Erb's Palsy and Shoulder Dystocia: Facts

Erb's palsy and shoulder dystocia are a bit of a conundrum. On one hand, both these conditions are rare occurrences, with Erb's palsy affecting 1 in 2,000 children with only 10% of such affected children ever needing treatment. In the case of shoulder dystocia, the numbers are even lower, with the condition occurring in less than 1% of births.

Let's take a look at the rarer and more dangerous of the two -- shoulder Dystocia which occurs during the process of childbirth, when the shoulders of the baby don't enter the pelvis. Unfortunately, there's no way of knowing when this might strike or which mothers or babies are more prone. However, your medical practitioner needs to be aware of the six maneuvers that can be used to alleviate the problem. Medical practitioners also need to know what to look for once the baby is born. Problems with erb's palsy and shoulder dystocia often happen when the attending physician is negligent.

Erb's palsy is a condition that occurs due to a brachial plexus injury to the child during the birthing process. There are two reasons why this condition isn't always given the care that it needs: Its occurrence is very rare and most infants tend to heal on their own with no problems. If Erb's palsy is more serious, the movement of the entire arm may be affected. Hence, Erb's palsy and shoulder dystocia need to be taken seriously to ensure the health and happiness of the affected child.