Does a Woman's Shoe Size Predict the Need for a Cesarean Section?

There are a lot of rumors that float around about what predicts the need for a cesarean section or C-section. One of those has to do with the size of a woman's shoe. Does a woman's shoe size really predict the need for a cesarean section?

Does Anything Predict the Need for a C-Section?

The truth is no, no matter what anyone tries to tell you at a baby shower or in the doctor's office waiting room, your shoe size does not predict the need for cesarean section. The folklore goes something likes this: supposedly the size of a shoe would tell a doctor or midwife how large the pelvic opening was or the size of a woman's pelvis in general. So a large foot would equal a large opening in the pelvis and hopefully an easier birth, and, a smaller shoe would mean a smaller opening, and therefore a potentially more difficult birth.

One study also looked at height and shoe size to predict the number of C-sections. There was no correlation with shoe size, but there was some correlation with height. That said, around 74% of the women who were 5 feet 2 inches (around 160 cm) still delivered vaginally. So simply being shorter does also not mean that you are guaranteed to have a cesarean birth.

The Size of Your Pelvis and Labor

If a woman is worried about the size of her pelvis, it is important to remember that the baby does a really good job of fitting by allowing their head to mold through the pelvis. This is partially because the bones of the pelvis are flexible, particularly at the end of pregnancy when the hormone relaxin is helping the cervix to soften and widen. Your baby's head also molds, or is shaped to fit the pelvis through the contractions; their skull moves to effectively fit through the pelvis.

Moving around in labor by assuming different positions can be very helpful. It can help you be more comfortable, but it can also allow you to use gravity to help the baby move down into the pelvis and allow your baby's head to fit to the shape of the pelvis.

A Word From Verywell

If your doctor or midwife is suggesting a cesarean simply based on your shoe size, you might want to get a second opinion before scheduling a C-section. If this is your second baby—and your first was a cesarean delivery—you might request a trial of labor to determine whether a vaginal birth is possible. Labor is the best way to find this out for sure, in absence of other medical risk factors or history.