homebirths and shoulder dystocia.

[LuckyStarOfBethSalem]

I've had my MW checkup today for the homebirth and she was explaining about shoulder dystocia. I am now panicked. Can someone explain what the difference is to having this happen at home and hospital.

I mean am I causing more risk of this being at home or is it not much different at home as to how it would be at hospital?

Hope that makes sense
Thanks all.

I had a home water birth of an 8lb 10 oz ds in March and once the head was out I couldn't get the shoulders out on my own (waterbirths are ideally meant to be hands off) My midwife help out with some gentle traction and out he popped. As a midwife myself I did think for about five seconds that I might be in trouble but all was well. If I have another one I will stay at home unless I think that it is a lot bigger than Ed. I had never seen a true shoulder dystocia (in 12 years) then I had two in a month. In both cases the women had largish babies and had been pushing for some time, had they been at home both women would have been advised to transfer in during the labours. (a long second stage is a risk factor for a sd) Both babies were ok and both were delivered using the manoevres in the sd drill that is taught and practiced at the trust that I work in. The most likely problem with having a first baby at home is that you will be slow and end up being transferred in for slow progress, if that happens, there is plenty of time to discuss options and plenty of time to transfer safely. Good luck.

I had SD with my second birth, but I'm 5 foot and baby was 9lb. I was in a hospital operating theatre already prepped for a potential section though, because of a very long second stage. Delivery of baby's head was hard enough (they were going to give it 1 go, and then start the section if head couldn't be delivered). Once they got the head out it became obvious that the shoulders weren't following easily.
I am surprised that people are saying that it only takes 2 midwives for McRoberts as I had many more people than that , some to hold my legs and others to manipulate the baby/cut me (very much extended episiotomy). The room seemed to be full of people. Dd needed oxygen and they were worried about whether her arms would be affected (they were very floppy at birth, but were ok long term)

As everyone has said, SD is very very rare, and having a long second stage is an indicator that you might want to transfer to hospital, or if you are likely to have a huge baby eg. diabetes.