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The relation between height, foot length, pelvic adequacy and mode of delivery
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Transkei and Umtata General Hospital, South Africa. donna@phila.ns.healthlink.org.za
Objective:
To investigate the value of maternal height and foot length as predictors of pelvic adequacy and to evaluate the influence of body components' proportions on the mode of delivery.
Methods:
Retrospective study of the anthropometry of women having normal vertex deliveries (NVD), caesarean sections (CS) and vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC).
Results:
NVD patients were taller, had a longer vertebral column, longer lower limbs and longer feet than CS and than VBAC patients. The anthropometric measurements of VBAC patients yielded values intermediate between CS and NVD patients. The ratios of height to any of the other measured variables (vertebral column, lower limb and foot length) were similar in the three groups indicating that the body proportions were the same.
Conclusion:
Maternal height and foot length are of limited value as predictors of pelvic (in-)adequacy. The anthropometric features of women delivered by CS only are similar to those of women having a vaginal birth after Caesarean.