Shoulder dystocia occurs in about 1 in every 200 births. It is more common during a vaginal birth, but a baby’s shoulder can also get stuck during a Caesarean-section.
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A shoulder dystocia lawyer can help you get financial compensation for your child’s injuries.
If your child’s shoulder dystocia was caused by the negligence of a medical professional or hospital, you may be entitled to compensation for all the present and future expenses the injury will cost you. To learn more, contact the expert birth injury law team at Merson Law PLLC.
If you are unsure of whether you have a birth injury case, you can contact Merson Law PLLC for a free initial consultation, or read on to learn more about shoulder dystocia.
“Turtle signs” and reddening or swelling of the face are the most common and prominent initial signs of shoulder dystocia.
What is Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia is one of many obstetric emergencies (emergency situations or complications during delivery).
During a shoulder dystocia, after the delivery of the infant’s head, the shoulders become stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone.
A doctor may recognize this by “turtle signs,” where the baby’s head begins to retract into the vagina.
Causes of Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia can happen during any vaginal birth. It is usually because the baby is too big, because it is in the wrong position, or because the mother is in a position that restricts the room in the pelvis.
It is impossible to predict whether shoulder dystocia will happen, but there are some things that make it more likely, including when you:
- experienced shoulder dystocia during a previous labor
- are having a large baby (called ‘fetal macrosomia’)
- are having twins or multiple babies
- are very overweight
- have diabetes
- have had labor induced, or other interventions are used during labor
Shoulder dystocia can also happen if the labor goes very quickly or very slowly.
What is Shoulder Dystocia?
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- $17 million for failure to timely perform c-section on baby
- $14.8 million for baby brain damaged when c-section was delayed
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- $11 million for Brooklyn woman who had untreated post-delivery bleeding
- $11.3 million jury verdict for brain damage child
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Sings & Symptoms of Shoulder Dystocia
“Turtle signs” and reddening or swelling of the face are the most common and prominent initial signs of shoulder dystocia. An obstetrician gynecologist (OBGYN) is trained to recognize and detect these symptoms quickly, as prolonged shoulder dystocia can lead to injury.
The neck and shoulders of your baby contain bundles of complex, sensitive nerves, known as the brachial plexus. If your doctor was unsuccessful in recognizing shoulder dystocia, or if they neglected to take proper action to alleviate the situation, serious injury can occur. If the baby was injured during birth, they may begin to show symptoms of other complications hours, or even days later.
These symptoms can include any of the following:
- Klumpke paralysis
- Erb’s palsy
- Hypoxia
- Death
- Cerebral palsy
Shoulder dystocia does not only affect the infant. Maternal complications are common and can include:
- Postpartum bleeding
- Perineal lacerations that extend into the anal sphincter
- Symphyseal separtion
- Neuropathy of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
- Uterine rupture
Treatments for Shoulder Dystocia
When a doctor or midwife recognizes the signs of shoulder dystocia during childbirth, they are supposed to follow the ALARMER method. The mnemonic stands for:
- Ask for help (usually from an obstetrician or pediatric doctor)
- Leg hyperflexion and abduction at the hips (known as the McRoberts maneuver)
- Anterior shoulder disimpaction (suprapubic pressure)
- Rotation of the shoulder (known as the Rubin maneuver)
- Manual delivery of posterior arm
- Episiotomy
- Roll over on all fours
These steps are followed in sequential order and performed until one is successful. In rare instances, a doctor may find it necessary to fracture the clavicle to save the infant.
Generally, when a shoulder dystocia has been successfully treated, the infant can be delivered without further complication or injury. Usually a doctor will prescribe further tests and examination to ensure that your child was delivered safely and without harm.
If a child was injured from a shoulder dystocia, they may exhibit symptoms of brachial plexus nerve damage. Birth injuries involving the brachial plexus can lead to serious long-term issues in sensory and motor development, and should be examined immediately and treated if necessary.
Generally, shoulder dystocia is treatable and does not cause long-term effects on the mother or the child. An OBGYN is trained for delivery complications and can act to treat these issues and deliver the baby safely. If you suspect that your doctor did not properly treat your child’s shoulder dystocia, you may need to seek the opinion and advice of an experienced birth injury lawyer.
Get connected with emotional, medical, and financial help
We understand how important it is for you to get back to some normalcy and give your child the best life possible. The New York Birth Injury Guide can provide you with the information and resources that fit you and your family’s needs.
What are some signs of shoulder dystocia?
“Turtle signs” and reddening or swelling of the face are the most common and prominent initial signs of shoulder dystocia.
An obstetrician gynecologist (OBGYN) is trained to recognize and detect these symptoms quickly, as prolonged shoulder dystocia can lead to injury.
What is the treatment for shoulder dystocia?
When a doctor or midwife recognizes the signs of shoulder dystocia during childbirth, they are supposed to follow the ALARMER method. If your baby’s shoulder dystocia led to muscle or nerve damage, there are additional long-term treatments that may be necessary. These treatments depend on the extent of the damage. As shoulder dystocia can lead to other birth injuries, available treatments for severe shoulder dystocia will depend on the condition your baby has due to this injury.
Why is shoulder dystocia an emergency?
Shoulder dystocia is an emergency because it can cause severe and permanent damage to your baby’s muscles and nerves. The brachial plexus is a complex bundle of nerves that runs along the shoulder. Damage to these nerves can result in Erb’s palsy or Klumpke’s palsy. Further complications with shoulder dystocia can lead to hypoxia, cerebral palsy, or even death.
Have a question about birth injury? Contact us.
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