 13:15:06 · answer #6 · answered by Mommy of 1, #2 on the way! 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was so sorried with my first child that I opted for a c-section. I am very thin, and my doc was concerned about my bones not being wide enough, so I said lets play it safe and have the c-section. Now 8 months prego with my second child, I am leaning twards trying to give birth vaginally. There are pain medications that can help ease discomfort, but there will always be pain. Pain is what you make of it, and if you are extra sensitive to pain, then it will probably be more painful. I am told by many mothers that vaginal birth are mostly very very uncomfortable, and the painful at the very end. I think even though I may end up in the OR, I will try a vaginal birth. C-sections arent horrible, so if you have to have one, no biggie, at least it was no biggie to me.
2007-01-05 13:19:50 · answer #7 · answered by Holly M 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well, I have always been small (5'7" 104lbs) and when I got prego the midwife told me that I had plenty of room for a baby, and that my uterus was big. so it doesn't really matter how big you are, just how big your uterus and pelvic bones are.... and there are always epidurals, I swore I would never get one, but after 18 hrs of labor and having to be induced, I got one.... Don't worry, women are built for child birth, it is very rare that a woman is too small to have a baby..... You will be fine! Good luck, and don't let your fears keep you from getting the best thing in the world, a beautiful little baby!!
2007-01-05 14:55:07 · answer #8 · answered by ME 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It hurts no matter what but your body is built to have babies no matter what your size. Epidurals are wonderful things if you don't want to go through the intense pain. Did it both ways and I have to say I enjoyed the epidural birth quite a bit more.
AND on the plus size, having babies makes you more curvy and womanly :)
2007-01-05 13:23:25 · answer #9 · answered by Wendy F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No--it's a LOT more about attitude!
In my experience, if you expect a sickly time, you'll HAVE a sickly time. If you expect to glow with health, you WILL!!
Just get a good OB doctor--they will tell you at some point whether your frame can take the baby's size normally or whether you will need a C section.
Rest easy--this is the ONE thing our bodies can reliably do FOR us, instead of against us, lol!
2007-01-05 13:22:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