Shoulder Dystocia - had it with 1st birth, due 2nd baby in 4 days and getting scared...

[tigersmom]

Hi, has anyone experienced shoulder dystocia more than once? I've heard conflicting advice as to whether its more likely to happen again 2nd time around. DS was almost 9lb, feels like this baby is bigger.

I haven't elected for a c/s as ds is only 23 months and didn't fancy not being able to lift/drive etc... but now getting panicky that its going to happen again and thinking that this worry will take over the whole labour.

All I can tell you is that no two births need be the same. Just because it happened the first time doesn't mean it will the second.

I hope you have a good birth and sorry that I can't give you any statistical evidence etc, but from what I've seen no two births are the same.

Ds1 had shoulder dystocia (9lbs 8oz) but he was manoeuvred out without any damage being caused. Ds2 was expected to be even bigger so the doctors were kept on standby when the pushing stage started. He was also induced earlier to help reduce his size but policy has since changed. He too got stuck (9lbs at 38wks) but as the doctors were already in the room he was freed very quickly and again there was no damage done. When I was pg with dd I was sure it would happen again. The doctor was on standby but dd (8lbs 4oz)didn't have SD.

Has your MW/Consultant gone through a plan with you of any extra precautions that will be taken? It may help to set your mind at rest.

think i read something recently that indicates that happening once does not mean it is going to happen again

also, the RCOG have said that the most effective way to deal with shoulder dystocia is the 'legs round your head ' position, the mcroberts manouvre , to make that bit more room to get baby out if necessary

all fours is also good position for this

i imagine that the midwife will know about this and be ready to deal with it, should this happen again

which there is no reason it will !

try to do some visualisaion if you have time , before the birth, of the birth you want..ie one without shoulder dystocia and a lovely smooth delivery of a happy healthy baby, try to get the picture of it in your mind to go back to in labour x

happy birthing

Thanks coppertop - I like the idea of having a plan and sure it would set my mid at rest, my midwife hasn't gone through any of this with me.

lulumama - visualisation is well under way - hoping it will work if I visualise that this baby will be shaped like a bullet and want to give her mummy a pain free labour

Tigersmom - Make sure that the MW definitely knows about the previous SD and that it is clearly marked on the front of your notes. During my 3rd pregnancy I told my MW and she wrote it down amongst my general notes but nobody else spotted it. It was only flagged when I had an appointment with the Consultant at 36wks and one of the other doctors spotted it in my hospital records from ds2. They then wrote it on the front page of my antenatal notes so that it would be easily seen.

Tigersmom - I know Lockets had SD with her first baby but not with her subsequent two. Hopefully she'll see this thread and post something reassuring.

I had SD with ds (my 2nd), so totally sympathise. Do your mws think this baby is big? Are you small?

thanks dinny, I'd never even heard of SD until after the event. I'm 5'4 with average/ medium build. I haven't gained as much weight this time round but the midwife has agreed that it feels 'all baby' in there and thinks I'll be looking at a similar size to ds. - guess you never can tell until you pop.

Hi, I had SD with DS1. He was 10 days late and weighed 9lb 2oz. He had a really small head and very wide shoulders that got quite seriously stuck. It was all quite scary and he had to have some physio becuase there was a little damage.

When I was expecting DS2 I, like you, rejected a CS as it seems like unnecessary major surgery nad I didn't want the recovery period (DS1 was only 18 months at the time). I opted to have monitoring at 39 weeks where an ultrasound showed (supposedly) that DS2 would be about 7lb. In theory the sonographer said that it'd all be fine. On examining the pictures the registrar decided otherwise, becuase again the head was really small in comparison to the body. I chose to be induced on my due date, on the basis that with DS1 he went 10 days overdue and put on a huge amount of weight in the last 10 days (I was enormous by the time I delivered). DS2 arrived without shoulder dystocia, but with the cord tied tight around his neck. The registrar was on hand to help with the delivery if necessary but happy to leave it to my more than competent midwife. DS2 weighed in at exactly 8lb.

I would speak to your midwife and get her to get you a consultant appointment so that you can discuss what you want to have happen. You too might want to consider induction, but at the very least you want to give everyone a heads up that you might need help, and make sure that it can't be missed that you've had previous trouble.

Best of luck with your delivery.

no 2 births are the same

my DS1 was overdue by 15 days, i was induced and he was 9lbs - i had horendeous stitches

DS2 was born at home, on his due date, no stitches and he was 7lb11oz

little Keira arried safe and well 3.20 am on 11th Jan. 8lb 10oz. No shoulder dystocia - fantastic (and very quick) labour! you were right - no 2 births are the same :-) thank you for all your supportive messages and advice xx

yay! great news !!! lovely ! delighted to hear it xx