shoudler dystocia & HB?

[naturegirl7]

anyone have experience with shoulder dystocia and homebirths??


With my son, delivery was a bit tricky. He had shoulder dystocia - the MW had to manually reach in and rotate him off my pubic bone, then I was able to deliver him on hands and knees. He was a big baby at 9.9 but the big factor in him getting stuck was that his head was large and his shoulders were wider than his head! This is something I am told is quite uncommon yet my mother said I was the same way although tinier at 7.7 (resulting in a C/S for her though). My son did have "minor" Erbs palsy as a result, which has cleared up thanks to chiropractic care.

I am anticipating that that next will be about the same size as my son. We have moved, and now have the option of a homebirth or birthcenter (1 hour away though). I am just afraid of the next one getting stuck too....

[AngelaB]

The first thing that comes to mind is to do prenatal chiropractic for you. The websters technique to allign the pelvis and then yoga to loosen things up as well.

Ask your midwife what she would do in that situation and if she has handled a similar one before.
Angela

[ohiomommy1122]

There was a link just posted about SD Im concerned about that as well I had previuos SD w a 9.11 baby

[lovemy4boys]

My 2nd ds was 9.8 w/o distocia, but my 3rd boy was 10.7 with a distocia. He was stuck, too... shoulders bigger than head. I massaged it for 2 weeks before he could move his arm. I did lots of prenate yoga, too.

All three had cords wrapped around their necks... no problem with our midwife. I would rather have the shoulder distocia at our homebirths than risk my children's lives at a hospital. They would have been automatic sections here where I live... C-sections are so in. The neo natal units are always full.

[GinaRae]

I have no advice, but wanted to lend my story. 31 years ago I was born at almost 12 pounds after a shoulder dystocia on a small mom. The doc yanked and pulled and used his tools and I came out swollen, bruised, two black eyes and with a complete left arm paralysis due to the brachioplexus nertve injury. I have Erbs Palsy.

The same thing happened later the same year and he was successfully sued because he was a negligent doctor. After all, he told mom she was just getting fat and it wasn't the baby.

Anywhoo, I anticipate a big baby, should I go over full term. All my babies have been 37-38 weeks by induction with a CNM or doctor and were all between 7 and 8 pounds. We have big babies in my family, so if I go over, I can imagine at least 10-11 pounds. Thank goodness I am 5'10 and big boned!

My midwives are not fearful of dystocia. They are pretty confident about twisting and positions that won't harm the baby. One had a son with dystocia and when she heard his arm break, she knew it was over and he would come out. That reminds me, the clavicle could be broken to allow the baby to pass, and they heal quickly and easily.

Good luck and hopefully all will be well. While I am grateful that my mom did a ton of exercising and I have more mobility than the doctors thought I would, but I suffered a lot from my Erbs Palsy in my life.. until now I am beginning to accept it.

The difference for me, I believe, was in the parenting. My parents chose to ignore my needs instead of building my self esteem, partly because we basically raised ourselves and they didn't think much of it, and partly because mom felt guilty, so she ignored it. For goodness sake, there was a girl in a neighboring school that was a cheerleader with one of her arms amputated at the elbow!! And yet I felt worthless and wouldn't try out for many things.

So, spoken from someone who has it, if Erbs Palsy does happen, it's not the end of the world. But it sure would be nice to avoid, eh?

[Lynski]

I also have Erbs Palsy, due to an impatient doctor who forcibly pulled me out w/ forcepts when my mom wasn't birthing on his schedule. If given the choice to choose my own birth, I would choose a midwife and a homebirth. The results would likely be very different since I would have someone trained to handle SD in a gentler, less forceful way. If you look in the birth stories section you will find a recent SD homebirth story with a very happy ending. My feelings are that the location of your birth has nothing to do w/ SD. The experience and knowledge of your caregiver is what matters. A doctor will want you flat on your back, which will make SD more likely, and a midwife will encourage you to keep moving until the baby is in a better position.

[StacyL]

I had a 10.2 mild SD baby, but I had really good chiro care during pg and a very experienced MW and all turned out just fine.

Good luck!