No parent anticipates complications during childbirth, yet shoulder dystocia—a condition where a baby’s shoulders become lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery—can lead to serious injuries for both mother and child. This birth complication affects approximately 1 in 150 deliveries and is often preventable with proper medical care.
If you or your child suffered injuries due to shoulder dystocia, Magna Law’s experienced team is here to help. For a free consultation with a shoulder dystocia injury lawyer, call (763) 438-3032.
What Is Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s head is delivered, but the shoulders become stuck, halting the delivery process. While some cases are unavoidable, others result from medical negligence. Warning signs, such as the “turtle sign” (when the baby’s head retracts after emerging), should prompt immediate intervention by healthcare providers. Failure to act appropriately can lead to severe complications beyond shoulder dystocia, including:
- Brachial plexus injuries, causing nerve damage or paralysis (e.g., Erb’s Palsy)
- Fractures of the clavicle or humerus
- Oxygen deprivation, potentially resulting in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Maternal injuries, such as excessive bleeding or uterine rupture
Shoulder dystocia is commonly associated with larger-than-average babies, a condition known as fetal macrosomia, in which the mother’s pelvis is not large or malleable enough for vaginal delivery. Shoulder dystocia can also result from maternal factors like diabetes, obesity, or birthing position. Shoulder dystocia can also accompany issues involving umbilical cord position.
Read More from Magna Law Firm: What To Do If Your Child Was Injured During Birth
FREE CASE EVALUATION
Shoulder Dystocia Lawyer in Minneapolis, MN
FREE CASE EVALUATION
No parent anticipates complications during childbirth, yet shoulder dystocia—a condition where a baby’s shoulders become lodged behind the mother’s pelvic bone during delivery—can lead to serious injuries for both mother and child. This birth complication affects approximately 1 in 150 deliveries and is often preventable with proper medical care.
If you or your child suffered injuries due to shoulder dystocia, Magna Law’s experienced team is here to help. For a free consultation with a shoulder dystocia injury lawyer, call (763) 438-3032.
What Is Shoulder Dystocia?
Shoulder dystocia occurs when a baby’s head is delivered, but the shoulders become stuck, halting the delivery process. While some cases are unavoidable, others result from medical negligence. Warning signs, such as the “turtle sign” (when the baby’s head retracts after emerging), should prompt immediate intervention by healthcare providers. Failure to act appropriately can lead to severe complications beyond shoulder dystocia, including:
- Brachial plexus injuries, causing nerve damage or paralysis (e.g., Erb’s Palsy)
- Fractures of the clavicle or humerus
- Oxygen deprivation, potentially resulting in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)
- Maternal injuries, such as excessive bleeding or uterine rupture
Shoulder dystocia is commonly associated with larger-than-average babies, a condition known as fetal macrosomia, in which the mother’s pelvis is not large or malleable enough for vaginal delivery. Shoulder dystocia can also result from maternal factors like diabetes, obesity, or birthing position. Shoulder dystocia can also accompany issues involving umbilical cord position.
Read More from Magna Law Firm: What To Do If Your Child Was Injured During Birth
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits for Shoulder Dystocia
The central question in a shoulder dystocia malpractice case is whether medical professionals acted negligently during delivery. Common examples of negligence include:
Failure to Anticipate Risks: Doctors must assess risk factors like gestational diabetes, fetal macrosomia (large baby), or a history of difficult deliveries. Failing to take these factors into account during labor and delivery will put both mother and child at risk.
Improper Use of Delivery Tools: Misuse of forceps or vacuum extractors can worsen shoulder dystocia and cause permanent injuries. Delivery tool injury can lead to a number of lifelong conditions, including brain damage, cerebral palsy, shoulder dystocia, and permanent scarring.
Delayed Response: Failure to recognize and manage shoulder dystocia promptly can lead to severe outcomes. In many cases, simply anticipating the challenges of vaginal delivery—skillfully negotiating the baby’s head through the birth canal and between their mother’s pubic bones—can prevent shoulder dystocia.
