Shoulder dystocia experiences

[Elly88]

Anyone have shoulder dystocia with first baby and go on to have another baby? Ds got his shoulders stuck, thankfully he was fine but did have to have an episiotomy. He weighed 8lb 3 so not huge but big for first baby. I'm due in 6 weeks with a girl who is measuring on 90th centile similar to ds so midwife said I'm looking at a similar sized baby though hadn't mentioned about any plans as yet. Anyone have a normal natural birth second time round? Get stuck again? Get advised to be induced early? Or c section? Wondering about my options and risks involved

Have you got a consultant appointment to talk it through?
Generally CS is suggested if there’s been a bad shoulder dystocia previously - by that I mean taking several minutes to get baby out, baby needing resuscitation and/or NICu admission, nerve damage, or significant tears for you. It doesn’t sound like that was the case so it’s more a discussion of what you’re comfortable with. Often second babies can be much more straightforward deliveries with lower risk - did you have a ventouse or forceps at all last time?
Usually with your history it would be suggested that you deliver in hospital where there are plenty of experienced people available should there be a problem, but most obstetricians/midwives wouldn’t be worried about a plan for vaginal birth and would probably think it’s preferable.
All depends on overall situation and a discussion of your exact circumstances, and it can definitely help to talk through the scenarios and what can be done to avoid it happening again.
There is a role for induction as well - again an individual discussion but certainly a good option past 39 weeks and could consider earlier. All about balancing up any risks - id day it’s still pretty low risk of having any major complications :)

I had a shoulder dystocia at my home birth, large baby born at 38w. He was resuscitated, cord round his neck with a true knot and I had a 3b tear that still gives me trouble 6yrs later. I'm expecting twins now and was offered a section immediately (and would have been if I was just having a singleton) as there were a combination of issues, none of which they can mitigate against and all happen at the last second, making another vaginal birth more risky.

If consultant had been supportive I might have been tempted to give it another go but I think that's more me being swayed towards wanting something intervention free rather than any kind of risk based decision!