Objective: The aim of our study was to measure the impact of supine and upright birthing positions on MR pelvimetric dimensions.

Materials And Methods: MR pelvimetry was performed in 35 nonpregnant female volunteers in an open 0.5-T MR imaging system with patients in the supine, hand-to-knee, and squatting positions. The obstetric conjugate; sagittal outlet; and interspinous, intertuberous, and transverse diameters were compared among positions.

Results: With patients in the hand-to-knee and squatting positions, the sagittal outlet (11.8 +/- 1.3 cm and 11.7 +/- 1.3 cm) exceeded that in the supine position (11.5 +/- 1.3 cm; p = 0.002 and p = 0.01, respectively), as did the interspinous diameter (11.6 +/- 1.1 cm and 11.7 +/- 1.0 cm vs 11.0 +/- 0.7 cm; p < 0.0001, in both cases). Intertuberous diameter was wider with patients in the squatting position than in the supine position (12.7 +/- 0.8 cm vs 12.4 +/- 1.1 cm; p = 0.01). Only the obstetric conjugate was smaller with patients in the upright squatting position than in the supine position (12.3 +/- 0.8 cm vs 12.4 +/- 0.9 cm; p = 0.01). Transverse diameter did not change significantly in any position.

Conclusion: An upright birthing position significantly expands female pelvic bony dimensions, suggesting facilitation of labor and delivery.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.2214/ajr.179.4.1791063DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

supine position
12
+/-
10
birthing position
8
pelvic bony
8
bony dimensions
8
upright birthing
8
hand-to-knee squatting
8
squatting positions
8
obstetric conjugate
8
sagittal outlet
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!