Hi Julie Doula - quick question for you...

What is 'pelvic mapping' ?

I am 5' nothing and hubby is 6'3"...I wouldn't consider myself petite but am a bit worried about having a big baby and not being able to birth vaginally (and I really, really, really dont want a CS unless its absolutely necessary!) Is pelvic mapping something I should know about / look into?
Hi Babylove sorry it took me so long to reply.

I should be a sales rep for The Pink Kit, seriously. They should pay me!!! I would recommend The Pink Kit, it really goes into the pelvic mapping so well, and helps you understand & really 'get' the bony structure of your pelvis and the soft tissue as well.

Pelvic mapping - they talk you through it. You feel the pubic bone at the front, and the tailbone at the back. You notice how that diameter actually changes as you move into different positions, like kneeling, one knee up, semi squatting etc. Then you feel for your sit-bones, see how far apart they are, see how they also MOVE when you assume different positions, and which ones make you feel more open and spacious. You feel your birth outlet and you get a really good feel for how much room you have, and the shape of your unique pelvic. It builds your confidence in your own equipment.

Don't worry too much about tiny wee you and big tall dh. After doing the mapping and reassuring yourself of your womanly capacities, and learning techniques for making space in your pelvic, you'll feel like you can birth a bus (OK then, a 10 pounder at least!) You might be little, but through the mapping you may actually find that your actual pelvic dimensions are the same or even larger than other women. And if a woman finds out through the pelvic mapping that a particular dimension of her pelvis is on the smaller side, she can then learn specific positions and techniques that will help make room in that area.

There are workshops around that go into pelvic mapping etc, but The Pink Kit you do in the privacy of your own home. It includes a DVD, audio CD, book, and two PDF files you read on the computer. It cost about $100 but it is well worth it and you'll be mobbed by takers if you wanted to re-sell it.

They also teach techniques for making space such as the sit-bone spread (I used that with spectacular success at one first time mama birth), the hip lift and the sacral hinge.

There's also what they call 'Internal Work" - they talk you through it on the CD. It is gently exploring the tissues of your vagina and perineum. You realise just how stretchy and tensile these tissues are, and how through breathing and relaxation, you can significantly release tension that might block the baby's progress or cause you to tear.

The overall benefit is growing confidence in your birthing body, and from having specific skills up your sleeve for labour should you need them.

All the best Babylove!