Should I be worried about Shoulder Dystocia & do I have a case for a C-Section?

Im hoping for some advice. My last labour was induced %26amp; during my labour both my Husband %26amp; I remember the midwives saying that my baby had a shoulder dystocia, the baby was distressed but I am pleased to say he is fine following procedures to deliver him. I had a lot of damage but following a repair I was also fine.


Following that pregnancy I was told that if I decided to have any more children it would definately be a C-Section by my GP. With this in mind we decided to have another. At my booking appointment the consultant came to see me %26amp; said that no reference had been made in my notes about a shoulder dystocia %26amp; therefore it had not happened! With this in mind she made it clear in my notes that there was to be no Caeser. I am now terrified at 32 weeks %26amp; am not sure what to do, my Son was 9lbs 6oz %26amp; I am again big for my dates. Everything I have read says that shoulder dystocia can be fatal. What can I do as I want my baby to be safe?


Thanks

Should I be worried about Shoulder Dystocia %26amp; do I have a case for a C-Section?
That's outrageous. Go speak to your GP and midwife immediately and, if possible, the person who treated you before and recommended the c-section originally. If you are that terrified about going through labour you should be getting an elective c-section anyway. Don't let the consultant bully you into anything you are not comfortable with, if necessary, complain about her. If you need a c-section for your peace of mind and you are convinced this is the safest option for you and your baby, you should have one.





You could also try to contact your local NCT who might be able to find extra support for you.





Good luck.
Reply:I know how distressed your feeling, i'm 22weeks, had a trolley dash caesarean with my first he was 9lb 8oz and his heart rate went as my blood pressure sored. As he was out within 4mins of delivery suite to theatre I was in a pretty bad way, severley bruised and took a good 12weeks to recover. I was told by a top consultant that it would be necessary, if I decided to have more to have a section, both my husband and I both had post traumatic stress and had a form of counselling over the birth, to which we both said we could never go through again unless planned. 3 years on my midwife sent me to hospital for a consultation and book me a theatre for 4months time as she is aware of what we went through last time, and even though they viewed my notes, they have tried to convince me to have a vaginal birth, and now I feel cornered as they have written will consider vaginal birth. I feel this is forced if I come before my booked date, although a top consultant said not to consider it. I feel my only hope is for it to stay inside till the date they have possibly penciled me in for. I'm going to have a chat with my midewife infact i've booked an extra appointment nextweek, as i'm stressing abou it. Hope you sort this out, i'm determined too:o)
Reply:Definately, definately get a second opinion. Talk to your midwife about your concerns and get her/him to make you an appointment very soon.


Stress your worries and fears. Tell them what your G.P. said.


If it comes to it, ask for a c- section. You are quite within your rights to do what you feel comfortable with.


I wish you all the very best and I'm sure everything will work out just fine!! SJCxxx
Reply:First, try and calm down, and get as much information as you can; that always calms me, anyway...





The first thing I thought was: are you sure it didn't have anything to do with being induced?





"Intervention causing shoulder dystocia?


I understand from a previous post that the rate of brachial plexus injuries was significantly higher in the USA than in the UK. I would not find this surprising, given the high level of intervention which seems normal in births there - the studies I've looked at found that shoulder dystocia was more likely where labours were induced, accelerated with oxytocin, and particularly where forceps or, especially, ventouse deliveries are attempted [6, 19].





Perhaps this is because





a) These interventions were employed because progress was slow, but progress was slow for a reason? Baby needed more time to turn, mother needed more time to move?





b) If you're having oxytocin you're probably being continuously monitored, and thus are probably lying down/semi-recumbent...great position for trapping a baby. Discussions on web articles [2,3] listed below give more info about specific increases in pelvic diameters when mother moves to all-fours.





c) Other factors about assisted deliveries - eg the speed with which the head is brought down, or the angle - which makes shoulder dystocia more likely. Any thoughts, anyone? eg Article [1] says one of the situations where s.d. is more likely is "when truncal rotation does not occur (as with precipitous labor)." - could this also apply to assisted deliveries? There is also mention on the USA Midwife Archives [2] about the need for the shoulders to rotate properly to fit through the pelvis, and that with assisted deliveries the head may be pulled down before this has happened. Apparently shoulder dystocia linked to assisted delivery is more common in smaller babies; in larger babies, it's more likely to happen even with spontaneous birth of the head."





And more at: http://www.radmid.demon.co.uk/shoulders....





And, for what it's worth, an article on inductions and large babies:





http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/...
Reply:although i have no experience of this i think the best thing you can do is ring your local hospital and see if they can give you any information or talk to your midwife about this.


my mom had this problem when she had me and so i can see what a traumatic experience i can be.


good look hope it goes ok.xxx
Reply:i would ask for a second opinion, if you baby is going to be bigger than 9lbs 6oz ( goes on shoe size for you pelvic outlet) than i would ask for a section due to your baby being big.


i got a section with my second child as my first was 8lb 15oz ( shoe size 3). i was told i would never have a baby over 7 1/2 lb without a section. i also go sterilised (spelling) at the same time which i was told was impossible and no surgeon would perform it. well yes they did.





get the second opinion and ask your gp for a letter to be forwarded onto your file.





good luck
Reply:I would go and talk to you GP. Tell him you are worried but feel your fears are not being taken seriously by the consultant (who is probably trying to save on costs) and tell him you'd like to talk about the potential problems and how likely it is to happen again, he may be able to reassure you that the chances of it happening twice are millions to one, or if not he may be able to speak to your consultant on your behalf.
Reply:Speak to your midwife. I wouldnt worry about the size of the baby my second son was 10lb 1 and was born naturally, perfectly alright and I didn't need stitches.