PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for October, 1999: Re: shoulder dystocia

Re: shoulder dystocia

From: Marshella

anonymous@obgyn.net

Sun, 24 Oct 1999 18:33:29 -0500 (CDT)

Wow, in all honesty considering how painful that must have been for you to go through, I'm surprised that you'd want to risk it happening again. :-) But, I'm 100% for your wishes, I just can't see how I could do it. :-) I can see several options for you, but unfortunately, I don't know if your doctor will be accomodating to them. To me it seems that you are at term and don't have a very big baby, yet. It is certainly not bigger than normal, but it sounds as if your doctor is worried anyway even if baby is small that s/he will get stuck. Why not ask your doctor if you can be induced right away, and thereby lessen the risk of the dystocia from a big baby? If he's mostly worried about the size of the baby, that should lessen his worry. I think a baby will gain about a pound a week in the final weeks, so s/he is probably going to be about 8 lbs or so just as your other two were. Also, tell your doctor you'd like to try the maneuver (can't remember the name of it right now) whereby you turn over onto all fours to help deliver the shoulders should they get stuck, this is supposed to be very effective and was invented by a midwife who has recently gained medical recognition for it.

Since the basis of your doctor wanting to do a C-section is mostly probably because of fear of a lawsuit, perhaps you'd be willing to sign a *specific* (be very careful of the wording) waiver that you wouldn't sue if an injury occured specifically due to shoulder dystocia on account of you attempting another vaginal delivery. Only do this if your doctor consents and you consult a lawyer, however. You don't want to sign over all rights to sue, but it may not work because I don't believe a parent can sign away a baby's rights. I'm not a lawyer or medical professional!

Lastly, its still not too late to switch doctors. Perhaps if you are at the hospital even, in labor, you could ask for an in house doctor who is there who may be willing to try a vaginal delivery.

Whatever happens, be sure to come back and tell us about it! Good luck, I'm passing "positive vibes" your way in hopes of a good, no shoulder dystocia, natural birth! :-)

-- Marshella (Due w/ 1st baby 2/10/00)

At Sun, 24 Oct 1999, Sandi wrote: > >During the birth of my second child, there was shoulder dystocia. His >head delivered after only 3 pushes, but his shoulders got stuck. My OB >pulled him out. Luckily, so I'm told, my son suffered only temporary >nerve damage to his shoulder and a broken humerous. He was 8lbs. 12 >oz. at birth. Today he is a perfectly (if that is possible) healthy, >normal 4 year old! I am now pregnant with my third child. An ultrasound >for EFW showed my baby to be approx. 6.5lbs at 36 weeks. I guess this >is bigger than normal, because now my OB is insisting that I deliver by >c-section to avoid any potential problems at birth. I am very upset by >this. I believe that the safest birth for both mother and child is a >natural birth, and I want to be able to deliver naturally. I'm told >that shoulder dystocia is unpredicable and it would not be wise to take >the chance that this could happen again. I can not find any research >that shows that a previous shoulder dystocia is indication that this >complication will reoccur. Any advice, research suggestions or >comments? (my first child was 8lbs. 6oz. born with no complications) > >Thank you. >Sandi.

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