United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

DOES ANYONE KNOW THE ODDS OF ANOTHER OBPI. WE ARE 3 MTHS PREGNANT AND ARE FEARFUL OF ANOTHER OBPI CHILD. MY DR. TELLS ME THE ODDS ARE NOT LIKELY. BUT I AM WORRIED BECAUSE HE IS A NEW DR. FOR US AND WE DONT WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES.

The odds to me are high. When I was pregnant with my last 2 children, my high-risk doctor, took them c-section. Once you have a obpi child, you are considered high risk. The chance this new child would be bigger than the other is high. I don't know the percentages. Ask your new doctor about this. I would not just have the child vaginal, without first
getting all the tests to measure the baby, etc....
Francine has a good website, that talks about the
tests, and such.
Good luck

Hi there,
We are 7 1/2 months pregnant and I deliberatley looked for an OB that specializes in high risk deilvery and I asked them all the questions on Francine's site under Dr Questions I believe. I interviewed a lot of Dr's over the phone and met with a couple face to face to discuss what they would see as my options for this new baby and delivery. From what I was told I am now considered high risk for a 2nd OBPI because of my history. I am scheduled ot have a c-section with this one. As well as they did 2 glucose tests ( I was not diagnosed with diabetes with Taylor) and they automatically scheduled 2 ultrasounds. I at the regular time and now one near the end. Please go to www.injurednewborn.com and discuss all of this with your OB. You are in charge. Don't settle for what they tell you if in your gut you feel it's wrong. Feel free to e-mail me if you want.

Thanks Taylor's Mom I really think my new Dr. is very sceptical of letting us have a C-Section. I told him about our daughters birth and the surgeries and his reply was " The likely hood of that happining again is very slim so dont rule out a vaginal delivery just yet." He did say we would try to monitor the weight of this child but by sonogram Kyndall was suppose to weigh 7lbs 6oz. She was born 8 lbs 15oz so we clearly belive those are hardly accurate. I am scared out of my mind.

It's not about the odds (which by the way are very high). It's about how much risk you are willing to take with your baby?

Are you willing to have another baby injured?

Brachial plexus injuries are the least that can happen. How about cerebral palsy, brain damage, death?

If you do decide to risk a vaginal birth, then get the best expert you can find on shoulder dystocia births. Do your research. Check the court system for any malpractice on him. Ask the nurses in the hospital. Do ultrasounds often at the end to determine the baby's size and check against your pelvic measurements. This may also mean delivering early.

How many of the risk factors do you currently have?

What makes this doctor think that 'he' wants to risk a high risk birth like this?

My daughter would have had OBPI if the Dr. hadn't broken her collar bone. The Dr. told me that her shoulders were bigger than her head, which ,I guess doesn't normally happen. I just made sure he was very aware . Maybe you should see a high risk OB/GYN and see what he thinks. Good luck. Pat

I would really question why your doctor is skeptical,
of giving you a c-section. I would insist on a c-section, if you are scared of having another child obpi. Like you have said, your first baby, was measured wrong also, what makes this doctor think that he can accurately measure this new one? It is not his decision to make. It is yours, and only you and your husband, can make this. You also have to ask yourself, am I willing to risk another baby with obpi? I know c-sections are rough, but it is essentially your decision. Not your doctors.
Just an opinion.

Hello, I have a 10month old with bpi. I am expecting a child and I'm now 8months pregant. I'll let you do the math. (hehehe) As for your question, I have the following information. My understanding is the odds are high based on your birth canal and pelvic bone plus all the other red flags that lead to bpi. Some doctors will advise that you may go vaginal again if the ultrasounds show that the next baby is smaller in weight and you don't have gestational diabetes. This allows them to figure that if one baby made it through, a smaller baby will not suffer the injury. But ultrasounds can be wrong in calculating the size of the shoulders. As for me, I will go the c-section route. This is my third child and my 1st was c-section so I've been through it. I would also like to share a website of someone's story:
http://www.injurednewborn.com/sarah/sarah.html
I wish you all the best in your decision-making. Enjoy your lil ones.

I don't know what the odds are but I know I carried all three of my children in the same position. They had a foot that was turned. My first, girl, 7 1/2 lb. we could play with her foot and gradually turn it back. Second, boy, 9 1/2 lb had to have casts on both feet for a while, and special shoes for prob three years. Third, son, 8 lb 14 oz had to have the shoes with the bar across even at night. Luckly none were born with obpi like I was. But this tells me you can carry them exactly the same way. Hope this helps some.
Sharon

Hey there,

I don't want to scare anyone, but I had a baby c-section with and obpi. It was an emergency, however, it was due to low heart rate. He did not have shoulder dystocia. No one can explain why he has this injury...... just food for thought......GOOD LUCK!!!!