Shoulder dystocia

[Mon2468]

Hi all, been having growth scans due to slight polyhydramnios and size of baby, they believe he is larger than average and have offered me an induction at 39 weeks, currently 38+5 to prevent shoulder dystocia which has got me nervous. First baby and was hoping to go naturally which they said they don't have a problem with but said about the risks of nerve damage/brain damage etc if shoulder dystocia did happen so it's made me worry. Just wondering if this happened to anyone and all was ok?

Good healthy weight but not too huge 👍

Yay, congratulations! Well done. Am glad you had a nice birth.

My horrible SD birth was an 8lbs 9 baby so it's not just huge babies that get stuck! You've avoided it entirely, very sensible decision.

Keep on top of your pain meds, take it easy and enjoy your lovely baby

Congrats. Keep going with your pain relief and regular wee-ing

My eldest was a shoulder dystocia ventouse delivery. He was a pretty unremarkable 8.7lbs but I’m only 5’2 with size 4 feet. so maybe that made a difference.

I laboured for 10 hrs in the birthing centre, they decided he was stuck but not distressed so sent me in an ambulance to the local big hospital. The obstetric team decided to encourage me to deliver naturally one last time before taking me to theatre for a CS. I didn't care really and was happy to do whatever they told me.

The popped the ventouse on and tugged then it was hands to panic stations, the Dr was shouting for episiotomy scissors, my mother (birthing partner) was forcing my knees around my ears and the midwife was pushing with all her might on the top of my bump while the obstetrician was pulling so hard on the ventouse she was dragging me down the table.

Baby is 17 next week and the whole experience is crystal clear in my mind. Neither he nor I were damaged but my mum was pretty traumatised for a while. I think I didn’t really understand the seriousness of the situation.

For my second I wanted to homebirth and had moved to a different hospital and as soon as I mentioned what had happened with the first birth the consultant tried v hard to steer me towards a ca. I was also told that my second looked like being a big baby so went for the ca in the end.

In short shoulder dystocia wasn’t fun despite the most positive outcome possible, subsequent cs was fine. I was offered a vbac in the original hospital with my 3rd baby 6 years after number 2 and declined in favour of a planned section.

Gosh! I should have RTFT!

Congratulations!!

I know this thread is years old now and of little consequence to anyone but just to say I had a ‘fine’ shoulder dystocia birth, baby is now 12 weeks and googling it since has scared me half to death!! No risk factors here, second baby after forceps birth the first time, I’m not overweight, baby was bang on 50th - 3.5kg, normal low risk pregnancy, almost had the dream water birth until his shoulder got stuck! I didn’t know much about it though and within seconds some consultant guy had wrangled baby out of me - he needed an oxygen mask for a few seconds to get him breathing but nothing worse, scores were fine by 5 mins and I miraculously got away without even a tear and we all went home the next morning. So I guess what I’m here to say is that whoever that consultant was at Darent Valley hospital, SE London deserves a bloody medal? And the whole team for responding so quickly. Truly life saving work those midwives and delivery teams do. I dread to think now what could have happened if it had gone on longer.

I had the same scenario but my baby was in the special care unit for ten days. I had so many stitches I couldn’t walk for two weeks or sit. I lost over half the blood in my body. I’m very lucky to be here and so is my child.