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How Pelvis Shape Affects
Pregnancy & Birth
Pregnancy and childbirth are amazing and unique experiences for every woman. It can be a transformative time filled with joy, excitement, and anticipation and yet an intimidating experience. It is essential to understand how the female pelvic type affects pregnancy and birth in order to prepare for a successful delivery. Knowing the four types of the female pelvis, and how they relate to vaginal delivery, can help reduce worry, fear, and discomfort during labor. In this article, we will discuss the four types of female pelvis, as well as methods to adapt one's pelvic type in order to have a smoother delivery.
The 4 Types Of Pelvic Shapes
When it comes to pelvic shapes, there are four distinct types. These different shapes are each unique and affect a woman's birth pregnancy and birth plan differently. The shape of the pelvis also greatly affects the way we stand and sit, our posture, and even the type of exercise we choose to do. Knowing your pelvic shape—and how it affects your body—can be helpful in understanding yourself better and preparing for a vaginal birth.
The first type is gynecoid, which has much rounder edges than the android shape. This shape offers more space for the baby to move through during labor, making it easier for women with this type of pelvis to deliver naturally.
The second type is an android pelvis, which features a heart-shaped brim and an oval outlet. Women with this type of pelvis tend to deliver their baby more quickly as the opening is wider than other shapes.
The third shape is the playpelloid, which is wider at the bottom than at the top, which could lead to more difficult labor as there’s less space within these areas for the baby to move through.
The fourth shape is anthropoid, which features a longer lower segment and narrower brim compared to other shapes.
How Different Types Of Pelvis Shape Affect Birth
Giving birth is an amazing experience that brings new life into the world. However, the journey from the womb to the outside world can be a difficult one for a baby. The passage through the mother's birth canal can affect how the baby is born and even influence its development.
The birth canal consists of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. It is designed to stretch and help guide the baby out of the uterus safely. The overall shape of the pelvis affects how a baby may be delivered as the bony structures change how the joints, ligaments, and muscles work together to allow a baby to be successfully delivered vaginally.
Each type of pelvic shape has its own unique set of characteristics that can influence both labor and delivery. For instance, hips with gynecoid shapes typically have more room for the baby’s passage through the birth canal due to wider joint angles and greater ligament laxity compared to other types. Android-shaped hips usually offer less space for babies since they tend to be narrower in comparison to gynecoid or anthropoid shapes.
The Common Gynecoid Pelvis
The gynecoid pelvis is the most common female pelvis and characteristically wider than other pelvic shapes, allowing for easier and faster delivery.
Women with this type of pelvis typically have an easier labor process due to its shape, which creates more room in the birth canal. While women with other pelvic shapes may experience longer labor times due to their narrower birth canals, those with a gynecoid pelvis generally experience shorter labor times and less complications during birth. Additionally, the wide space created by this type of pelvis helps reduce any potential trauma caused to both mother and baby during delivery.
The Narrow Android Pelvis
Android or male-type pelvises are considered a variation of the female pelvic shape, with some key differences that can affect the labor and birth process.
Women with an android pelvis can have more difficulties in childbirth than other shapes because of their narrower birth canal and flatter areas where the baby needs to rotate during labor. While this may sound concerning, there are ways to prepare for labor in advance depending on your individual pelvic shape.
The Flat Platypelloid Pelvis
The platypelloid pelvis is the least common type of pelvic shape and can cause difficulty during childbirth, commonly resulting in a cesarean section if labor does not progress. This type of birth shape can make labor more challenging if performed in a common back-laying position and is something to be aware of before giving birth.
A platypelloid pelvis, also known as a flat pelvis, is characterized by a smaller size than the average female’s pelvic shape and a flat sacrum. This means the baby may have a harder time passing through the mother’s birth canal due to the lack of space for them to maneuver in there. The birthing process will typically take longer and require extra effort from both the mother and birthing staff if this is an issue during labor.
To help with these challenges, women with platypelloid pelvises should consider giving birth in different positions such as squatting or side-lying to help open up the area for delivery.
The Narrower And Deeper Anthropoid Pelvis
The anthropoid pelvis has an oval characteristic shape. Though deeper than the gynecoid pelvis from the front to back and allowing for the position of the baby to move throughout pregnancy, this pelvis is also narrower across. This can make labor and delivery more difficult when the baby's head descends through the pelvis.
Can You Give Birth With All Pelvic Shapes
Having a differently shaped pelvis can create some unique challenges during labor and delivery. Regardless of what type of pelvis a woman has, each comes with its own set of advantages and hurdles. the labor and delivery periods of pregnancy. As the pelvic floor muscles, ligaments, and pelvic joints shift for delivery, the baby must rotate in the pelvic cavity.
One of the most important factors in the birthing process is finding a comfortable position to labor and deliver in. Many people assume that you can only give birth laying down on your back, but there is actually a wide range of birth positions that you can use to make your birthing experience as pleasant as possible and help the baby.
The truth is, no matter what shape your pelvis may be, you can find a comfortable and effective way to deliver your baby. From squatting to side-lying positions, there are plenty of creative ways to approach giving birth—and many of them don’t involve lying flat on your back at all! In fact, studies have shown that using certain birthing positions could potentially help shorten labor times and reduce the likelihood of interventions during delivery.
Steps To Help Pregnancy & Birth Regardless Of Pelvic Shape
By understanding the different pelvic shapes and how they affect pregnancy and birth you can make informed choices about your daily activities through pregnancy and how you'll prepare for your labor and delivery. Signing up for birthing classes is an excellent option that will help build confidence in your body and allow you the opportunity to practice different birthing positions, pain relief techniques, and create a birth plan that works for you.
During your pregnancy, regular chiropractic care can also help to prepare your body for labor regardless of pelvic type. At Base Camp Health, we utilize the Webster Technique, a gentle and specific way to help balance the joint and ligaments of the pelvis and sacrum in pregnant women.