Cephalopelvic disproportion is a rare childbirth complication. It occurs when your baby’s head doesn’t fit through the opening of your pelvis. It’s more likely to happen with babies that are large or out of position when entering the birth canal. The shape of your pelvis can also be a factor.
This condition occurs when your baby’s head doesn’t clear the opening of your pelvis during childbirth.
Cephalopelvic disproportion is a rare complication that can stall delivery. A skilled birth attendant (midwife, obstetrician or another healthcare provider) must then step in to assist.
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There are many reasons:
Weeks before labor, babies get into position. This occurs when your baby drops into your lower pelvis.
When a baby drops, usually their:
During labor:
The condition is fairly rare, occurring in 1 out of every 250 births.
Many conditions and circumstances can lead to cephalopelvic disproportion.
There are several reasons that a baby may be too large. These include:
Your baby might not fit through your pelvis if the opening is too small. Conditions and circumstances that may cause this include:
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Some pelvic shapes have narrow openings that make it challenging for a baby to pass through.
Cephalopelvic disproportion is more likely to happen with a:
Cephalopelvic disproportion occurs during the early stages of labor. It’s likely to occur during the active phase when a baby descends the birth canal.
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Healthcare providers may suspect cephalopelvic disproportion when there’s failure to progress. This situation occurs when labor takes longer than expected. It can occur for a variety of reasons, including cephalopelvic disproportion.
Failure to progress is likely when:
Additional signs of failure to progress include:
It’s rarely diagnosed before labor. If labor fails to progress, skilled birth attendants determine whether it’s due to cephalopelvic disproportion.
This may involve:
During routine check-ups, healthcare providers use prenatal ultrasound to measure fetal growth. Ultrasound can also measure your pelvic opening. However, these measurements aren’t always accurate, making it challenging to diagnose cephalopelvic disproportion before labor.
Treatment may involve various assisted delivery techniques, such as:
Complications affecting you or your baby can occur if there’s a vaginal delivery:
It’s not always possible to prevent cephalopelvic disproportion. People who have risk factors don’t always have complicated births. A successful vaginal delivery may still be possible even if your baby measures large or you have pelvic issues.
Identifying risk factors early enables healthcare providers to discuss safe delivery options with you before you go into labor.
This condition typically doesn’t affect your baby’s well-being after birth.
Previous cephalopelvic disproportion doesn’t always mean you’ll experience it in the future. Many people have successful vaginal births with future pregnancies. People with small pelvic openings or a history of large babies are more likely to experience cephalopelvic disproportion again.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Cephalopelvic disproportion is a childbirth complication. It happens when your baby can’t pass through the opening in your pelvis. There are many reasons it can occur, including a large baby or pelvic irregularities. Cephalopelvic disproportion rarely affects the long-term well-being of you or your baby.
Last reviewed on 11/22/2022.
Learn more about our editorial process.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy