Overview

Causes

Shoulder dystocia is caused by:

  • Baby’s shoulders are too wide—larger babies are common in women with diabetes or late-term pregnancies
  • The pelvic opening is too small for child

One or both could happen during labor.

Narrow Pelvic Opening
Pelvis birth
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Risk Factors

Things that may increase a baby's chance of shoulder dystocia include:

  • Mother has diabetes
  • Mother is significantly overweight
  • Mother has small stature which may mean small pelvis
  • A very large baby
  • Shoulder dystocia in previous birth

SymptomsandDiagnosis

Signs and Symptoms

There are no symptoms of shoulder dystocia.

Diagnosis

The doctor or midwife will know when the birth process stops after the head is born.

Prenatal tests will estimate the size of the fetus and the pelvis. These tests may show a risk for shoulder dystocia.

An ultrasound may be done before labor. The doctor will be able to see if the baby is too large to fit safely through the birth canal. A vaginal delivery may not be a safe method if the baby is too large.

Treatments

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to get the baby unstuck as fast as possible. This will allow the vaginal birth to continue. The doctor or midwife may:

  • Reposition the mother
  • Reposition the baby to try to move the shoulder away from the bone

A C-section may be needed if the baby remains stuck in the birth canal.

Prevention

Shoulder dystocia cannot always be prevented. If you have a high risk of shoulder dystocia the doctor may offer:

  • Early induced labor—the baby will be smaller
  • Planned C-section

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Edits to original content made by Denver Health.