Jill Kolodner | November 26, 2024 | Birth Injuries
Despite incredible medical advancements, there are still risks to mother and child during delivery. The human body and the birthing process are unpredictable, and issues can arise suddenly that demand immediate attention. One such issue is shoulder dystocia, a condition that can lead to severe birth injuries.
Although not as common as some other delivery complications, obstetricians and those who assist with deliveries should always be aware of the potential for shoulder dystocia. If these professionals fail to diagnose this issue and intervene swiftly, they could be liable for damages if the mother or child suffers harm.
What Is Shoulder Dystocia?
The term “dystocia” literally means “difficult birth.” During a normal vaginal delivery, a baby’s head should appear first, followed by one shoulder and then the other. After that, the rest of the baby’s body should emerge. Shoulder dystocia describes a situation where either of the baby’s shoulders becomes stuck behind the mother’s pelvis, preventing the rest of the child from being delivered.
Diagnosing Shoulder Dystocia
There are three generally accepted indications of shoulder dystocia. These typically appear sequentially, one after the other. During your delivery, your doctor will look for:
- The inability to push the baby’s shoulders out after the head has breached
- The passage of at least one minute between the time the head emerged and the halting of the delivery
- Other signs suggesting the need to medically intervene in the situation
Doctors don’t always immediately diagnose shoulder dystocia precisely one minute after the baby’s head appears. As such, it’s possible for a mother to experience shoulder dystocia during delivery and their doctor to fail to diagnose the condition. It’s also possible for the doctor to diagnose the condition prematurely.
How Serious Is Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia is a major medical emergency. The delivery team should be aware of any risk factors present and be prepared to take action immediately. Failing to do so can lead to significant injuries for the mother and child that could leave permanent complications. In rare cases, shoulder dystocia that isn’t treated promptly can be fatal.
Risk Factors For Shoulder Dystocia
Any mother can experience shoulder dystocia during labor and delivery. Nonetheless, the following factors may indicate a higher risk of this condition developing:
- Previously experiencing shoulder dystocia during pregnancy
- Body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater
- Small pelvis
- Large infant over eight pounds, 13 ounces
- Diabetes
- Long labor
If you have one or more of these risk factors, your doctor should discuss the potential complications you might experience throughout your pregnancy. Similarly, you should share any concerns you might have. That way, you and your medical team can be ready should any issues arise.
4 Shoulder Dystocia-Related Birth Injuries You Should Know About
If you experience shoulder dystocia and your delivery team doesn’t act quickly, complications can soon follow. The injuries associated with shoulder dystocia can endanger your or your child’s life or lead to permanent, disabling injuries for your new baby.
Here are four of the most serious possible complications that can follow from shoulder dystocia:
1. Hypoxia
Hypoxia is characterized by a reduction or cessation in the flow of oxygen to your child. During delivery, your child receives oxygenated blood through the umbilical cord until after birth. Depending on your child’s position, when shoulder dystocia occurs, the umbilical cord could be compressed or crushed between your pelvic bone and your baby’s shoulder.
Just a few minutes without sufficient oxygen is enough to cause permanent organ damage, brain damage, and other behavioral and developmental issues for your child. Prolonged hypoxia can be fatal.
2. Hemorrhaging
If your doctor diagnoses you with shoulder dystocia and springs into action, one maneuver they may attempt is to reach into your cervix and manually rotate your child. If performed negligently, this act can lead to massive blood loss during the remainder of your labor and delivery. This, too, is a potentially life-threatening condition.
3. Clavicle Or Arm Fracture
Another maneuver your doctor may attempt is to pull your child’s arm out before the shoulder, helping the shoulder to slip past the pelvis. If they apply too much force, it could break your child’s collarbone or arm. While these injuries will heal with time, they can cause you and your child additional pain and expense during what ought to be a happy occasion.
4. Nerve Damage
Pulling on your child’s arm also risks damaging the nerves that run from their brain stem down their arms. These nerves form the brachial plexus, and they’re susceptible to injury during birth from such movements.
Potential complications from a brachial plexus injury include permanent or temporary loss or limitation of movement and sensation in the affected arm and a limp arm. Severe damage can lead to paralysis in the affected arm.
Do You Have a Claim For Birth Injury Damages?
Complications from shoulder dystocia can lead to additional medical expenses and emotional stress. You might wonder if you’re eligible to receive compensation for these losses from your medical provider’s malpractice insurance. This is a complicated question, and the answer requires a careful review of the facts of your situation.
No medical provider can guarantee a complication-free delivery–there’s always a risk of injury, even when doctors and other care providers act reasonably in the moment.
However, if no other doctor or professional would have done what yours did, you may have a viable claim for damages. In other words, your claim may proceed if the harm you or your child sustained was avoidable.
Determining the reasonableness of your doctor’s actions in the delivery room may require an expert’s opinion. A qualified medical malpractice lawyer can review your case and advise you on the likelihood that your claim for compensation will proceed.
Shoulder Dystocia And Your Rights
Your doctor may not be able to prevent shoulder dystocia from happening during your child’s delivery. However, if this condition develops, you should expect them to diagnose the situation and intervene in a reasonable and responsible manner. If they don’t and you or your child are harmed as a result, you might consider filing a birth injury lawsuit seeking damages.
If you need help or have questions about birth injuries due to shoulder dystocia, contact a personal injury lawyer with experience in medical malpractice cases as soon as possible.
Contact the Baltimore Personal Injury Law Firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information contact the Baltimore personal injury law firm of WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers
14 W Madison St, Baltimore, MD 21201, United States
(410) 837-2144
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers – Dundalk Office
7329 Holabird Ave Suite 3, Dundalk, MD 21222
By appointment only
(410) 970-3080
