Questions?What Are Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delays?
Shoulder dystocia developmental delays are caused by complications during childbirth. They can prevent your baby from meeting milestones involving talking, walking, and learning.
In shoulder dystocia, your baby’s head is delivered, but their shoulder or collarbone gets stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone. It prevents the rest of their body from exiting the birth canal and can result in nerve damage that limits the use of their hand or arm.
If your baby’s umbilical cord is compressed due to shoulder dystocia, it can cause a lack of oxygen flow (asphyxia). This can lead to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), cerebral palsy, and other serious issues that may prevent them from meeting developmental milestones.
How badly shoulder dystocia will affect your baby depends on how long they’re stuck for and if health care providers promptly respond. If shoulder dystocia causes a permanent disability, you may be able to file a lawsuit with help from a shoulder dystocia attorney. Some families have recovered $1 million or more.
We have a network of experienced birth injury lawyers who can help families in all 50 states. To date, our attorneys have secured over $1 billion for families impacted by shoulder dystocia developmental delays. Get a free case review to find out if we can help you.
How Do Shoulder Dystocia Birth Injuries Cause Developmental Delays?
If shoulder dystocia causes asphyxia, your baby may experience brain injuries that lead to developmental delays involving speech, movement, and more. Which types of developmental delays your baby will experience will depend on what part of the brain was hurt and how bad the damage was.
- Cognitive delays, like slower learning, memory issues, or trouble following instructions
- Motor skills delays, such as trouble with crawling, walking, or holding objects because of nerve damage or weakness in the upper arm
- Sensory processing issues like struggling with how they react to touch, sound, or light
- Social and emotional delays, such as problems with bonding, interacting with others, and managing emotions
- Speech and language delays, including difficulty speaking or understanding language.
Your baby could also experience delays due to Erb’s palsy caused by shoulder dystocia since this condition may prevent them from fully controlling their arm, shoulder, or hand.
Doctors should promptly address shoulder dystocia to protect your baby from long-term complications and delays. The longer your baby is stuck, the greater the risk of serious developmental delays. In the worst cases, your child may have permanent impairments.
Can You Prevent Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delays?
Yes, some cases of shoulder dystocia developmental delays could be prevented with proper care. If your baby experienced serious injuries as a result of shoulder dystocia, it could be due to medical malpractice or negligence.
- Advising a C-section if the birth weight is too high to deliver safely
- Monitoring for fetal macrosomia (fetus getting too big) or gestational diabetes
- Not using excessive force or risky tools like forceps and vacuum extractors
- Training all medical professionals on safe emergency maneuvers
When obstetricians act recklessly or carelessly, babies can suffer serious complications from shoulder dystocia. In turn, they may experience long-term or permanent developmental delays that prevent them from living a normal life.
If you believe your child suffered developmental delays due to shoulder dystocia complications, get a free case review to find out how we can help.
Types of Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delays
Different types of developmental delays can result from conditions caused by shoulder dystocia. The most severe stem from damage to the brain when shoulder dystocia cuts off umbilical cord blood flow and oxygen.
- Cerebral palsy impacting your baby’s movement, speech, and ability to learn
- Erb’s palsy caused by stretching or tearing of brachial plexus nerves
- Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a lack of oxygen to the brain
- Horner’s syndrome, where the nerves in your baby’s face and eyes are affected
Many of these require specialized treatments but aren’t always curable. In severe cases, a child will never meet developmental milestones and will need lifelong care.
If your child has been diagnosed with one of these health issues after suffering from shoulder dystocia at birth, it could be the result of medical negligence.
Early Signs of Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delays
You may not know right away that your child has suffered a serious complication due to shoulder dystocia at birth. In some cases, it can take years for families to realize developmental delays are caused by conditions related to shoulder dystocia, such as Erb’s palsy or HIE.
Explore common types of developmental delays by age and find out next steps if you’re concerned that your child was harmed below.
Signs of Shoulder Dystocia Delays in Newborns
Missed developmental milestones within the first few months of life are often a telltale sign that something is wrong with your baby.
- Favoring one side of the body
- Lack of spontaneous movement or grip strength
- Poor reflexes or slow response times
- Trouble feeding or latching
- Unusual muscle tone (too floppy or too stiff)
- Weakness or limited movement in the baby’s arms
If you notice any of these issues, contact your pediatrician immediately. Prompt treatment of developmental delays is key to giving your child the best quality of life.
Signs of Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delays in Toddlers
As your child grows and begins to interact more with their environment, signs of developmental delays related to shoulder dystocia may become easier to spot.
- Difficulty pointing, following directions, or remembering tasks
- Failing to walk, talk, or become potty-trained
- Problems playing with other children or adults
- Trouble using hands or fine motor skills
If your child isn’t meeting milestones after experiencing shoulder dystocia, it can be incredibly concerning — but we’re here for you. Our experienced labor and delivery nurses can walk you through what happened and recommend next steps.
