Your baby's shoulder became stuck during birth (shoulder dystocia)

In shoulder dystocia, the baby's head is born but a shoulder remains stuck behind the mother's pubic bone. This is an unexpected obstetric emergency in which the team immediately performs various manoeuvres to deliver the baby safely.

• Shoulder dystocia usually cannot be reliably predicted and may occur without known risk factors.
• It is not the mother's fault and is not caused by pushing incorrectly.
• As soon as it is recognised, the midwife or doctor calls for extra help, and the team often asks the mother to stop pushing briefly.
• Most babies are born quickly using special positions and manoeuvres and recover well.
• The mother has a higher risk of a larger tear and bleeding after birth; the baby may temporarily lack oxygen, have a broken collarbone or injury to the nerves supplying the arm.
• After birth, mother and baby have targeted examinations and are monitored for longer if needed.
• A stiff or less active arm, unusual colour, poor feeding or breathlessness in the baby must be reported immediately.
• A debrief helps you understand what happened and what it means for a future pregnancy.