Hospital | ||
Shoulder Dystocia(Stuck Shoulder Delivery)Pronounced: showl-dur dis-TO-see-ah
by
Diana Kohnle DefinitionShoulder dystocia is a problem during birth. The baby’s head has been born but the shoulders are stuck. The shoulder becomes trapped against the mother’s pubic bone. Most babies will be able to be born safely with some help. Sometimes the baby may be stuck in the birth canal too long, which can cause some problems. Problems for the baby may include:
Problems for the mother may include:
CausesShoulder dystocia happens because of one or both of the following:
Risk FactorsThings that may increase a baby's chance of shoulder dystocia include:
Signs and SymptomsThere are no symptoms of shoulder dystocia. DiagnosisThe doctor or midwife will know when the birth process stops after the head is born. Prenatal tests will estimate the size of the fetus and the mother’s pelvis. These tests may show a risk for shoulder dystocia. An ultrasound may be done before labor. The doctor will be able to see if the baby is too large to fit safely through the birth canal. A vaginal delivery may not be a safe method if the baby is too large. TreatmentThe care team will act fast if a shoulder dystocia occurs. The goal is to release the baby as fast as possible. This will allow the vaginal birth to continue. The doctor or midwife may:
A C-section may be needed if the baby remains stuck in the birth canal. PreventionShoulder dystocia cannot always be prevented. If you have a high risk of shoulder dystocia the doctor may offer:
RESOURCES:American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists http://www.acog.org American Pregnancy Association http://www.americanpregnancy.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada http://sogc.org Women's Health Matters http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca References:American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (College), Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Caughey AB, Cahill AG, Guise JM, Rouse DJ. Safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Mar;210(3):179-93. Reaffirmed 2016.
Cesarean section. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/procedure/cesarean-section. Updated March 5, 2020. Accessed March 19, 2020.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Caesarean section. NICE 2011 Nov:CG132PDF, summary can be found in BMJ 2011 Nov 23;343:d7108. World Health Organization. Managing complications in pregnancy and childbirth: a guide for midwives and doctors. World Health Organization website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Updated 2007. Accessed March 19, 2020. Last reviewed September 2019 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Mary-Beth Seymour, RN Last Updated: 7/17/2020 | ||