I am 9 weeks pregnant now, and have had my booking appointment. The mw I saw classed me as low risk (despite being almost 40, BMI over 30, previous pre-eclampsia and shoulder dystocia) and said there was nothing to worry about re the possibility of future shoulder dystocia because it can be down to baby's position rather than size etc. (He wasn't huge, but I am small).
However, I have read things to the opposite of this and still can't help worrying about this.
The RCOG says; Shoulder dystocia usually occurs unexpectedly during childbirth and most of the time it is not possible to predict when it will happen. However, it is more likely to occur if:
• you have had shoulder dystocia before
• you have diabetes
• your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or more
• your labour is induced
• you have a long labour
• you have an assisted vaginal birth (forceps or ventouse)
If your baby’s birth was complicated by shoulder dystocia, there is an increased risk of shoulder dystocia in future pregnancies; around one in ten women will have shoulder dystocia again in a future pregnancy. In view of this, your obstetrician or midwife will discuss your options for next time taking into account your individual circumstances and preferences. You may wish to consider a vaginal delivery if it was easy to release your baby’s shoulders, your baby was fine and you have no other risk factors. If it was difficult to release your baby’s shoulders, your baby had any injuries or the experience has affected you and your family, you may wish to consider a planned caesarean section.
The midwife completely disregarded it as not even being an issue.
Does anyone have any experience of shoulder dystocia and all being fine in a subsequent birth (or otherwise...) and were you offered any extra growth scans to check on size before your due date?