At first thought, it can seem crazy that an entire new person can fit through your pelvis and be born into the world. However, pelvises are dynamic, expandable structures and babies’ skull plates mould to fit through the expanded pelvis. That is a big part of what is happening during birth! Take a look below to learn about how perfectly your pelvis and baby are designed to allow a smooth passage through your body during birth:
Your Pelvis:
The Female Pelvis & It’s Perfection For Birthing Babies – by Gloria Lemay
The pelvis is made up up for separate bones and OPENS AND EXPANDS during the birth process.
See also: Pelvises I have known and loved by Gloria Lemay.
Please note, part of what allows the expansion of the pelvic diameter is the sacrum / tailbone which hinge open and out of the way for the baby. This is why you hear childbirth educators encouraging women to avoid being directed to birth on their backs. If the tailbone is squished against the flat surface of the bed, it can’t hinge open the way it is designed to.
Your Baby’s Skull:
Your baby’s skull plates are designed to overlap with each other to fit through your pelvis in a process called “moulding”. The head slowly moulds to allow the smooth passage of the head (the largest part of the baby’s body) through your pelvis. This is why babies are often born with slightly (sometimes significantly) cone-shaped heads!
Women’s pelvises expand. Baby’s heads mould. You and your baby’s bodies work together to allow a perfect fit as your baby is born.
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