Birth Injuries – What is Shoulder Dystocia?

Shoulder Dystocia occurs during childbirth, when the infant’s head is delivered but the shoulders require additional medical intervention to be properly extracted.  There are many different factors that contribute to this complication, and it can ultimately lead to birth injuries to both the infant and the mother if it is not handled properly.
There are several risk factors that make situations of shoulder dystocia more likely, and which physicians must be aware and watchful of at all times.  These include maternal factors such as:

Diabetes
Abnormal pelvic anatomy
Short stature
Small birth canal
Previous shoulder dystocia complications

Additionally, fetal macrosomia (large birth size) can indicate the possible risk of shoulder dysocia and should be monitored closely up to and during the birth of the child.

Shoulder dystocia can be prevented if the doctor properly manages the mother’s labor and is able to perform the appropriate skilled maneuvers during the birth, if necessary, to dislodge the shoulder safely.  Risk factors can be discovered during the pregnancy and monitored via the use of ultrasound.

If shoulder dystocia is discovered during the birth process, the physician must impliment appropriate intervention techniques to reduce the risk of fetal and maternal injury such as episiotomy, maternal repositioning, application of suprapubic pressure and rotation of the baby.
Should shoulder dystocia occur, the injuries to the mother can involve bruising, tearing, hemorrhaging or uterine rupture.  The risks to the baby include loss of oxygen, clavical fracture, brachial plexus palsy and possible death.

If you or your baby suffered injuries due to undetected or improperly managed shoulder dystocia you may be eligible to seek compensation for your damages.  A medical attorney experienced in birth injuries can help.