Childbearing Hips – Do They Make Any Difference In Childbirth?

Women have a natural structure for childbearing, and thus, coming across a term such as ‘childbearing hips’ may be confusing to some! Across cultures, the female body has been associated with symbols of fertility and reproduction, often tied to physical attributes like wider hips. While ‘childbearing hips’ seems to encapsulate this notion, it’s crucial to explore the science behind this phrase and its implications on childbirth. Let’s unravel its biological and cultural significance.  In this article, we talk about what the term “birthing hips” means and if it makes any difference in the childbirth experience.

What Are ‘Childbearing Hips’?

Women have a bony basin or pelvis, where the baby sits for the entire duration of a pregnancy. Slowly, this bony structure shifts to prepare for childbirth. Every woman has a different pelvis structure; some may have a wide pelvis or hips, and others may have a narrower pelvis or hips. Let’s learn more about birthing hips meaning.

Childbearing hips are not a special quality that some women have – it simply refers to the shape of the pelvis, which is a larger or wider hip structure.

Women may have different kinds of pelvic structures, and the ones with wider pelvises, or ‘childbearing hips’, may have easier birthing processes. In order to understand more about childbearing hips, it is important to know how they are classified into different shapes.

How Different Types of Pelvic Shapes Influence Childbirth?

According to one research study that was conducted in the 1930s, it was established that women’s pelvises could be broadly classified into four main categories. However, in present times, many experts find it difficult to stick to this limited categorization. In order to understand whether childbearing or birthing hips have any influence on childbirth, let’s talk about the various categories of pelvis shapes:

1. The Gynecoid Pelvis Shape

The gynaecoid pelvis shape is one of the most common pelvic shapes found in women. This shape is great for facilitating and easing vaginal birth in most women. This kind of pelvis is shallow and wide, which proves to be great in assisting the baby through the birthing canal. In other words, a shallower and wider pelvis provides more room for the baby during the birthing process, which thus makes this shape one of the most favourable.

This also means that if you have been told you have good childbearing hips by your midwife or doctor, there is a good chance that you have a gynecoid pelvis. Women who have this kind of pelvis are usually curvy and shapely and tend to hold more fat around their thighs rather than their midriff.

2. The Anthropoid Pelvis Shape

This pelvis shape is also common, like a gynaecoid pelvis, but instead of being wider from side to side (right to left), this shape is wider from front to back. If you have this kind of pelvis shape, then labour may not be too easy for you, as there is less room for the pelvis to open fully during childbirth. Labour may also be longer.

Women who have this kind of pelvis shape have more weight around their abdomen and buttocks. If you have such a pelvis, your doctor may recommend that you take an active part during the birthing process and may also recommend certain activities, such as squatting or walking, that can help ease the process of labour.

3. The Android Pelvis Shape

This kind of pelvis shape is mostly found in taller women with a narrow pubic arch and smaller buttock muscles. The pelvis is narrow in the front and has a heart-shaped brim, and thus a triangular shape is created at the inlet with a narrowed-down sub-pubic arch. This kind of pelvis shape makes it difficult for large babies to pass through the birth canal, and thus women with this kind of pelvis usually undergo a Cesarean delivery.

However, if vaginal birth is considered, the doctor may ask you to move more during the birthing process, and you may also have to push harder. This means that this kind of pelvis does not rule out the possibility of a normal delivery, but you may have to undergo longer labour.

4. The Platypelloid Pelvis Shape

In this kind of pelvis shape, the ischial spines are prominent, and the sub-pubic arch is wide, lending a flattened shape at the inlet with a prominent sacrum. If you have this type of pelvis shape, then you may have to experience longer labour, as your baby may take longer to enter your pelvis. The main point of difference between platypelloid pelvis and the android pelvis is that the latter has a wider sub-pubic arch, while the former has a narrow pubic arch. This means that once the baby settles or enters the pelvis, labour will become easier with a platypelloid pelvis.

Examining a woman’s pelvis is a common procedure that your doctor will perform. However, while a pelvis x-ray used to be a part of a prenatal check-up, it is no longer mandated. Your doctor might check your pelvis simply to find out its structure.

