Let’s show the pelvis a little love today.
After all, we sit on it, it holds our bodies in a upright position and it also allows a woman to grow a baby for nine months while tucked in her body and when the time is right, it opens to allow that baby to move down and out into the world. So, how much do you know about the very cool pelvis?
I think many people picture the pelvis as a fixed and immobile bone structure, but pelvises are more complex than that. They come in varying shapes and sizes and while it is true that non-pregnant women (and men) have pelvises that are locked, every one is made up of four distinct bones. These four bones are held together by connective tissue, cartilage and ligaments which allows to pelvis to move as we move. As a pregnancy progresses and throughout labor, the hormone relaxin is released by a woman’s body and that relaxin makes those connective tissues, cartilage and ligaments stretchy like rubber bands or bubble gum. All that softness allows the bones to loosen and to expand so a baby can move into the pelvis and eventually pass through. (All that loosening and stretching can also make things uncomfortable for a very pregnant woman and may be a big reason for the “pregnancy waddle” and even why she may be more prone to dropping things as other connective tissue in the body is also affected.)
If you do any reading about childbirth, you may come across a few medical terms that are used to discuss female pelvises. Words like adequate or proven may be used to describe a woman’s pelvis if she has given birth before. Inadequate or unproven might be used to describe a woman expecting her first baby or a woman who has had a prior Cesarean due to concerns over her baby’s size relative to her pelvis. The term “adequate pelvis” is hardly a ringing endorsement of the powerful pelvis, but “inadequate” is obviously worse and “proven” seems to hold the woman’s body guilty of inadequacy until proven innocent. However, judging the size and ability of a pelvis prior to spontaneous labor is usually as helpful as looking at a turtle neck shirt and deciding it is too small to fit over a human head before trying it on. In order to appreciate the way the pelvis works during labor we have to take into account the bubble gum and rubber band features of these bones.
Relaxin is not the only thing that opens the pelvis. The position a baby is in makes a difference as does the position of the laboring woman. Squatting is said to increase pelvic dimensions by up to 30%…which is a lot when you think about a baby coming out. You can actually feel how the pelvic bones move simply by standing, placing your hands on the area just below your hips then move into a squat. You will be able to feel that your hands are now further apart than they when you were simply standing. This same thing happens when walking, lunging, walking up stairs etc. Moving during labor works the same way to allow the pelvis to stretch open in fun ways.
A laboring woman will usually find that changing positions is often helpful for both her comfort and for encouraging the pelvis to do what it can do. For women that are laboring with an epidural, they too can do things to be pelvis friendly. They can have their doula or nurse help them move from side to side every 30 minutes and even sit upright. Peanut balls are amazing tools for helping the pelvis open, both with and without an epidural, so it does not hurt to ask if your hospital provides these or if you may bring your own.*
Allowing the pelvis to do it’s job is a great way to help labor go well. When it comes time to have a baby, think bubble gum thoughts and make like Elvis….swing. tilt and ROCK that baby out!
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Maria Pokluda has served expecting families in Dallas and Ft. Worth since 2007 and has helped hundreds of families have happy birth days. Maria has been voted “Best Doula” the past five years and specializes in helping couples achieve VBACs. Maria co-created BEST Doula Training and trains doulas from around the world .
*At the time of writing this blog, the hospitals in my area that I know provide peanut balls are: Harris Methodist in Fort Worth, Cleuburne, Mansfield Methodist, Denton Presby, Baylor Dallas