Can shoulder dystocia be resolved without fetal injury when it does occur?
The evidence from the literature on shoulder dystocia shows clearly that: (1) Shoulder dystocia cannot be predicted with any degree of accuracy and (2) Shoulder dystocia cannot be prevented by any specific strategies or maneuvers. The question thus arises “How should shoulder dystocia be handled when it does occur? Can it successfully be resolved without injuring the baby or the mother?” Much has been written on this subject. Multiple maneuvers claiming to be able to resolve shoulder dystocia have been described. We will now take a look at what these maneuvers are, how they work, and how effective they really are. Recognition The first step in treating shoulder dystocia is recognizing when it occurs. There are two main signs that a shoulder dystocia is present: (1) The baby’s body does not emerge with standard moderate traction and maternal pushing after delivery of the fetal head. (2) The “turtle sign”. This is when the fetal head suddenly retracts back against the mother’s perineum a
