what every pregant woman should know

fae.mama · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2008, 10:26 PM

I would scream this from the mountain tops if I could. Every woman whould ask their doctor ... "do you have a plan if a shoulder dystocia is suspected during my delivery?"

Basically SD is when the baby being delivered shoulders get stuck. The JAMA - Journal of American Medical Association recommends action be taken within 60 seconds of suspecting shoulder dystocia. 60 seconds! One minute could be the difference between a pulled shoulder, a possible collar bone fracture, or loss of life of the child due to suffocation.

Do NOT find out about SD because it's how you lost your newborn child during what is supposed to be the most wonderful moment of your life. ASK your doctor. You simply must.

Ever since I lost my son during delivery 12 years ago because a midwife waited 14 minutes to be assisted by a doctor during my vaginal delivery, I've often felt like it's my mission to tell moms to be they really need to have this simple talk with their doctor or midwife.

Whether you are going no-meds or full on pain killers, it doesn't matter. Just talk to your Ob, ok?

Thanks mamas.

JuneMom047 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 06:38 AM

Jamie~ While Pregnant with John I never really thought about it. But after delivering a 8.10 lb *wide* baby before 37 weeks! I will definitely be talking to my ob if I ever decide to have another baby.

How big was your son?

fae.mama · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 07:15 AM

Sean was 9lbs 8oz delivered at 40 weeks.

Thing is though, it can happen with any size baby. And you're right, you never even think about it until it's happened!

JuneMom047 · #4 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 05:51 PM

That is just scary!! I never even knew there was such a thing until I heard it from you!

MommytoBrendan · #5 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 09:33 PM

I knew there was such a thing - my son had a heck of time coming out on his own . I was fully dilated at 4 am but i could not 'push him out unless with the help of vaccum which I didn't really want to do but it happened so soon the OB pulled out the 'vaccum & tried to stick in me I was still so small so he made an epistomy !

After I heard all those 'vacumm horror stories ' I say he is very lucky! I wasn't even warned of the Ob gonna use a 'vaccum !

I saw on the 20/20 show awhile ago when a shoulder got stuck in the side of the pelvic and the doctor broke the arm of the baby coming out!

Sorry you lost your son to that it so do you not trust home births that much anymore ?

Thanks for sharing!

JuneMom047 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-21-2008, 10:37 PM

Jamie, when My sister had Taylor in June, She had a heck of a time delivering her. They said any bigger they would have had to do an emergency C.
They cut her and used the suction and she still wasn't coming out. She was only 7lbs 2oz. My sister is a very short petite girl.

fae.mama · #7 (**permalink**) 09-23-2008, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by MommytoBrendan

Sorry you lost your son to that it so do you not trust home births that much anymore ?

Thanks for sharing!

I actually had my midwife in the hospital with me. I had never met this one until I went into labor. The doc that had been with me the whole way wasnt there either. So yeah it tainted me on MWs somewhat but, I cant blame them all, kwim? That was 1996 and things were a little different then than they are now. Back then, a midwife in the hospital couldnt to an episiotomy, which is why she waited for the doc. As soon as he did it, my son was delivered. It could have saved his life had it been done 10 minutes sooner...hard to say though.

Now even though I want to push and delivery vaginally, I'm scared to death of it. The chances of it again after having SD are only 1% but, I have been 1% before and dont want to again. I really agonized over my delivery with DD but thankfully my C went very well and I healed great!

nathans.mom · #8 (**permalink**) 09-23-2008, 09:29 PM

Your right Jamie, that is something every preggnant mama should know. I really had no idea either. So sorry about Sean, I couldnt imagine all you had gone through. Bet its hard to believe so much time has passed!

I had a tough time pushing Nathan out as he was posterior positioned so I had a c section too.