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If your child suffers from cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, PPHN or any other birth related injury, please fill out this form or call us at 1-800-682-9443 for a free case evaluation.
Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is a complication of childbirth that occurs in thousands of U.S. deliveries each year and may lead to serious birth injuries.
Shoulder Dystocia Background
The term dystocia simply refers to a difficult labor or delivery. Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby's head has emerged but the shoulders are stuck behind the mother's pubic bone or the opening to the birth canal and cannot be delivered.
In the United States, shoulder dystocia occurs in approximately 0.5 to 1.0 percent of all deliveries, or about 20,000 births each year. While the problem of shoulder dystocia has been recognized for centuries, recent studies suggest that the incidence of this condition appears to be on the rise.
Risk Factors for Shoulder Dystocia
High birth weights, high maternal weights, and maternal diabetes are general risk factors for shoulder dystocia-related birth injuries. Some researchers believe that the apparent increase in cases of shoulder dystocia may be related to a corresponding rise in these risk factors.
Ten to 15 percent of mothers who have delivered babies with shoulder dystocia are likely to experience a recurrence of the problem in subsequent deliveries. The use of a vacuum extractor or forceps during delivery also increases the risk of shoulder dystocia.
Birth Injuries Related to Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia is typically unpredictable. If a doctor suspects the condition before the mother goes into labor, however, an ultrasound may be ordered to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor will plan to perform the delivery by cesarean section if shoulder dystocia is present.
When shoulder dystocia first becomes apparent during delivery, it creates an emergency situation with the potential to cause significant, permanent damage to the newborn. Time is critical; the longer the condition continues, the greater the likelihood of serious birth injuries.
Quick response and proper treatment help to prevent serious birth injury to the infant, and in most cases, shoulder dystocia causes no major problems. Injuries do occur in about 20 percent of cases, however, and when they do, they are often devastating. If the shoulder is not freed within a few moments, irreversible brain damage or even death may occur.
The most typical birth injuries resulting from shoulder dystocia include:
- brachial plexus (Erb's) palsy
- fracture of the collarbone or upper arm
- reduced oxygen supply to the brain (with or without permanent brain damage)
- temporary or permanent paralysis
Shoulder dystocia is also a danger for the mother, who may experience excessive blood loss, injury to the birth canal, or rupture of the uterus as a result.
Support for Parents of Birth-Injured Children
If your child suffers from a birth injury related to shoulder dystocia, it may be comforting to speak to other parents in a similar situation. Please visit the Birth Injury Resource Center Discussion Board to share your story, ask questions, and learn more about coping with your child's birth injury.