Shoulder dystocia | |
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Suprapubic pressure being used in a shoulder dystocia | |
Specialty | Obstetrics |
Symptoms | Retraction of the baby's head back into the vagina[1] |
Complications | Baby: Brachial plexus injury, clavicle fracture[2] Mother: Vaginal or perineal tears, postpartum bleeding[3] |
Risk factors | Gestational diabetes, previous history of the condition, operative vaginal delivery, obesity in the mother, an overly large baby, epidural anesthesia[2] |
Diagnostic method | The baby's shoulders fail to deliver despite gentle downward traction on the baby's head, requiring the need of special techniques to safely deliver the baby. |
Treatment | McRoberts maneuver, suprapubic pressure, Rubin maneuver, episiotomy, all fours, Zavanelli's maneuver followed by cesarean section[3][2] |
Frequency | 0.2% to 3% of vaginal births |
Shoulder dystocia occurs after vaginal delivery of the head, when the baby's anterior shoulder is obstructed by the mother's pubic bone.[3][1] It is typically diagnosed when the baby's shoulders fail to deliver despite gentle downward traction on the baby's head, requiring the need of special techniques to safely deliver the baby.[2] Retraction of the baby's head back into the vagina, known as "turtle sign" is suggestive of shoulder dystocia.[3][1] It is a type of obstructed labour.[4]
Although most instances of shoulder dystocia are relieved without complications to the baby, the most common complications may include brachial plexus injury, or clavicle fracture.[2][1] Complications for the mother may include increased risk of vaginal or perineal tears, postpartum bleeding, or uterine rupture.[3][1] Risk factors include gestational diabetes, previous history of the condition, operative vaginal delivery, obesity in the mother, an overly large baby, and epidural anesthesia.[2]
Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency.[3] Initial efforts to release a shoulder typically include: with a woman on her back pushing the legs outward and upward, pushing on the abdomen above the pubic bone.[3] If these are not effective, efforts to manually rotate the baby's shoulders or placing the woman on all fours may be tried.[3][2] Shoulder dystocia occurs in approximately 0.2% to 3% of vaginal births.[5] Death as a result of shoulder dystocia is very uncommon.[1]