Cephalopelvic Disproportion

A few days ago I met a woman expecting her third child coming 5 years after her first two, who was convinced she would undergo a third Cesarean Section due to Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD). "My pelvis is too small" is how she put it. Lucky for her I have been listening to Gloria Lemay's (My all time favourite Midwife!) Blog Talk Radio Show. I was able to at least get her to consider the possibility that her pelvis has ample room for a baby. It did help, that her mother was present, because she had two vaginal births herself, and those bones are related. Of course I've see many diagrams of different types of pelvises, and I've read many articles about CPD, but never have I been more convinced about this MYTH than after reading and listening to Gloria's article called "Pelvises I have known and loved" Gloria acknowledges that pelvises come in many shapes and sizes, some which are unfavourable for childbirth, but even those small pelvises that are so commonly the reason given for the surgical removal of newborns, have another aspect that is often overlooked...molding. There are two people involved in childbirth. The mother and her baby, even if the mother has a small pelvis, her baby has a head that is designed to change, form, mold to fit through the "hole". I have linked the article, and also the radio show in this post. I truly hope that the woman I met will get her hospital records from her first two births, read them over, find a care provider who supports VBAC...and prove the physician who told her "Your baby just won't fit" wrong. Gloria Lemay is a Vancouver based midwife who inspires me daily at www.glorialemay.com/blog Her Blog Talk Radio show covers a variety of topics, but most closely related to CPD is her recent show titled "Vaginal Birth After Cesarean" Check it out too. It's nice to be back!
Pelvises I Have Known and Loved

Henry's Werd

Your Mama wanted you so bad...
Your Papa did too
I'm not puttin' that on you
No one's mad about this
We're just sad that we missed
Your future
We lost an amazing adventure

I think it's important
To vocalize
And recognize
Their intent
To rise above
For the son they love

Your face was familiar when you were born
Child you we're adourned
With so much that your Mama & Papa had sworn
To raise in you
Give thanks and praise in you
Teach their ways in you
Just gaze in you

They could have named you Swanson Huss
And if they had to explain the name
They would proudly proclaim
"He just looked so much like us!"
But as it turns out
They gave you a name they could respectfully shout
From the highest canopy
Of our cottonwood tree
"Henry Roy...
He was our first born boy!"

Then our valley would shake with the news
And the flocks of ravens flew
And our love for your presence grew
Until everyone knew
What only a few
Of us witnessed....

The beauty and grace
On the face
Of a boy
Named Henry Roy Huss