Bone structure hereditary?

[justagirl998]

I was wondering if anyone knew if bone structure is hereditary. The reason I ask is that when my mother had my oldest brother (33 years ago next month) she went to the hospital when she started having regular contractions, progressed through labor all the way to point of being able to push. She then pushed and pushed and pushed - I want to say

Comments

[mynamewastaken]

I think it's possible but there are different positions to try for pushing. I know my first was basically the same as what your mother went through and my doctor is really pushing for me to try to have a VBAC this time.

[sarmakala]

First, the hormone relaxin softens up the cartilage in mom's pelvis, making it "stretchy."

Second, baby's head is designed to mold and "cone" into a shape that any mom's pelvis can pass. The problem is that doctors don't like to wait long enough for this to happen in some cases. It can take a few hours of pushing for the baby's head to cone enough for some women. (I have such big hips, my babies have never had a cone head at all!)

Third, if a mom wants to avoid a c-section for this issue, squatting opens the pelvis about 30% wider to alow the head more room to pass through. It's worth a try when facing major surgery! (But nearly impossible to do if you are hooked up with epidural and can't use your legs) Laying on your back/lithotomy to push can actually press the tailbone into the baby's path and hinder progress.

[rhiannasilel]

This. Also add to the fact that 33 years ago there was a tendency to have women lying flat on their back and not moving around a whole lot during their labor.

[ber_waves_of]

I have small hips/bone structure. It took 3 hours of pushing and a vacuum extractor, but I was able to have my baby vaginally. :)

Edited to add: Our bodies are MADE to birth our babies. Small women have been giving birth since the beginning of time. Think about countries like Japan where most women are smaller - they're not ALL having C-sections, right? :P

[thejoysofjess]

Well my mom had a "my pelvis is too small" c-section with me as all, and trust me, it's not a case of HER being small. She's quite a normal sized person, and quite pear shaped with wide hips. Her pelvis just really did not widen enough for me to pass through. I came out with the coniest head ever. I could have been on SNL. (My dad actually thought I was deformed).

[ber_waves_of]

haha, my baby had quite an impressive cone head too. :P

[a_tergo_lupi]

Bone structure is hereditary, but there are lots of bone structures that have contributed to both you and your child. My brother was snagged by his immense shoulders when he was born oh so many years ago. But, a good dose of oxygen and my mom managed to get him out. There's plenty of chance, but you have to move around and see what works. But, if it doesn't work, then you're still not any sort of failure.