The Myth of CPD

CPD (cephalopelvic disproportion) is a common reason for cesarean section. It means that the pelvis is too small to admit the passage of the baby's head.

It is vastly overdiagnosed. True CPD is a malformation of bones. Unless medical issues such as gestational diabetes exist, babies will not be too large to fit through the mother's pelvis.

Induction for suspected big baby will often lead to cesarean section. The reasons are many: the pelvic bones will not stretch as much when labor is induced, the baby may not be in an ideal birthing position, lying in bed (common when one is receiving pitocin, and often leads to epidurals, which out of necessity restrict movement) does not help but seriously hinders the natural gravitational pull of babies out of the birth canal.

Many women who have been diagnosed with CPD have gone on to vaginally birth much larger babies.

This wonderful clip, put together by ICAN, reveals the myth that is CPD.