| |
What is Shoulder Dystocia?
 Shoulder dystocia is a medical term for when a baby's shoulder gets
stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone during childbirth. It is an
obstetric emergency, requiring quick and careful action by the medical
team attending the birth to avoid serious complications. It affects
0.25 percent to one percent of live births each year in the United
States, with the percentage shooting up dramatically in babies with
high birth weights.
For many lucky families, shoulder dystocia can be quite benign,
requiring only some additional maneuvers by the physicians attending
the birth. However, for the unlucky, shoulder dystocia can have
severe, life-changing consequences, including Erb's Palsy and other
Brachial Plexus injuries.
What Problems Does Shoulder Dystocia
Present?
|
|
