The Clore Law Group LLC has help many families when their child has suffered a shoulder dystocia injury. Shoulder dystocia occurs when, after delivery of the fetal head, the baby’s anterior shoulder gets stuck behind the mother’s pubic bone or sacrum. If this happens, the remainder of the baby does not follow the head easily out of the vagina as it usually does during vaginal deliveries.
There are three categories of predictors of shoulder dystocia: Previous shoulder dystocia, Maternal obesity and Maternal age. Failure to recognize these signs and take the necessary precaution may be determined as negligent behavior in a birth injury law suit.The relative sizes of the fetal head, shoulders, and chest compared to the shape and size of the maternal pelvis that determine how smoothly a delivery will go. The fetal head has the largest dimensions; therefor, if it can pass through the maternal pelvis without difficulty, the rest of the baby usually follows easily. However, when the dimensions of the fetal shoulders or chest rival those of its head, the chances of a shoulder dystocia occurring are much increased. Such situations occur more frequently both in large babies and in babies of diabetic mothers.In large babies, much of the excess growth that occurs is in the chest and abdominal areas. In these babies the dimensions of the shoulders and chest tend to be disproportionately larger than those of the head.
Shoulder Dystocia and Diabetes
This trend is exaggerated in babies of diabetic mothers. Multiple studies have shown that babies of diabetic mothers more frequently have larger ratios of shoulder circumference to head circumference than do their peers born of nondiabetic mothers. Babies of diabetic mothers also have greater arm circumference, larger triceps folds, and a higher percentage of body fat. Since larger babies are more likely to “get stuck”, much of the work in the field of shoulder dystocia has been targeted at attempting to predict which babies will be larger than normal, especially when their mothers are diabetic.
Shoulder Dystocia Drill to Prevent Birth Injury
The medical community has developed the shoulder dystocia drill to prevent injuries.A shoulder dystocia drill is a practice run-through by a labor and delivery unit of a mock shoulder dystocia delivery. It has been suggested both as a practice protocol and as a teaching technique for all members of the obstetrical team. Some authors have stated that it is the obligation of every delivery unit and every obstetrician to participate in routine shoulder dystocia drills as part of obstetrical readiness. If your child’s shoulder dystocia injury could have been avoided, you should be compensated for the future medical expenses associate with the physician’s medical malpractice.
If you sustained injuries or property damage, or if your family suffered the loss of a loved one due to a shoulder dystocia injury, let the The Clore Law Group LLC get you the compensation you deserve. Call shoulder dystocia attorneys toll-free at 843-722-8070 or click here to contact us online.
