Shoulder dystocia is a potentially fatal birth injury for both infant and mother. Learn about what the risk factors are and if it can be prevented.

What Is shoulder dystocia?

Shoulder dystocia is a birth injury that occurs when a baby’s head is delivered vaginally, but the shoulders become stuck in the mother’s body. This condition can put the mother and infant in serious danger, as shoulder dystocia often causes slow labor or birth, and can even lead to damage that develops into a condition known as Erb’s palsy, according to the March of Dimes.

Erb’s palsy essentially occurs when the baby becomes stuck or lodged in the mother’s pelvic bone, which causes severe stress on the infant’s shoulders and neck.

The shoulder dystocia condition is typically identified when the baby’s head comes out and can lead to other injuries if the doctor tries to force the baby out.

What causes shoulder dystocia?

At this point, there has been no definitive cause of shoulder dystocia discovered. This injury specifically occurs when the fetal anterior shoulder impacts against the maternal symphysis following vaginal deliveries.

This alarming birth injury can sometimes occur from the posterior shoulder becoming impacted on the sacral promontory. Even though shoulder dystocia is fairly uncommon, it still presents a potentially fatal risk to the mother and baby.

Several studies have reportedly found major and minor risk factors that could increase the chances of the injury, however, shoulder dystocia is still an unpreventable and unpredictable birth emergency.

What are the complications of shoulder dystocia?

Normally, the mother and infant suffer no permanent injuries, but there could be cases of serious complications including:

• Nerve damage to the infant’s shoulders, arms and hands which can cause shaking or paralysis. In most cases, the injuries resolve themselves within six to 12 months
• Lack of oxygen to the brain, which can cause brain damage and death in the worst cases

One of the risks of shoulder dystocia is a condition known as Erb’s palsy, a weakness or paralysis in the arm caused by nerve damage during birth, typically because of the baby being pulled or forced during delivery after the shoulder is stuck. The nerve damage to the brachial plexus (a system of nerves in the neck and shoulder) can develop into Erb’s palsy. Erb’s palsy is known by a number of other names as well, including brachial plexus palsy, Erb-Duchenne palsy, and Erb’s paralysis, among others.

About one or two of every 1,000 children are born with Erb’s palsy, though most will recover movement and feeling in the affected arm, assisted by daily physical therapy exercises. Others may experience more long-term effects.

On top of the potential injuries and long-term effects for a baby, shoulder dystocia can also negatively affect the mother. The injuries the mother could suffer from delivering a baby with shoulder dystocia include, but are not limited to:

• Heavy bleeding after birth
• The uterus tearing, or tears in the vagina, cervix, or rectum

What are the risk factors of shoulder dystocia?

Generally, if the baby is on the larger side compared to the mother’s overall size, it already introduces the possibility of more risks.

Most doctors will recommend mothers get a C-section in these cases, which will prevent shoulder dystocia and other birth injuries. Here are some of the risk factors of shoulder dystocia:

• If the mother has diabetes
• If the mother is giving birth to more than one baby
• If the mother is obese
• If the baby is delivered late
• If the mother had a baby who suffered shoulder dystocia
• If labor is induced
• If the mother gets an epidural to help with pain during labor
• If the mother has to undergo an operative vaginal birth, in which devices like forceps or a vacuum is used to help the infant along through the birth canal

Even with all these factors in mind, it is important to note that shoulder dystocia could occur when there are none of these factors.

What Is the treatment for shoulder dystocia?

Treatment varies between patients depending on the severity of the shoulder dystocia, with doctors focusing on preventing the injury to begin. Doctors do this by turning and maneuvering the baby in a position that will ease the delivery process.

On that note, shoulder dystocia is mostly preventable and can be prevented if the mother is closely monitored. A doctor may recommend a C-section if there are any signs of fetal distress to prevent any birth injuries.

Filing a birth injury lawsuit

Although shoulder dystocia may be an unavoidable accident during labor, this injury may also be linked to doctor negligence. If the delivering doctor failed to respond to known shoulder dystocia risks by changing the birth plan and recommending a C-section delivery, families could have a legal claim for birth injury.

A growing number of families are coming forward over their children’s birth injuries against those who may be responsible due to negligence. If your child suffered a birth injury, you may be able to consult a lawyer to see if you qualify for legal action against responsible parties.

Of course, filing a lawsuit can never take away the pain and suffering caused by a birth injury, nor can it bring a child back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by the medical expenses, lost wages, and more associated with these problems.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.