Shoulder Dystocia - only just been told!

[Pippin18]

Hello

I am pregnant with our third baby.
my midwife said my first birth had shoulder dystocia on my notes.
I knew something happened when I was giving birth has the button was pressed, people rushed it. All I remember is my legs being pushed and pressure on my stomach and the baby was here. It was very quick!

My second baby was delivered within 30 minutes, was born facing up but all good straight forward and ‘normal’

No one told me or mentioned it until this pregnancy.

I had a consultant appointment today who confirmed first birth was definitely shoulder dystocia and although the baby wasn’t stuck for long he was stuck!

The consultant said they have no real concerns as I’ve had one straight forward birth in the middle and I can give birth anywhere I choose.

I was heading to the midwifery lead unit within the main hospital anyway!

I was induced with baby 1, it was a long labour where I didn’t really move off my back - I’m just wondering if this could be why it happened?

Does anyone else have any experience of this?
Did it happen again?

I think it doesn’t help that for some reason I’m already on edge about this birth!

TIA!

Yes, I had this. I found out a while after the birth.
Had a long debrief about it recently with a senior obstetrician. Basically, there is shoulder dystocia and shoulder dystocia. If it's not for long (mine was approx 1 minute) it's really not a problem if baby comes out fine. They have to note it down as SD because then it helps teams prepare for subsequent births. But it's nothing to be scared about, in terms of how your first baby was doing, if they came out fine. It's when it's longer that it causes problems. Getting stuck in a minor way is a normal part of many births.

FWIW, I also think that long labour and being on my back caused it. I reckon I can avoid it next time by being mobile.

On the other hand, I was told I could give birth in a midwife led unit, but not at home, because of the previous SD. Fine with me!

Also what you experienced with your legs being pushed is called the McRoberts manoeuvre, and it's the first manoeuvre they attempt when they encounter SD. Then they escalate it from there. If they pushed your legs and stomach and baby came out, then it worked :-) and no further problems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McRoberts_maneuver

Thank you for replying.

I know I’m just getting myself worked up but for some reason I just can’t shift the feeling.

My second birth I was up and about and only laid down to actually push - I’m sure it helped massively and the fact I wasn’t induced.

Of course, give yourself some time.
good to know!

I had this with my second, a VBAC at 40+6. They said it was because she came so fast. I was on all 4s leaning on the back of the bed and she still got stuck. They flipped me over and had to insert an arm to free her... It was all very fast, only 12 minutes apparently from start of stage 2 until birth as per my notes. They did resuscitate her but she's fine, no injuries, no nicu etc. We went home next day, they only kept us overnight due to resuscitating her.

I think there is a correlation between previous SD and following births, but they're very good at dealing with it so I wouldn't worry too much if you can help it! Definitely wouldn't home birth though!