Excessive Force: Even a momentary lapse in medical judgment increases the risks of birth injury. Applying too much force during delivery can result in shoulder dystocia, as well as nerve damage and fractures.
Determining negligence is the first step in any birth injury case, and can involve several steps to ask for, receive, and analyze the evidence necessary to prove your case. An experienced birth injury attorney will review medical records, consult with experts, and determine if negligence occurred.
In Minnesota, there are no caps on damages for medical malpractice claims, which means that families can recover the full extent of their losses. Speak to a shoulder dystocia lawyer today for your free consultation: (763) 438-3032.
Read More: Filing a Medical Malpractice Claim for Birth Injuries: What You Need To Know
Compensation for Shoulder Dystocia Injuries
If medical malpractice caused your child’s shoulder dystocia, a birth injury lawyer can help you recover damages or compensation for your and your child’s injuries. You may be entitled to compensation for:
Medical Expenses (e.g., surgeries, physical therapy)
Compensation for medical expenses covers immediate and long-term costs associated with the birth injury, including surgeries, medications, physical therapy, and specialized equipment like wheelchairs or orthotics. It may also include future medical needs, such as advanced treatments or ongoing rehabilitation.
Lost Income Due to Caregiving Responsibilities
Parents who need to leave their jobs or reduce work hours to care for a child with birth injuries can claim compensation for lost wages. This includes both current income loss and the long-term financial impact of caregiving responsibilities.
Pain and Suffering Endured by Both Mother and Child
Non-economic damages compensate for the emotional distress, trauma, and physical pain experienced by the child and family due to the injury. These damages are harder to quantify but are essential for addressing the psychological toll on the family.
Future Costs Related to Long-Term Care or Assistive Devices
Families can recover compensation for anticipated future expenses, such as home modifications, assistive devices, or live-in care required to support the child’s quality of life. These costs are calculated based on expert projections of lifetime needs.
Why Choose Magna Law?
At Magna Law, we specialize in birth injury cases like shoulder dystocia. Our team includes legal and medical experts who understand Minnesota malpractice laws and how they apply to your case. We offer:
- Free consultations to evaluate your claim.
- Contingency fee arrangements: you pay nothing unless we win your case.
- Compassionate support throughout this challenging time, and the comfort in knowing that you have a dedicated legal team on your side.
Call us today at (763) 438-3032 for a free consultation and let us help you seek justice for your family.
Time Limits for Filing a Claim in Minnesota
In Minnesota, parents typically have four years from the date of negligent treatment to file a medical malpractice claim. For claims filed on behalf of an injured child, the statute of limitations may be extended until the child turns 18, with a maximum suspension period of seven years. Consulting an attorney promptly ensures compliance with these deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Dystocia Injuries in Childbirth
Shoulder dystocia occurs during childbirth when one or both of the baby’s shoulders become stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone after the head has been delivered. This condition is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention to prevent serious complications for both mother and baby.
While shoulder dystocia can happen unpredictably, risk factors include fetal macrosomia (large baby), maternal diabetes, obesity, prolonged labor, or a history of shoulder dystocia in prior births. However, it can also occur without any identifiable risk factors.
Shoulder dystocia is an important sign that may indicate that the baby is at risk for other serious injuries. Babies may suffer brachial plexus injuries (nerve damage), fractures of the clavicle or arm, or oxygen deprivation, which can lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or brain injury in severe cases. Most fractures heal well, but nerve injuries like Erb’s Palsy may have long-term effects.
Doctors use specific maneuvers such as the McRoberts’ maneuver (changing the mother’s position), suprapubic pressure to dislodge the shoulder, or other techniques to safely deliver the baby. In rare cases, more invasive measures like an episiotomy or breaking the baby’s clavicle may be necessary.
Prevention is challenging since it often occurs without warning. However, monitoring for risk factors like gestational diabetes and fetal size may help healthcare providers plan delivery methods, such as considering a cesarean section for high-risk cases.