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January 2016 Moms
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Shoulder Dystocia

cammiedeeanncammiedeeann member
in January 2016 Moms
I went to my 36-wk appt yesterday and had a growth sono. My OB said the baby's head and belly are both measuring very big. She said to read up on Shoulder Dystocia because it is a concern, and we will discuss it at my appt next week. I do have GD, but numbers have been fine for the most part. Baby weighs 7, 7.

Obviously there's tons of scary info on SD out there, so I'm freaking out a little. I really really wanted a VB, but the thought of baby being without air or having broken bones at birth is making me wonder if it's best to just elect for a CS! I do realize that sonos can be off, and my doc even said that... But it could also be showing her to be smaller than she actually is, too, so it could be even worse than the scans show.

Any moms have experience with this?
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Re: Shoulder Dystocia

  • essentialpeaceessentialpeace member
    My friend had her son (over nine lbs) with it. There are positions and techniques they try to help ease baby out. In her case, they broke his collar bone ultimately to get him out, but both were happy and healthy. His bone healed extremely fast.

    She said it sounds more tramatic than it was but she went in knowing he was likely quite large and had read a lot of info.
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  • fishsticks-n-custardfishsticks-n-custard member
    50% of babies with shoulder dystocia have no identifiable risk factors. Which means it's going to happen to a least a few of us here who don't even have it on our radar.  There was a study in JAMA that indicated to prevent one brachial plexus injury (nerve injury) to baby, 3700 csections would need to be performed on suspected large infants.

    Personally, it would take a lot of me to consider not at least giving vaginal birth a chance. 

    Me: 35, Hubbie: 33
    Married DH: 2013
    DD: Dec 2015
    BFP 8/14/17 --> Due 4/27/2018

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  • willashbabywillashbaby member
    There are specific labor positions (namely all fours) which open the pelvis the widest to allow for your best chance at delivering a large baby (or specifically large shoulders). Do some research and discuss options with your Dr. 
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  • ljhgreyljhgrey member
    My baby weighed similar at 36 weeks and the MFM freaked me out with c-section talk. My
    OB said they won't refuse to let you try to deliver vaginally unless the baby is suspected to weigh 5,000 grams or more. Which is 11+ pounds! I'm being induced week 39 so while I know she's probably on the bigger side (I'm GD too and my sugars have been good, so it's "one of those things" that she's big - my son was 95% too) I'm hoping for a vaginal delivery and I'm trying not to read too much about dystocia.
    -LJ
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  • PedsIsHardcorePedsIsHardcore member
    Ultrasounds at the end of pregnancy are way off, so honestly I wouldn't even be worried over a baby measuring that size. Yes, your baby has an uneven distribution of fat, but your baby is not big by any means. A big diabetic baby is well over 8lbs. There's no 100% for sure way to say your baby is or will be that big.
    I think your OB is trying to scare you.
    I'm a type 1 diabetic. My baby has always measured at 50 percentile and the only way we aren't going for a vaginal delivery, is if my baby is 9lbs or bigger. At 9lbs or larger the hospital here requires a C-section. Or if baby is breech, then it's a C-section. Even my MFM told me at my first appointment he expects me to have a vaginal delivery unless baby is breech or over 9lbs.
    If it was me, I would tell her I don't want a C-section and unless there is an actual medical reason as to why you need a C-section then there will be no more talk of it.
    Babies born to diabetics by vaginal delivery do better. My DD was born vaginally and she didn't have to go to the NICU for monitoring because she was stable. I was the first diabetic they had ever delivered at that hospital that had a stable baby that didn't require NICU time.
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  • KendralantzKendralantz member
    I didn't get a warning and delivered at 39 weeks to a 8lb 9oz boy. He had SD which caused a double pneumothorax which means I blew tiny pinholes in his lungs everytime I pushed and he got air in his chest cavity. I had an US at 36 weeks and they said he weighed 5lbs so as previous poster said, they are hardly ever accurate. This time I actually asked for a c section bc not being able to hold or be with my baby for 2 weeks was the hardest thing I ever had to do. C sections are a very common procedure these days so I'm not questioning my decision. Your ob should have never told you to go be a Google dr.... that's horrifying sometimes. You should have a good talk with your doc and weigh out your pros and cons in relation to the health of your baby and you.
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  • JNGettinMarriedJNGettinMarried member
    At 39+ weeks with DD1 my OB ordered a positional ultrasound where she told me that DD was likely going to be big and ran some numbers that said there was like a 90-something percent chance she would get stuck in my birth canal. She told me I was having a baby on Monday one way or another... either I could try to be induced and maybe end up with an emergency c-section if she did get stuck, or schedule the c. It's a personal decision for everyone, but that was the very first time I really felt like a mom making a decision in the best interest of my child. It no longer had anything to do with my desire to have a vaginal birth. I just wanted my little girl to be safe. So we scheduled the c-section and it was honestly not that bad. Whatever you choose will be best for you, but don't let a change of plans scare you.

    Also, had a friend deliver a big baby, and she ended up with a separated pelvis! Everyone's body is different, but she couldn't stand on her own for weeks after that.
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  • mg137mg137 member
    willashbaby said:

    There are specific labor positions (namely all fours) which open the pelvis the widest to allow for your best chance at delivering a large baby (or specifically large shoulders). Do some research and discuss options with your Dr. 

    This. Definitely read up on using the all fours position. I don't have any experience but I've read about it and it's supposed to be very effective. Good luck!
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  • cammiedeeanncammiedeeann member
    edited December 2015
    Thanks, guys, I appreciate the input.

    @JNGettinMarried I had that talk with my husband after leaving the doc the other day! I told him that I want to have her vaginally, but what I want is obviously out the window if it's going to be easier on baby to have a CS.

    I know babies are resilient and heal quickly, but the thought of hurting her during the birth is absolutely killing me.
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  • Emott13Emott13 member
    cammiedeeann said:


    I know babies are resilient and heal quickly, but the thought of hurting her during the birth is absolutely killing me.

    My neighbor growing up was a healthy 14lb baby (she's now well over 6ft and has a career as a model- lucky duck!) but she, too, got stuck at the shoulders during delivery. They did end up breaking her collar bone to get her out. I can't imagine the emotional pain that causes to a mom, but I do know that she is a perfectly healthy, flourishing young lady.
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