This is a list of risk factors for shoulder dystocia and questions you can ask your practitioner if you have any of the risk factors. In no way is expertise implied here (other than my own experience). Certainly the risk factors don't always indicate you will have shoulder dystocia during birth but you should ask your ob the questions provided. Don't be embarassed or too intimidated to ask questions. I was but I never will be again! Good luck!
I borrowed much of this information from another site of a dedicated EP activist/mother. You can visit it at http://pages.ivillage.com/pp/brachialplexusmom/
In current pregnancy:
From prior pregnancies:
(adapted from questions from another mother of a brachial plexus child)
1) Are you familiar with Shoulder Dystocia and Brachial Plexus Injury?
2) If yes, what are the risk factors and do you believe that I fall under any of those risk factors?
3) After evaluating my past pregnancies and deliveries, do you think I am a candidate for possibly having a macrosomic (larger than 4000g) baby? (If this is your first delivery, omit the first part of this question.)
4) If I had a macrosomic baby, would you recommend a c-section? Under what other circumstances would you recommend a C-section?
5) Have you performed a gynecological pelvic exam to determine if I have a normal birth canal to accommodate a baby?
6) If yes, do I have a flat (platypelloid) or small pelvis?
7) How many times have you encountered Shoulder Dystocia during the delivery process and do you feel confident about delivering a baby with an occurence of Shoulder Dystocia?
8) What are some maneuvers or techniques you would possibly use to deliver a Shoulder Dystocia baby?
10) When will an ultrasound scan be done to estimate fetal weight? What is your opinion of the reliability of this test in determining fetal weight ?
11) If you determine that I am at risk, how many ultrasound scans can I expect to have and when would they be performed?
12) If you are unable to attend the delivery of my baby, who will ? Are they experienced with Shoulder Dystocia deliveries ? (And make an appointment to meet with that other practitioner as well.)