It’s always free to speak with our team. Connect with our registered nurses now.
Beth has more than 18 years of specialized experience in labor and delivery. She’s available to hear your story and help you figure out the cause of your child’s injury — and what you can do next.
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Call or chat with a caring, experienced nurse right now — we’re standing by to get you help and answers.
Diagnosing Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delays
If your child suffered shoulder dystocia, keep a close watch as they grow to see if they are meeting or missing developmental milestones. See a doctor if you’re concerned about their health or future.
Tests to diagnose shoulder dystocia developmental delay may include:
- A complete physical exam and medical history review
- Developmental screenings to see if your child is making progress with motor skills, speech, and problem-solving
- Imaging tests, like an MRI or CT scan, to check for brain injuries
- Nerve function tests if a brachial plexus injury is suspected
- Vision and hearing tests to rule out sensory causes of delay
Your doctor may recommend seeing specialists if your child is experiencing severe delays due to shoulder dystocia complications.
Don’t wait: Reach out to a doctor promptly if your child may be experiencing shoulder dystocia developmental delays. While treatments can be costly, you may be able to file a shoulder dystocia claim to pursue compensation for health care costs.
Treating Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delays
Doctors can recommend different treatments depending on which complications and developmental delays your child is experiencing due to shoulder dystocia.
In more severe cases, a team of health care providers will work with you to create a plan that fits your child’s needs. The goal of treatment will be to help your child meet every milestone they can and become as independent as possible.
- Adaptive equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, or communication devices
- Behavioral therapy to support emotional and social development
- Medications to manage seizures, muscle tightness, and other complications
- Occupational therapy to help your child with self-care tasks like eating, dressing, and holding items
- Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve coordination
- Special education services if your child has learning challenges
- Speech therapy if they have trouble speaking or understanding language
Treatment for shoulder dystocia developmental delays can add up, especially if your child needs long-term or lifelong care. Your family may qualify for shoulder dystocia compensation to help afford expenses and give your child the best possible quality of life.
Get Legal Help for Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delays
Without proper medical care, shoulder dystocia can lead to significant complications like Erb’s palsy, cerebral palsy, and developmental delays. Knowing your child was harmed can be emotionally devastating — and financially taxing.
If your child is experiencing severe delays due to shoulder dystocia, you may qualify to file a birth injury lawsuit. Successful lawsuits can help you afford therapy, assistive devices, medications, and other types of care.
The Birth Injury Justice Center has experienced lawyers who can assist families like yours in all 50 states. To date, our network of attorneys has secured $1 billion for families affected by shoulder dystocia and other birth injuries.
Call (800) 914-1562 now or fill out our form to learn if we can help your family pursue the justice and financial compensation you deserve.
Shoulder Dystocia Developmental Delay FAQs
Yes, shoulder dystocia can cause serious delays. If dystocia compresses the umbilical cord and restricts oxygen flow, babies could develop injuries such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and cerebral palsy. These profoundly affect their ability to meet developmental milestones.
Shoulder dystocia can also lead to a brachial plexus injury, where the nerves in the baby’s shoulders, arm, or hand are damaged. This may cause Erb’s palsy, a condition that limits movement in the affected limb and may prevent babies from fully using it.
Yes, shoulder dystocia can cause complications that lead to long-term or lifelong disabilities. These include brain damage that prevents them from walking, learning, or talking, as well as Erb’s palsy, which impairs use of an arm, shoulder, or hand.
You may not realize that shoulder dystocia has led to more serious health issues at first. Many families only realize months or years later when their child misses developmental milestones that something is wrong.
Get a free case review now to speak with our registered nurses if you’re worried about your child’s health. You may be able to get financial compensation to cover their medical treatments.
Brachial plexus injury is the most common complication of shoulder dystocia during vaginal birth, according to Seminars in Perinatology. When the shoulder gets caught behind the mother’s pubic bone, it can pull away from the spinal cord and harm nearby nerves.
Other more serious complications include brain damage if the umbilical cord gets stuck. Babies could go on to experience long-term developmental delays and even permanent disabilities as a result.
Yes, shoulder dystocia can cause brain damage. Without prompt care, the umbilical cord can become trapped and cause oxygen deprivation. This can lead to serious brain injuries like HIE and cerebral palsy.
While it may be possible to fully recover from mild brain damage with prompt medical care, your baby could experience developmental delays or even become permanently disabled.
You don’t have to face shoulder dystocia developmental delays alone — we’re here for you. Call (800) 914-1562 to speak with our registered nurses who can listen to your story and recommend resources to help.
