Fortunately, most babies are born well. However, the baby may be irritable or unsettled if their spine has been twisted during the birth. You may wish to look at visiting a chiropractor, or osteopath, who specialises in newborn babies in the weeks following the birth.
The most common health complications that can result from shoulder dystocia are injuries to the baby. These can be made worse by the caregiver's efforts to pull on the baby's head, or internally manipulate the baby to deliver their shoulders.
Injuries can include fracturing (or breaking) the baby's arm, or clavicle (the bone from the shoulder to lower neck), or brachial plexus injury, known as 'Erb's palsy'. The brachial plexus is a group of nerves that join at the side of the baby's neck, under the clavicle bone. This plexus can become damaged, or stretched, when the baby's neck is twisted (or extended).
Erb's palsy is usually associated with shoulder dystocia, but can also occur with the delivery of the baby's head during a Caesarean birth. It is due to excessive traction being placed on the baby's head, stretching the baby's neck. The result can be paralysis of one of the baby's arms. This will usually resolve over a period of a few months, but can persist for life in about 6 to 8 % of children.
In rare cases, shoulder dystocia can lead to the baby having learning difficulties, or brain damage from lack of oxygen, if the delivery is quite delayed. In rare case the baby can die.
Health concerns for the woman
Health concerns for the woman after experiencing shoulder dystocia, include recovery from an episioproctotomy, or symphysiotomy and / or vaginal tears (due to manipulations), or an increased chance of
postpartum haemorrhage. Excessive bleeding can occur because the placenta can separate during the prolonged time that the caregiver is delivering the baby.
Uterine rupture is also a possible, but very rare, complication resulting from the manipulations used.