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Seven Possible Factors That Could Have Led to Your Child’s Shoulder Dystocia

No parent should have to hear the devastating news that his or her child has suffered a birth injury known as shoulder dystocia. Yet, countless newborns suffer birth trauma each year. It has been estimated that 6 to 8 birth injuries occur per 1,000 live births.

Shoulder dystocia has been defined by March of Dimes as an injury that “occurs when a baby’s head is delivered through the vagina, but his shoulders get stuck inside the mother’s body.” Not only is this situation dangerous for the mother, but the baby as well.

There are many factors that can cause shoulder dystocia, including:

Larger than normal baby
Diabetic mother
Previous delivery of a baby with shoulder dystocia
Mother’s obesity
Delivery that occurs after the due date
Mother’s pelvic opening is too small
Medical malpractice

While there are definite risk factors associated with shoulder dystocia, sometimes doctors cannot predict it. What the doctor and medical staff does when they discover it is what makes the difference. In many cases, the baby is delivered safely, but there are some circumstances where prompt actions are not taken. Those are the cases that can lead to serious complications.

Some of the shoulder dystocia complications include injury to the nerves in the shoulder, arms and hand, broken arm or collarbone and oxygen deprivation. Many of these complications of shoulder dystocia can be life threatening and may lead to permanent paralysis.

If your child has suffered from shoulder dystocia and you believe medical negligene may have been involved, you need to contact an experienced New York birth injury lawyer who will be able to explain your legal options. You may be able to recover compensation for your child’s birth injury.

Contact the law firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine today at 800.734.9445 for legal advice. Our Manhattan injury lawyers have the knowledge and experience to help you win your New York birth trauma case.