Talk to me about shoulder dystocia

[BallBaby]

I had this with my son when he was born. My mw was incredible and popped him right out without me ever having a clue something was wrong, but I remember afterwards she told me that I needed to tell whoever I saw for my next baby that I had a shoulder dystocia.

My first baby was out after 20 min of pushing and she was a week early. My ds was a week late.

Has anyone had a dystocia before? How do mw/drs treat the next pg?

I really wanted to go for a homebirth this time, but everything I read about shoulder dystocias seem to point towards a c-section or a lot of interference medically speaking (which, in the end if that is the safest way for my baby, then great). I'd just like to see if anyone has any experience in this.

TIA
Kimber

[KittyTheCat]

Ina May's Spiritual Midwifery has a chapter on shoulder dystocia, I believe. As far as I remember it, it's usually a relatively harmless complication that can be handled by mum changing position.

There is no way to say whether you will have this again with your next baby, and if it should happen during birth, c-section would mean that they try and push the baby back inside, then do a c-section.

I'd say interview mws specifically about this issue, if there are any specific things they look for during pregnancy, how they handle shoulder dystocia etc.

[BallBaby]

I need to get that book!

I asked an ob afterwards and she told me that after one dystocia, most drs will only do a sched c-section and a lot of mw won't take me on.:

That really bums me out because I wanted to try for a homebirth and I'm thinking I won't get to unless I do it unassisted, which frankly I don't think I'm quite ready for.

Thanks for the book info though

Kimber

[MamaFern]

dystocia isn't really to do with the mother generally. its just the way the baby comes out (with the wrong shoulder first)
my first child had SD but changing position helped and my MW helped too. she brought his other arm out (he was born with his left arm above his head) and the rest of him followed

my second also had SD, she was 10 lbs though and came very fast. i truly believe that she just didnt have time to get into optimal position. i was in water and had to get out onto hands and knees and my midwife pretty much pulled her out as i pushed as hard as i could. it was harder i think because of her size, but it stll only took a second or 2..

both were born at home and never did she say anything about my not being able to HB because of my sons SD. i even asked that if i had another baby would she still let me HB and she said yes. i think that in a UC situation it could be fatal but i think that with trained midwives there is little risk.

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by BallBaby

I really wanted to go for a homebirth this time, but everything I read about shoulder dystocias seem to point towards a c-section or a lot of interference medically speaking (which, in the end if that is the safest way for my baby, then great). I'd just like to see if anyone has any experience in this.

I would seriously consider the source of your information about SD. If it's from the standard medical model then of course they point to c/s as the "safest" route. A c/s is in and of itself not without risk (the risks of which they usually skip altogether or quickly gloss over). When it comes to the medical model of birth...everything is *very* dangerous and requires untold number of interventions. Really...it's a wonder we're all here the way some doctors talk!

[KittyTheCat]

I found this article at Unhindered Living, thought it might help.