Most deliveries follow a predictable pattern. The baby’s head emerges, then the shoulders, and moments later your child is in your arms. Shoulder dystocia interrupts that sequence.
It happens when the baby’s head is delivered but one shoulder becomes stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone. The room can shift from calm to urgent in seconds. Nurses move quickly. Doctors call out instructions. What parents often remember most is the tension.
When managed correctly, many babies recover without lasting harm. When excessive force or delay enters the picture, serious birth injuries can follow. At Conner, Marr & Pinski, we work with families across Montana facing those consequences.
Shoulder dystocia is an obstetric emergency that occurs during vaginal delivery. After the baby’s head is born, one or both shoulders fail to pass through the birth canal. The condition itself is not automatically negligence. It can happen unexpectedly. What matters most is how the medical team responds in those next critical minutes.
Doctors are trained in specific maneuvers designed to safely free the shoulder without placing pressure on the baby’s neck or spine. Those steps are well-established in obstetrics. Deviation from them can change the outcome.
In many cases, the injury does not stem from the shoulder being stuck. It comes from the force used to resolve the situation. If downward traction is applied to the baby’s head, the delicate nerves that control the shoulder and arm can stretch or tear. If delivery is significantly delayed, oxygen levels may drop. Common injuries linked to shoulder dystocia include:
Some children regain full function with therapy. Others face permanent weakness or paralysis in one arm. In rare but serious cases, oxygen loss can result in long-term cognitive or developmental impairment. When improper technique contributes to these injuries, the case may fall under medical malpractice law.
Shoulder dystocia is not always predictable, but certain risk factors are widely recognized in obstetric care. Gestational diabetes, larger fetal size, prolonged labor, or a prior shoulder dystocia delivery can all increase the likelihood of recurrence. Operative vaginal deliveries involving forceps or vacuum assistance also carry elevated risk.
When these factors are present, physicians should discuss delivery planning openly. In some situations, that conversation includes whether a C-section is the safer option. If risk factors are documented but not addressed, families often feel blindsided when an emergency unfolds.
When shoulder dystocia occurs, providers are trained to follow a structured response rather than improvising.
That response may include:
The emphasis is on controlled technique – not strength.
In reviewing Montana birth injury cases, we often analyze delivery records line by line. The details matter. The sequence matters. The timing matters.
A shoulder dystocia emergency handled calmly and correctly looks very different on paper than one where excessive traction was used.
For some parents, the signs of injury are immediate. A baby may not move one arm. There may be swelling or bruising. Pediatric specialists are called in before discharge. For others, the concern grows gradually. Physical therapy appointments begin. Milestones are delayed. Questions surface during routine checkups.
Life in Montana brings its own realities. Families in rural communities may travel hours for pediatric neurology appointments or specialized therapy services. Time away from work adds financial pressure to emotional strain. Over the years, the cost of care can include therapy, surgical procedures, adaptive equipment, educational support, and long-term rehabilitation planning.
Birth injury claims are structured to account for those future needs. You can review examples of case outcomes on our results page to see how similar cases have been resolved.
Birth injury cases are deeply personal. They are not volume cases, and they are not files to be handed off across state lines. At Conner, Marr & Pinski, you work directly with the attorney handling your case. We do not farm cases out to junior lawyers in other states. We serve families throughout Montana – from Billings to Missoula to the smallest rural communities.
We understand local hospitals. We understand Montana juries. And we understand that behind every file is a child and a family adjusting to something they never expected.
Our belief guides how we practice:
We Do Not Just Handle Cases, We Care For You.
If your child suffered nerve damage or oxygen-related injury during delivery, start by gathering information. Request complete medical records. Keep documentation of therapy visits and related expenses. Write down your recollection of what was said in the delivery room.
You do not need to have every answer before speaking with us. Many parents simply want to know whether what happened could have been prevented. Contact Conner, Marr & Pinski for a confidential case review. We represent families across Montana and work directly with you from start to finish.
