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Shoulder Dystocia
Shoulder dystocia occurs when the baby's head has emerged but the shoulders are stuck behind the mother's pubic bone or the opening to the birth canal, and the child cannot be delivered without intervention.
If the shoulder is not freed within a few moments, irreversible brain damage or even death may occur.
In addition, the mother may be in danger and could suffer excessive blood loss, injury to the birth canal, or rupture of the uterus as a result. (For more on shoulder dystocia, see Shoulder dystocia at the March of Dimes website.)
In the United States, shoulder dystocia occurs in approximately 0.5 to 1.0 percent of all deliveries, or about 20,000 births each year.
The most typical birth injuries resulting from shoulder dystocia include:
- Fracture of the collarbone or upper arm
- Reduced oxygen supply to the brain, which can result in brain damage
- Temporary or permanent paralysis
Shoulder dystocia is associated with Erb's Palsy and Brachial Plexus injuries.
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