Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Midwife led unit after shoulder dystocia

36 replies

Livvy3 · 14/08/2017 01:02

Hi there,
I had a shoulder dystocia with my first baby. As far as my husband and I were concerned it was pretty mild and over very quickly. I had been having a water birth but when my waters finally broke there was meconium in them so I ended up on a bed in labour ward.
With my second child, the hospital advised that there is a risk of another shoulder dystocia (as this is now in my notes) and that I could labour in the pool (on labour ward not birth centre) but would have to get out for pushing. I listened and did this but there was no issue at all despite the baby being the same size and I luckily had a very easy birth.
I am now 32 weeks pregnant with my third child and would ideally like a water birth in the birth centre. The hospital say I am still high risk because of the previous shoulder dystocia with my first child despite having no issue with my second and that I will have to follow the same procedure as before (get out of water for pushing).
What say do I have in this? Do I have any rights or will I have to do what the hospital say?
It seems to me that they are just being extra careful however the more I read about shoulder dystocia it's all about the position you are in which surely would be better in the water?
I feel like the hospital is covering themselves and I feel like worrying about when baby is coming and having to jump out the pool like last time will stress me out, rather than just peacefully giving birth.
Do I have to just do what they ask because it's their hospital? Should I have any say?

OP posts:
flumpybear · 14/08/2017 09:00

Namechange - it's manipulation to threaten to want a home birth just so you can get your own way - childish and stupid behaviour
Just remember you're (as in 'one' ) not the only person in the hospital having a baby, the NHS is in its knees and it's disgraceful to use dirty tactics just to get your own way because of how 'you want a birth' - fine if there's no problems , but with something really potentially serious to handle then it's no longer such a choice type of situation !

Did the doula perhaps suggest if you want it your own way to deliver in a third world country or perhaps pay for delivery by going private or would the potential of costing £10's of k's be second place to manipulation and childish demands?!

flumpybear · 14/08/2017 09:01

Sorry you! 😇

YouCantArgueWithStupid · 14/08/2017 09:11

@flumpybear I understand where you're coming from tho. In my professional life I meet many doulas who have their own axe to grind and sometimes it isn't balanced. I'm a big advocate for women being empowered and in charge or their own birthing experience but I believe the needs of the mother don't override that of the medical facts.

NameChange30 · 14/08/2017 09:19

flumpy
I was probably wrong to share that anecdote without the context. The doula was simply reminding us that we have options including a home birth and that sometimes - if medical professionals aren't listening to us - it can be helpful to make it clear we are considering our options. She wasn't advocating threatening a home birth and I wasn't either. In any case, I think we all agree that home birth is best avoided if there is a risk of shoulder dystocia! (Including the doula incidentally.)

flumpybear · 14/08/2017 09:37

Namechange - professional not listening to us ..... or is not listening to professionals?

Guess it's a fine line

NameChange30 · 14/08/2017 09:57

Well the point is that is goes both ways, doesn't it?

Medical professionals are the experts in their field, but a women's knowledge of her body and mind counts too.

flumpybear · 14/08/2017 12:24

Not when it's a medical problem that the mother to be has no control over and the medics need to 'get in front' of a problem rather than chasing to catch up .... but also as aforementioned a single person giving birth is not alone, there are other mum's giving birth st the same time, should a persons want to give birth in a different location be allowed the facilities first, whilst transporting either them, or the equipment and medical staff to other locations .... doesn't really seem fair on the mums or babies going through a difficult birth

babynelly2010 · 14/08/2017 13:32

I had SD with out dc2. Honestly, just go with what they say. You and your baby are safer at consultant lead unit.

Isadora2007 · 14/08/2017 13:39

I don't see the harm in asking for a meeting to discuss the options further. Perhaps looking over the notes to see if there was any "reasons" for the first SD situation or factors that contributed?

Just feeling heard and listened too is very much a positive thing, so even if the answer isn't what you wanted you may still feel better about the final decision as you've at least discussed

Rikalaily · 14/08/2017 13:55

My 2nd was a shoulder dystocia, since her I've had 3 more with no issues, one in hospital, one in the MLU and my last was a planned homebirth who ended up arriving so fast my husband delivered her before the midwives arrived.

My SD was due to babys position and was quickly resolved. I was confident that it wouldn't occur again and with no.3 I had actually planned a HB but was transfered in for meconium in waters.

NameChange30 · 14/08/2017 15:30

I found this leaflet which is useful and a good counter to some of the scaremongering / guilt-trip posts on this thread. It gives information about the probability and risk of shoulder dystocia in a subsequent birth (10%) and of injury to the baby (about 10%). Obviously the risk is still there but it's certainly reassured me in the event that I have another baby.

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/pregnancy/pi-shoulder-dystocia.pdf

New posts on this thread. Refresh page