What Is Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s shoulders are stuck inside the mother’s body after the head has been delivered. This delivery complication occurs frequently when the mother’s pelvis is too narrow for the baby’s shoulders, as well as when the baby is larger than average.
What are the Ramifications of Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia is difficult to predict, but doctors may anticipate problems if the baby is found to be large prior to labor. In most cases, shoulder dystocia won’t be discovered until the mother attempts to deliver the baby.
In most instances of shoulder dystocia, both the mother and the baby are fine after delivery. However, complications can result. For example, the baby may suffer an injury to the nerves in the hand, arms or shoulder. Such an injury can cause paralysis and tremor. Shoulder dystocia can also cause the baby to be born with a broken collarbone or arm. In severe cases, the baby may experience a lack of oxygen during delivery, which can lead to brain damage or death. The mother may also experience complications, including bladder bruising, tearing of the rectum, cervix, vagina or uterus, and heavy bleeding after delivery.
Shoulder Dystocia Lawsuits
More often than not, shoulder dystocia is natural, random, and unexpected. Furthermore, if complication arise from shoulder dystocia, they are usually minor and do not leave lasting injury. However, if your child experienced shoulder dystocia during delivery and you or the baby sustained injuries, it’s possible the doctor may be at fault. If the doctor failed to diagnose the baby as too large for delivery, failed to assist with delivery appropriately or failed to order a C-section when one was warranted, you may be entitled to compensation.
If you hire a shoulder dystocia lawyer, he or she can review your baby’s medical file to determine whether the doctor or hospital failed to act appropriately before, after or during delivery. If the lawyer finds that medical personnel are at fault for you or your child’s injuries, he or she will file a lawsuit on your behalf. Often, you need to hire a lawyer just to get fair access.
Find a Birth Injury Lawyer for Shoulder Dystocia
To find the best shoulder dystocia lawyer for your case, you should compare attorneys in your area. We provide tools to help make that process easier. Injury Lawyer Database publishes statistics designed to reveal the true quality of injury lawyers. If you are ready to get started, you can begin your search here on our website. If you need any help with your search for a lawyer, feel free to contact us for additional guidance.
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