An experienced midwife or ob/gyn with small hands should be able to get a
pretty good idea by an internal exam of how big the pelvic outlet is.
Otherwise, you'd need a cross-sectional x-ray or CAT scan or something,
which is not likely, and of course any x-rays of the pelvis are never
advised.  Sometimes a woman knows if she's broken her sacrum or coccyx, for
instance, and the health care provider could check speficially to see if
that is impinging on the birth canal.

I've seen prehistorical skeleton examples of female pelvic bones with wide
flaring iliac blades (broad hips) and a small, misshapen pelvic outlet where
the baby's head would have to fit.  I've also seen pelves that were
absolutely small from side to side on the outside, but configured on the
inside to be very roomy.

Kathy Dettwyler
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