Shoulder dystocia?

[Foundmymojo]

Just interested if anyone has experienced shoulder dystocia and then gone on to have another baby vaginally with no problems?

I'm pg with dc2 and had quite a traumatic labour with dc1, including shoulder dystocia. The Dr that delivered dc1 warned me to make sure I make midwives aware during consequent pregnancies. Got my booking appointment next week but just been playing it through in my head and worrying already!

Any experiences to share?

Yep, dd2 was SD and ended up in SCBU for a couple of days after the birth and a broken clavicle. She was a 9lb 6.5oz porker. Same concerns as you have when I was pregnant with dd3, with the added bonus the she was also breech right up until she was born (booked in for a section, then EMC, PE, but that's a whole other story ).

Anyway, dd3 arrived on her due date, came out pretty quickly, 4 hours from start to finish (dd1 = 47.5 hours, dd2 = 15 hours) and I managed it with G&A only. She was also a pretty big baby at 9lb 4.5 oz.

I made sure that I spent plenty of time in the all fours type position during late pregnancy - but I don't think that made much difference with dd3 as she was breech, not breech, breech....right until she was born.

I was also brought in for an induction with dd3, as the consultant didn't want me to labour at night (lower staffing levels in case of an emergency). Induction didn't actually happen, as it kept getting postponed due the number of other mothers who came in with spontaneous labour. Dd3 got fed up after the third day of this and decided to make a bid for freedom.

Hope everything goes well for you.

Thanks, so it is possible then.
Glad to hear your dd3 was delivered without any of the the sd problems, and in 4 hours. Would love a nice short labour this time round!
It must've been hard having dd2 in SCBU, did she make a full recovery? We're fortunate in that dc1 didn't have any physical effects from the SD.

I was thinking about electing for a CS but after reading your post and searching some old threads I would rather go for it and make sure midwives are prepared.

SD with ds1. With ds2 consultant recommended elcs. He actually said 1/10 risk of another SD and 1/100 risk dead baby so that made my mind up!

Ds3 spontaneous vaginal delivery which I only got away with as went into labour at 36 weeks prior to appt to dsicuss section.

Now pregnant again and am going to see what happens and will do as consultant suggests. If another big baby will prob not risk vaginal birth but if early and small may give it a go.

Hiya.

My first child has erbs palsy as a result of sd. His arm was paralysed for 2 years before he started to be able to do much with it and he's had 2 ops so far and has regained quite good use of his arm in the day to day range, but nothing behind his back or above his head. I was induced on the wednesday and he was born on the saturday. He was 10lb4oz

My second son was born fine. cord round his neck! but came out just fine. I didn't even need stitches. I was also induced with him and it took several days. (babies just do not seem to want to come out of me! ) He was 10lb5oz

Diamondwhite - were there any other factors that the consultant considered when he recommended cs for your ds2? I haven't had any professional input yet so that might sway the decision either way.

JustHecate - sorry to hear about the effects of sd on your dc1, how old is he now? Did it make you panic about having your dc2? It goes to show that each individual birth is different, considering your dc2 was a whopper too!

The sd for my dc1 was a surprise to the health professionals involved, as she was 7lb 13oz so not huge! No gestational diabetes. The only risk factor was having an assisted delivery.

He's 12 now.

Did it make me panic - oh my god yes! I was terrified. My son was only 6 months old when I got pregnant again (pill failure!). I cried and cried and cried.

I had raging pnd - psychosis actually. Thought he had died that day and been replaced by a demon. I shook every time I had to change his nappy. I had PTSD because of what happened that day. To cut a long story short - we both nearly died.

So to discover I was having another. Well, you can imagine!

But what could I do? He was already in there . Plans were made, the consultant took charge of my care and actually delivered the baby - at quarter to midnight! She kept a theatre on standby too.

Long time ago. But I still can't watch programmes like One Born Every Minute, because it makes me cry and shake. So I guess I'm not over it yet

No lasting damage for dd2. She had a hospital visit at 12 months to make sure there were no mobility issues with her shoulder/arm. Everything is fine and she's now a very robust 5 year old.

JustHectate, sound very familiar. I just remember watching DH face when they were doing the McRoberts and a tiny Indian nurse was actually jumping and pushing down on my abdomen. I was convinced dd2 hadn't made it.

My second was an SD and I have gone on to have another 2 babies with no issues despite no.3 being heavier than no.2. Most Sd's are caused by babys position rather than thier size which was the case with dd1, she was back to back and didn't turn enough before she started coming down the birth canal (no.1 & no.3 were back to back too). Dd1 was taken to the SCBU for monitoring for about an hour then brought back to me, she was fine :)

Please try not to worry about it happening again, odds are that it won't. You can reduce the risk by trying to keep baby in a good position (no slouching, reclining on the couch etc) With my last pregnancy I made sure I sat up straight most of the time, spent time on hands and knee's etc to keep her in a good position and I got my first out of four who was not back to back and she flew out :)

JustHecate - god you had a bloody hard time of it didn't you, I'm not surprised it still affects you now. The care you received for delivering your second sounds brilliant and must've made things feel a bit safer for you. I wonder if it is routine to get that kind of close attention after an SD.

Rikalaily - thanks the advice, will be sure to keep a good posture during this pregnancy. Shame about the no slouching/reclining though!
Fingers crossed for this one 'flying out' like your dc4!

I think with sd, everyone must've had that moment where complete panic happens once the head is out. DH says he will never forget how frightening it was. It makes me shiver just to think about it.

I do feel reassured now though, so thanks for all your posts.

SD with DS1 (7lbs). Very frightening. 3rd degree tear.

With DS2 consultant advised cs straight away but I would have insisted tbh. Was great

SD with dd1. It's just awful isn't it?

Was told at the time that I couldn't deliver vaginally and would have to have a CS
Didn't have dd2 until 5 years later. Different consultant who also said that size was not necessarily an issue in causing SD.
It did overshadow the pregnancy to some extent. But I did have extra 'care' throughout, which was reassuring.
Anyway, long story short, dd2's birth was fine. There is hope. Good luck.

I had an sd with an 11lbs baby at a homebirth. Was resolved without an episiotomy and without damage to me or ds.

Kept to strict diet with ds2 (had gestional diabetes, which is why ds1 had got so big), and had normal birth. He was 9lbs 3oz.

Nobody advised a c/s with ds2, or an induction.

Thanks to all who shared their experiences.
midwivesdeliver - you are so right about my fear being the biggest issue, because obviously anxiety will make me cope less well with the labour. This is something I need to work on eg. relaxation techniques, look into waterbirth. Thanks for your reassurance.

In answer to your question when I went along for my consultant appt at 39 weeks with ds2 I expected him to just reassure me and send me on my way. I was totally shocked when after reading my notes he said I had to have a cs that afternoon.

Maybe a combination of previous SD and carrying a large baby that time? I have no idea really. To be honest I found the cs worse than the SD as recovery was awful and I lost a lot of blood. For a long time afterwards I wished I had just gone for a VD but of course ds2 came out healthy and so I can't complain.