United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

It's been interesting reading everyones comments. After having my baby I was told if I tried to have another baby natural it would die! O.K. so it's obvious I have to have a C-section. Why don't you research C-section? Find out the two different ways you can be cut find out what doctors have lots of experience with C-sections. Hmmmmm the higher chance of having another baby with a bp injury or a cut on your belly and longer recovery (I know there's more to it). But, my question is do you risk your own tempory pain and scar or your child's pain for life? Please research and talk to as many doctors as possible can and then weigh out the pros and cons. I know you'll make the best decission for you.

Maggie. Hi i am Clare from the UK. I'd just like to say that its not about the fighting for more c-sections in risky situations for me, it's more about fighting for midwives and obstetricians to LEARN HOW TO DELIVER SHOULDER DYSTOCIA BABIES PROPERLY!! Don't you think?

I know for a fact that there are training courses in the UK for midwives and OBs so how can they justify making the same mistakes again?

Cheers Clare

I think partly why they make the same blatant mistake again and again is because of that ridiculous "90% get completely better" statistic... which allows them to be so cavalier about the injury because it is "no big deal".

Every OB/GYN and Midwife should be required to attend a BPI camp or see a primary or secondary surgery or SOMETHING to make them understand the possible consequences of their actions.

Kate

Boy, do I agree with you Kate! Most doctors really, truly believe this 90% or more idea and practically dismiss the injury because all the kids get better. If only these injuries were accounted for and the medical field actually had to follow outcomes, maybe they would soon realize the truth is quite a different story. Reality is....it is up to us to educate them and fight for accountability.

Anybody know the source study for that 90% statistic...I think it is urban legend made up by some dr. long long ago.

I recall a BPI specialist telling me that he could not attribute any long-term effects to the BPI injury in his patients...This was in response to a question I had asked him about what to expect long-term from this injury like pain down the road, arthritis, etc. He did say that it is perhaps because when his BPI patients get older they find alternate ways to manage (either alternative treatment, finding a new doctor, or just dealing with the injury on their own) rather than go back to see him....

So it's like the old saying...if a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound...

If I injure a child and never see them again, are they really injured?

If I cause brain damage but the brain is new and has never been tested for baseline, could there really be brain damage...

If I stop treating a patient who is obviously still injured, are they suddenly cured?

Anyone of us who have pulled our child from care from the delivering hospital and have found other places for treatment does not have a child counted in any "study". Those children that stay in the offending hospital's care...yeah I can believe a 90% recovery rate...only the ones with minor injuries probably stay...because there really isn't much need to look elsewhere for help.

I'm not saying this to offend anyone, but I'm trying to say that most of the permanent injured children have switched their care to BPI specialists, Most that have gone through this do not go back to the same hospital and/or doctor if it can be avoided. I realize in some areas there are no other options and some of us must go back to the same place...but are those really the areas where studies are being conducted? Probably not.

Some shoulder dystocia births are thought of as handled propperly clare and the injury still occurs. I truly believe much more research must be invested as to real causes especially in areas such as the use of pitocin. unfortunately that is not happening so why risk it? But truly you cant make a cat piss out a watermelon now can you. commen sense would have me to believe the same with 10,11 and 12 pd babies.

But only around half of bpi babioes are big, and the vast majority of large babies are born without a problem. I know of women much smaller than me who birthed babies 10 pounds and more without a hitch. Most of them had home births and were on all fours or squatting. I do agree that some supposedly well managed births get problems and I also agree about the pitocin-how many parents were told of the risks of pitocin? Or how much the position you lie in can make a difference? I think what bothers me is that while large baby weight is a risk factor, it's not the only one. Almost every injured baby I've read about here was born while mom was lying on her back. Not every baby here was large. This injury is preventable in large babies as well as small.

Someone asked how epidurals can affect having a BPI baby? My one thought (from what I've been told) is that when having an epidural you are limited to the amount of movement (and positions you can be in) when birthing your baby. Typically, you end up on your back or side. This is because they must continually monitor you and your baby. I could be wrong but that is the only thing I can think of??

My question is how do you find an OB/midwife that specializes in high risk pregnancies? I loved my practice and the midwives in it. I've been there for 10 years now... I had wholly trusted them in thier competance... now I'm not sure I'd ever fully trust anyone again?!?! Especially since I brought up concerns about the size of the baby on several occasions and was told "don't worry about it, we can't tell if you can push the baby out until you try, you'll be fine"...