will i deliver normally or by c-section? need advice pls?

Question

hey, am now 30 weeks preggie and just wondering if i will be able to deliver normally, you see am only 5 feet tall and wear a very small shoe size - size 3. some people tell me that this means i will have to deliver by c-section.

is there anyone who is the same size as me and was able to have a normal birth?? or is it definite i will have a c-section.

any knowledge on this would help..... i would like to have a normal birth if i could

Thanks

Answer 1

I suggest you get this book:
* SILENT KNIFE: Cesarean Prevention & VBAC by Nancy Wainer-Cohen & Lois Estner
This book helped fuel the uproar over cesareans that were not necessary by trying to make consumers more aware of their options. A great book, worth reading even if you are past the baby years.

***After my first (unnecessary) c-section I was determined not to have to go through that again. I started learning all that I could in order to prevent future c-sections. (I did have a second one, but it was completely unnecessary because of my own oversight. I was laboring at home for a VBAC home birth and because of a complication that was later found to be nothing, I went to an area hospital that no longer does Vaginal Birth After Cesarean-VBAC.) Anyway, I just found out that I am expecting again and we will try again for a VBAC at home.

One very common reason that doctors perform Cesareans is because they say the woman's pelvis is too small and the baby is too big. I know that there are situations that warrant a c-section for smaller women (and yours may be the case), but sometimes the women are just flat-out lied to. The doctor shows her x-rays that "prove" the baby will not fit through. (You know, God made a mistake making this woman's body...) A chiropractor pointed out that the pelvis is made (by God) to become "elastic-like" during delivery. The pelvis WILL be sufficient to deliver the baby when the time comes. Doctors either do not know this, or they do not tell the patient. One doctor used this excuse on a woman. She later found out that the baby was breech, but that the doctor was not comfortable delivering a breech. (Many lay midwives deliver breech babies at home births.) He made her think that HER BODY was the problem when, really, it was his insecurity. Isn't that a great reason to put a woman through such an ordeal? We really must educate ourselves more.

I suppose that for you, the only thing that might give you peace about attempting a vaginal birth would be encouragement from other small women. But it would do you good to read this book because it is about CESAREAN PREVENTION. The more educated you are about your options, the easier your decision will be. And you will feel better in your spirit.

Another helpful book for those who have experienced a c-section and would like to try for a vaginal birth is:
*The Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Experience: Birth Stories by Lynn Baptisti Richards
A collection of VBAC stories to inspire you and answer your questions.

The books I suggested are PACKED with information that EVERY pregnant woman should know (previous Cesarean or not). One of the most helpful things for me was reading about the UNNECESSARY reasons that C-sections are performed (you have to know this to protect yourself) and the UNNECESSARY invasive procedures that are performed on mother and babies in hospitals. This made me never want to give birth in a hospital again.

Answer 2

I don't think because you are 5' tall, that you will definately have a c-section. It depends on the size of your pelvis and also how big the baby is. I actually just went through this with my daughter and her first baby. She is only 5' tall. Her pregnancy went well but she did have a lot of water weight gain and gained a total of 50 lbs. The doctor did several ultrasounds on her and told her she would have a pretty big baby. At that point, I wonder if she would have a c-section. Also, I had my babies by c-section, as did both my sisters. She did end up having a c-section, because of the size of the baby and also he would not drop into the birth canal because of the size of his head. Whatever happens, you will be fine. She did just fine after her c-section and said she definately would not be afraid to have another one. It does no good to sit and worry about it at this point. Either way, when you hold your baby, it will be all worth it. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Every delivery is unique. Your body is designed to have babies and I've never heard of shoe size indicating if you will be able to deliver a child or not. Many women are 5 feet tall and deliver normally. This does not mandate that you have a c-section. The size of your baby and the shape of your pelvis are going to be the determining factors. If your baby is very large and your pelvis is small, then you may have to have a c-section. If your doctor was concerned about this, he would have talked to you about it by now. At your next appointment, I would tell him your concerns and see what he says. I have 3 children and two of them were c-sections. I'm 5'7" and my first daughter was 8 pounds and her head got stuck. After 33 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing, I had a cesarean. My point is, there are no guarantees in delivery and your baby will be delivered the way it was intended to be. Please don't worry about it now. Good luck to you and your baby.

Answer 4

I am unsure of what your shoe size has to do with your vagina. There are several factors that determine wheather or not one will have to deliver a baby vaginally or by c-scetion and I have never heard of a woman being unable to give birth because of her shoe size. My mother is a very small woman 5'1" and she is very thin at a mere 90 pounds and she was able to vaginally deliver two babies. Whereas your hips and other things can affect your baby and the way that you deliver. Shoe size isn't a factor. At least not one that I have ever heard. Good luck. If your dr. hasn't mentioned it at this point then I wouldn't worry about it to much. Good luck with your little one.

Answer 5

when your OB does a pelvic exam on you, which should have been done on your first visit, he/she can estimate which type of pelvis you have. there are several types of pelvis types. the one that is adequate to deliver a baby is called a gynecoid pelvis.
your height/shoe size has nothing to do with whether or not you will be able to deliver a baby. a person can be 6 feet tall but with an inadequate pelvis, won't deliver. make sense??
i would bring this up at your next visit with your OB. C-sections are quite frequent nowadays, but it's used most often if the mom is not progressing in labor, or the baby goes into distress during labor.
no one can answer this over the web since we are unable to examine you and measure your pelvis ;). ask your doc, who can give you his advice. take care!!!


oh...ps...i am about your size and have had two babies with no problems. no sections.
good luck!!!!

Answer 6

My Grandmother was a feisty little 4'11" firecracker who weighed all of about 98 lbs and she had 4 kids vaginally w no problems. And she got her shoes from the kids section so i guess they were at least as small as yours. So have hope, I bet you do just fine. Your docs will make sure they do what's best and most will TRY for a regular birth. Natural is always best.
Good luck to you Hon, I hope you have an easy birth (yea right lol) and a healthy baby.

Answer 7

Giving birth by normal vaginal delivery is the bravest and the sweetest thing you will ever experience in your life.Not everbody will be given the oppurtunity to do so.I've seen smaller people than you are deliver normally without any complication, so why not you? After all, life too short to be afraid.. so,if there is no contraindication, try deliver normally, if you can't, there is always a room for c-section. (I am sure you and your baby have your doctor best interest.) Trust me, even if you fail, you will love yourself even more, because deep down you know that you are a fighter, not a looser..

Answer 8

Your body size has absolutely nothing to do with it. Your dr. will advise you if there is any special reason you would have to have a c-section. I'm 5'9" and was quite overweight when I was pregnant, but apparently have a small pelvis (who knew?), so there was a problem. One of my grandmothers had the same problem, and she was a big woman too, though only 5'.
One would not have a c-section unless it is TOTALLY necessary; it's MUCH better to have a regular vaginal birth.

Answer 9

Your height and shoe size have absolutely nothing to do with how your have your baby. My grandmother was 4'11" and had a 9+lb baby. I am 5'3" tall and had 4 babies over 10lbs each, including my homebirthed baby who was 11lbs 5ozs. Don't let anyone bullsh*t you into thinking you can't birth your baby naturally. If you want a natural delivery, then you can do it. Just make the doctors leave you alone to do what you feel is right.

Answer 10

I would really like to know what shoe size matters in the birthing process??? I wear a 9, what does that mean for me???