Shoulder dystocia 1st time ~ what to do this time?
I have just been informed that because I/my son had severe shoulder dystocia (head come's out, but baby is stuck because the shoulder's don't fit. This can lead to lack of oxgygen etc.) that I should probably have a c-section with this baby. I do have the option of being induced 2 week's early, but there is no guarantee that A) an early induction will work B) that the baby won't be stuck again even if it is early.
I really had my heart set of another vaginal birth and I am all emotional and confused. I know that the I have to do what is best for baby and me, but a c-section was just not something I had ever considered.
Has anyone been through this and how did you decided what to do with your following births?
How did you deal with having the power taken away from you really because even though you have a choice c-section really is the only way to guarantee bub's is safe.
No one else I know has even heard of shoulder dystocia let alone dealt with it.
Sorry your having to go through this really tough decision. I had severe shoulder dystocia with my DD. I've decided to go with a c-section for many reasons. I'm the same, would have loved to have a vag delivery, and I'm still still a little upset about having the c-section. But here's my reasons....
1)DD has a brachial plexus injury as a result of the shoulder dystocia. Her right arm was completely paralysed at birth and she has had nerve grafts while she has good movement now, she will always have weakness and restricted movement.
2)Induction would be useless as she was already 3 weeks early. She weighed 3.9kg, so not the biggest..
3)I could not find a Ob that would support a vag delivery.
4)My DH is a pretty big bloke with abnormally large shoulders and chest. DD has inherited them from him. Even the midwives at hossy when DD was born couldn't believe the width of her shoulders.
These are just my reasons. It may be different for you. How big was your DS and did he have any injuries?
Also check out the spinning babies website. It has heaps of great info on Shoulder Dystocia and how it is largely a positional problem and will not necessarily occur in your next delivery.
Thank you so much for your reply. As much as I don't want anyone else to have to go through this it's nice to know I am not alone. I am so sorry to hear about the injuries your DD has because of it. DS had movement in his left shoulder when he was born, but it was very weak and when he got older he couldn't crawl becase of this so we did physio and it improved, but he still couldn't crawl and just went straight to walking. Because it's his left shoulder and he is right handed it's hard to know for sure how strong/weak it is now. I guess as he get's older we will have a better idea if there is any permanent weakness/damage. DH's dream of producing a star football player have been shattered
DS was 4.6kg born and with very wide shoulder's so I doubt there will be an OB in Aus. that would allow me to have a vag birth this time around. I am going to go now and check out the website.
Thanks again you have made me feel more 'normal' and accepting about having to have a csectoin.
I also had shoulder dystocia with my recent birth, but I don't believe it was severe. My bub did not have big shoulders and was 7 pound 13, born a week and a half early. If I were to fall pregnant again (not planning on it after the trauma of the last birth) and it was recommended that I have a c section I would jump at it.
I think that you just need to go with whatever offers the best outcome for mum and bubs. It's easy for me to say this though when I'm not actually facing it, I could feel differently if I was.
Hi, I also had SD with my DS although it was not severe and he only really had bruising as a result of it... nothing major so I am sorry to hear that that wasn't the case for you.
With my DD, I only had midwife care and none of them seemed concerned that because I had SD with the first born, that the 2nd would be the same...
Until the last MW I saw when I was over due decided to scare me into thinking that I would probably need to go to a different hospital to have my baby because the hospital I was going to was low risk and I would probably need extra care or possibly a C-section! If I hadn't had bubs by Monday, she recommended that I should go and have an appointment at this other hospital to see what they say....
Thankfully, I didn't need to.. Bubs came that Sunday night/early Monday morning!!!
I did not have any issues with the birth, in fact she came very quickly so I believe that in my situation, I think it was just 'one of those things' with DS and not necessarily the case for subsequent bubs... but that was just my situation anyway, I thought I would share that with you... It is possible!!
Hi Seenabeena,I had my 4th bub in 2006 and he was stuck in the birthing canal due to shoulder dystocia and it was frightening and very painful birth, poor DH was tearing his hair out. Bubs weight was average 3.6kg not a big bub,just very broad in the shoulders. Then in December 2007, I had my 5th bub,which was born through c-section, weighed 3.7kg ,after long detailed discussions with my OB, she recommended a c-section as the Doctors new how hard the previous birth was and that it put myself and our baby at risk. I admitt, I was scared and asked alot of questions and bugged the hell out of my friends who had been through a c-section and we all came to the same conclusion,as long as the baby and I got through the birth unscaved thats all that mattered, and even though it was my first c-section,I got though it ok,but the recovery afterwards is much slower than the vaginal birth,but if I had to do it all over again, lol....(that would make 6 bubs!) I would do what is the safest option for both of us. Don`t feel bad about having a c-section,sometimes it just can`t be helped.Best of luck.
Seenabeena, I had a shoulder dystocia with my first child in July 2008, which resulted in erb's palsy. I'm now pregnant with my second, due in June 2009 and I'm trying to explore my options. What did you end up going for - c-section, induced or waiting til due date? I'd be keen to hear your story. Thanks x
Shoulder dystocia 1st time ~ what to do this time?
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks