Page 16 - 2023 Elctronic Book (3) Normal Labor_Neat

Figure 3 the pelvic canal seen from the side, with the body facing

to the left.

 The size and shape of the pelvis

The size and shape of the pelvis is important for labor and delivery. Well-built
healthy women, who had a good diet during their childhood growth period, usually have
a broad pelvis that is well adapted for childbirth. It has a round pelvic brim and short,

blunt ischial spines (a ‘gynecoid’ pelvis.) It gives the least difficulty during childbirth,
provided the fetus is a normal size and the birth canal has no abnormal tissue growth
causing an obstruction.

There is considerable variation in pelvis shapes, some of which create problems in labor

and delivery. A narrow pelvis can make it difficult for the fetus to pass through the
pelvic canal. A deficiency of important minerals like iodine in the diet during childhood
may result in abnormal development of the pelvic bones. Stunting (being much shorter

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