Other Factors That Influence Childbearing Hips

The dimensions and structure of a woman’s hips are influenced by various factors beyond the colloquial term ‘childbearing hips.’ Understanding these multifaceted influences provides a more comprehensive view of the term ‘childbearing hips’ and its relation to childbirth. The following factors encompass both biological and environmental elements shaping pelvic anatomy and childbirth experiences:

1. Genetic Diversity

Different ethnic backgrounds can influence hip width and shape.

2. Hormonal Influence

Hormonal levels during puberty and pregnancy can impact pelvic bone development.

3. Nutrition

Adequate nutrition can affect bone growth and overall body development.

4. Physical Activity

Levels of physical exercise and movement during growth years can influence pelvic structure.

5. Age

Maturation and skeletal changes throughout a woman’s lifespan can impact pelvic dimensions.

6. Environmental Factors

Socioeconomic conditions and healthcare access may influence prenatal care, potentially impacting pelvic development.

Do Childbearing Hips Ease the Birthing Process?

A woman’s experience of childbirth revolves around various important aspects, such as her health, the position of the baby during labour, the size of the baby’s head, and so on. A woman’s body is made for childbirth, and thus, having a particular kind of pelvis shape cannot be a clear indicator of whether you will have a vaginal delivery or you will require a C-section.

As you proceed with your pregnancy and get closer to the date of delivery, your body starts preparing for labour. Your pelvis will start stretching and relaxing to facilitate the baby’s movements through the birthing canal. The bones around your pelvic region will start separating slowly from one another while making room for the baby’s movement. It is important to remember here that these changing ligaments in the pelvis do not mean that your bone structure is changing; rather, it is your body’s way of preparing for childbirth.

So, if you are wondering whether women with childbearing hips will have it easy during labour, the answer is yes. This is highly possible because there is more room for the baby to move easily. However, the size of the hips cannot be the sole determining factor in what makes labour easier. Other important aspects that contribute towards easing the birthing process are the size of the baby, the position of the baby, the strength of the contractions, and the health of the mother.

This also means that even if you have childbearing hips and other childbirth aspects are not in your favour, you may have difficulty during the birthing process or even may have to undergo a Cesarean section. On the other hand, if all other childbirth conditions are in your favour, and you don’t have ideal childbearing hips, you may still have a normal delivery.

FAQs

1. Is It Good to Have Birthing Hips?

The concept of “birthing hips” is more rooted in cultural expressions than medical accuracy. Having wider hips doesn’t guarantee an easier childbirth. A woman’s pelvic anatomy, including the size and shape of the birth canal, matters more than just the width of the hips. However, broader hips might offer a slight advantage due to potentially more space for the baby to pass through during delivery.

2. Why Are Wide Hips Beneficial for Childbearing?

Wider hips are often associated with an increased potential for childbirth ease due to a theoretically larger pelvic opening. This wider pelvic structure might allow for a smoother passage of the baby during labour. Nevertheless, the significance of hip width in the actual childbirth experience varies among individuals, and factors like pelvic shape and the baby’s position play significant roles in the delivery process.

Childbirth is a different experience for different women, and till you are in active labour, it may be difficult to tell how your labour will progress. Thus, there’s no need to worry about small issues such as your pelvis shape, unless your doctor is concerned about the same.

References/Resources:

1. Common myths about giving birth; Pregnancy Birth & Baby; https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/amp/article/common-myths-about-giving-birth

2. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth; BMC; https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/

3. What happens to your body in childbirth; Pregnancy Birth & Baby; https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/amp/article/what-happens-to-your-body-in-childbirth

4. Pregnancy: Types of Delivery; Cleveland Clinic; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9675-pregnancy-types-of-delivery

5. Your baby in the birth canal; MedlinePlus; https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002060.htm

Also Read:

Hip Pain in Pregnancy
Types of Childbirth Options
Stages of Labour & Childbirth
Tips to Cope With Childbirth Fears