shoulder dystocia/erb's palsy

[vincygirl]

Does anyone have any experience of this condition. Delivered a 9lb+ beautiful girl- was an intense labour and she got stuck in my pelvis. Then devastated to be told that she has the above. She can move hands and wrists but not elbow or shoulder.
Have been told that some children correct over time some regain some use and some unfortunately never do.
At moment still waiting for appointment with consultant and physio whilst doing physio with her at home.
Not much info on web and so just wondered if anyone had direct/indirect experience with hopefully a positive outcome?

Congratulations on the birth of your DD. DS had suspected erb's (he is 10 months now) and it turned out to be something different, but at the time he was referred by the Peadiatrician to a physio and OT who gave hime exercises, showed us how to encourage movement etc.
I searched for lots of info and like you didn't come up with much, but there were a few threads on MN and a couple of sights on the net, will try an dlink them for you...

erb's plasy group

I have been searching for a link to a really good discussion about it on MN but can't find it. Sorry that's not really very useful of me at all. Hopefully someone will come along soon with some useful advice soon.

Bumping this for you

Thanks ladies, did tthe exercises work? If you don't mind me asking what was the extent of movement that DS had at the outset and what is it now and over what period of time did you notice any change.
One of my other bugbears is that no one seems to be giving me any information as far as hospital is concerned and so am really frustrated that am having to hunt around for info that should be provided as a matter of course - sorry rant over!

The exercises were good in the fact that they encouraged him to use his arm. At the outset DS held his arm in the 'waiter's tip' position and massively favoured his left arm over his right. We didn't notice a problem until he was baout 4 months old. He is weak in his right arm and has a lot less strength in it than the left, but it doesn't look any different.
It actually turned out not to be erb's (which I was always a bit about anyway as the birth was pretty straight forward so was not sur ehow the injury could have been caused.
My hospital was not very forth coming with info either. It must be very frustrating for you as you feel like you need to be armed with info to make sure everything is being done.
I hope you get some answers and support and will add some more links if I can find them.

Hi apologies for the delay in responding - it is good to hear something positive and I am glad that things went wel for you and your DS. If we can get even a similar result it would be fantastic from where we are at present but we will keep going!