Shoulder Distocia: What is should distocia? How to prevent shoulder distocia? - http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/wha/wha_shldys_crs.htmDistocia is the term used for difficult labor or delivery of a baby. Shoulder distocia occurs when the baby's head is delivered, but the shoulders cannot be delivered because they are too wide and stuck behind the mother's pubic bone or the opening to the birth canal.
Shoulder distocia may occur when a baby is unusually large which is extremely common since women who are overweight or have diabetes are more likely to have larger babies. Another reason for should distocia is that the opening of the mother's pelvis is too small for the baby's shoulders to come out.
Shoulder distocia can be unpredictable and is first noticed during delivery. If your doctor suspects that you are at risk for shoulder distocia, you may have an ultrasound scan before you go into labor. The ultrasound scan will help the medical team know how big your baby is and whether the baby's size might be a problem during delivery.
Doctors should know before you go into labor that your baby is too big or your pelvis is too small. At that point, a cesarean section can be planned. A cesarean section or C-section, is a surgical procedure for delivering babies as opposed to natural childbirth.
During labor your doctor should decide that a C-section is necessary if it takes you a long time to dilate completely; the pushing phase of labor takes a long time; the baby's head doesn't move down the birth canal when you push.
Threre are numerous procedures that your doctor should inform you about in order to allow the baby to be delivered safely without a C-section.
Usually there is not any permanent damage. However, the longer the problem lasts during delivery, the greater the risk of complications for you and the baby. Possible complications for the mother may include rupture, hemorrhage, vagina or cervix bruising, rectal tears, and bladder irritation.
Possible complications for the baby are injuriy to the nerves in the arm and hand possibly causing paralysis which may last a short time or be permanent. Or the baby may break his collarbone. Or lack of oxygen
may cause brain damage, nerve damage, and/or death.
Women with diabetes are especially at risk for shoulder distocia. It is important for the doctor to try to estimate the size of your baby with an ultrasound scan before labor. If shoulder distocia seems likely, a C-section can be planned to avoid the problem.
If your baby has suffered shoulder distocia then someone (not you) is at fault. Please consult with a lawyer who can help you. Shoulder distocia is avoidable if proper medical procedures are followed. Contact Anapol Schwartz to find out what your legal options are.
(The correct spelling is shoulder dystocia but if you mistyped we wanted you to find the right information.)
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