A truly scary Halloween-themed display in a maternity unit has once again gone viral on Twitter.
Created by midwives at Royal Oldham Hospital in Lancashire, a group of ten “dilation pumpkins” illustrate how the cervix dilates during labour. The pumpkins are lined up in ascending order, from 1cm to 10cm.
The first pumpkin looks mildly surprised and relatively cute, whilst the last pumpkin looks absolutely horrified (much like all the women of child-bearing age viewing this image).
The picture previously did the rounds in 2019 before author and medical historian Lindsey Fitzharris reshared the image with her 117,000 Twitter followers earlier this week.
A few years ago, midwives at the Royal Oldham Hospital in Lancashire created "dilation pumpkins" - and I don't think I've ever seen anything scarier in my life.* 😂😩
— Lindsey Fitzharris (@DrLindseyFitz) October 20, 2021
*Posted with apologies to anyone who is pregnant. pic.twitter.com/VbvLh9ikUD
The post quickly racked up more than 10,000 likes and was retweeted some 1,500 times.
A Twitter user called Katie replied to share an image she snapped while doing a placement at the same hospital a few years ago.
The image shows a pumpkin, with its seeds glued to its face like tears, giving “birth” to a delicata squash.
I did a placement as a med student on labour ward at Royal Oldham a couple of years ago and they had this one 🎃 pic.twitter.com/ekNs5S9YZy
— Katie (@KatieeeSpencer) October 21, 2021
Some replied to Fitzharris’ tweet with jokes, with one laughing about how some of the hats look like condoms (which is a measure that’s too little too late when your cervix is dilated to 9cm):
3 and 9 appear to be wearing condoms for hats which I would suggest is a bit late to be thinking about! pic.twitter.com/hezYi8p8Js
— Steven 🎃 this 🦕 says trans rights (@SteveItBe) October 21, 2021
— ⚫ Jen (@TheJenAnn) October 21, 2021
I don’t think the eyes on the 10cm dilation pumpkin adequately reflect the associated pain, shock …..👀😳
— Peter Scott (@PRS_rugbycoach) October 21, 2021
— Elise M. Kolenda ⚖️💗🕊️🇺🇳🍃 (@econwithelise) October 21, 2021
I remember seeing this, and I haven’t uncrossed my legs since.
— Cat Irving (@AnatomicalCat) October 20, 2021
Others, including women who have already had children, replied in disbelief:
I am not sure how I had 3 children when I look at 10cm pumpkin as makes me weep.
— Ceridwen Eccles (@Teacherglitter) October 22, 2021
Actual think at an NCT class:
— Andrew F (@MarmiteJunction) October 21, 2021
Tutor: To give you a clue what 10 centimetres looks like, it’s about the size of a grapefruit.
*lack of horrified reaction*
T: another way to visualise that is, you know those round packets of Dairy Lea triangles?
*collective oof from mums to be*
Brought back memories of when I went to the hospital in labor thinking “ I bet I’m about 8 cm” and the resident examined me and said “You are almost 1.” I thought if this is almost 1, what is 10 going to feel like! Epidural por favor! 😝🎃
— NancyE (@NancyE54451193) October 20, 2021
23 years ago I went from 2 to 10 centimeters in 45 minutes, without anesthetic. Those pumpkins don't look nearly terrified enough. 🎃
— Jonté's Inferno (@LJonte) October 21, 2021
How fantastic are women's bodies that they can cope with this without anaesthetic?
— Jayne Bartlett 💙 (@badlymadly) October 21, 2021
I'm assuredly not pregnant and this is still distressing.
— Emily (@OtherPens) October 20, 2021
One Twitter user had a particularly savvy suggestion, writing: “Should show this in schools on sex education classes! Should drop the birth rate in no time.”
Should show this in schools on sex education classes! Should drop the birth rate in no time 😱
— Angela Harding 💙 (@aeajharding) October 21, 2021
With pictures like this reminding us of what actually goes on down there during labour, we’d like to see storks make a comeback.
