Have you ever heard of Shoulder Dystocia? If so, you may think that this is a medical condition that occurs in the shoulders of adults, but this isn’t what it is at all. Instead, should dystocia occurs during the birth of a child, and if not handled immediately, it can result in the death of the child. What is shoulder dystocia?
An Explanation of Shoulder Dystocia
When a baby is born, the head is delivered first, followed by the shoulder. If the head is delivered – or is outside of the mothers body – and the shoulders are essentially ‘stuck’ and cannot be delivered, this is a case of shoulder dystocia. When this happens, the chin of the baby is pressed against the perineum of walls, and the umbilical cord is being compressed, which could result in death of the child if emergency measures are not taken.
Is it too late for a C-Section?
In most cases, a c-section can still be performed, but this is considered a drastic measure, and in most cases, is unnecessary. When shoulder dystocia occurs, and a c-section is performed, this measure is called Zavanelli’s Maneuver. The head of the child is pushed back in, and the cesarean section is performed. There are, however, other ways to quickly deal with shoulder dystocia that do not require a cesarean section.
What are the Other Ways to Treat Shoulder Dystocia?
The first method that the doctor will try is McRoberts Maneuver. The mothers legs are pushed up toward her chest, which widens the pelvis and flattens the spine, often making enough room for the shoulders to be delivered. Wood’s Screw Maneuver, Rubin I Maneuver, and Rubin II Maneuver all involve turning the child into various positions to try to get the shoulder delivered.
Jacquemier’s Maneuver, which is also known as Barnum’s Maneuver, in which the hand and forearm of the child is found and pulled out ahead of the shoulder. The Gaskin Maneuver requires the mother to get on her hands and knees, and arch the back, causing the pelvis to widen.
There are two other extreme measures that can be used. A hysterectomy can be performed, and the shoulder of the child can be broken to get the child out. While these measures do seem extreme, you must remember that failure to deliver the shoulders in a short time after the delivery of the head can result in the death of the child.
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