Wide hips for centuries have been considered a sign of fertility in women - this is a sign of a potentially good woman in labor. Can modern medicine confirm that the dimensions of the pelvis actually play an important role in successful motherhood? In this case, we are not talking about delusions or superstitions, but about folk wisdom.
Anatomical features of the human pelvis
Anthropologists have long come to the conclusion that changes in the structure of the skeleton in general have become a payment for the
upright posture of a person , and the size of the pelvis plays an important role here. Children are born unprepared for an independent existence, when compared with most mammals: a human baby cannot immediately follow his mother after birth, he is not equipped with protective masking mechanisms.
This makes it relatively easy to transfer births, because as a result of the characteristics of the human body, the birth canal is narrowed compared to animals, and the birth of a relatively small fetus in this case is a blessing.
When registering the expectant mother, the gynecologist must not only examine the general condition of the body, but also take into account the peculiarities of the figure - the dimensions of the pelvis during pregnancy do not undergo significant changes. It is important to understand that in this case everything is relative, and the parameters may not be sufficient in themselves, but rather a relatively large fruit.
Wide hips - easy delivery?
Popular wisdom has long indicated the size of the pelvis of a woman in labor as a guarantee of a successful motherhood. But, as already mentioned above, the fetus can be large even for a generally healthy physique of the woman in childbirth. The elasticity of the birth canal, the possibility of surgical intervention - all this significantly increases the likelihood of a positive resolution of the burden.
Nevertheless, one should not rely only on parameters measured by a generous nature. The incorrect position of the fetus and the possible difficulties in the development of pregnancy in any case are the reasons for the increased attention to the health of the expectant mother. Only the size of the pelvis cannot compensate for all possible difficulties, and this must be understood.
Body Type Relativity
At the initial examination of a pregnant woman who came to be registered, the doctor measures the parameters of the pelvis using a special tool. In such a matter as the size of the pelvis, the norm is determined depending on the type of figure of the woman. For example, the interosseous size, measured between the anterior iliac axes, normally ranges from 25-26 cm, but this is the norm for a European woman of medium height and average weight.
Much more important is not the size in centimeters, but the anatomically correct balance of all measurement parameters. A pelvis is considered narrow in which at least one parameter deviates from the norm in the direction of decreasing by one and a half to two centimeters or more. This violates the optimal anatomically correct balance of parameters, guaranteeing an easy physiological birth with other prosperous components. With a narrow pelvis, obstetricians strongly recommend prenatal hospitalization from 38 weeks gestation for safety reasons.