I was involved for the first time in a Shoulder Dystocia earlier today. Was meant to be my first catch, but the head just kept disappearing back, my mentor took over and all hell broke loose when she confirmed Shoulder Dystocia, I pulled the emergency bell, and tried to get out of the way but the lady would not let go of my hand. A room full of midwives sorted it out, but I was extremely overwhelmed and quite a bit shaken and teary. One midwife checked to see how I was, but I felt a fool. As this all happened just before my shift ended and I went to my car and promptly burst out crying. No idea why, and am now questioning myself, what the hell am I going to be like when an outcome is not a positive one, today mum and baby were fine and I was still emotional, what's that about?

Hi FF,

I can only say how that is from the 'other side' as my youngest son was a Shoulder Dystocia.

It must be a scary thing to be involved in from a midwife's point of view, cos after all you know the implications the mum doesn't. You did what you could do, and that is all we as students can do.

Don't feel bad about being emotional, the first time for all these new and often scary things is the worst, and quite often unexpected too. If I were you I would be more concerned if I didn't feel that way to be honest.

Crying is a good way to relieve all the stress and tension that will have built up, so it is a posivtive response.

Next time you will know what to expect and probably feel less worried and nervous about it.

You did great FF, you should be proud of yourself. xx

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

PAB Support Worker

I know how you feel, these things happen alot and make you feel useless and in the way and unable to cope at first. I did feel very much like that at the start and tbh still do now as there is still a long way to go!

We have alot to learn in a short space of time and we do get thrown in at the deep end, I have not yet seen a Shoulder Dystocia, but have seen other serious problems and just try my best to keep out of the way and take it all in, at first it was scary, but becomes easier!

All I can say is write it all down, and use a reflective model and talk to your cohort buds, tutor and mentor about what happened and how you felt, go off and read about it too and look at the trust guidelines for the mangement of, manoevures etc, next time you'll be able to understand and thus cope with it!

That's what i do and it works for me (still have a good ol' cry though too!)
It was a good thing to see so early on and you'll learn alot from it, was it all ok in the end?

Hope you're alright?

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Aw hunny! I really feel for you!

I have no experience at all, i don't even start till September!
But i'm guessing this is a totaly normal reaction to this sort of experience! I would proberly have been in floods on the floor in the room! You expected everything to be normal, and it's knocked you back! Sounds like you dealt with it the right way anyhow!And at least this way you've seen it and know what to expect next time!
Don't be so hard on yourself!

Yeah, mum had a PPH, EBL 700ml. Baby was 11lb 3 and 3/4 oz !!!!! No wonder he couldn't get out! They were both well when I finished my shift though, just knackered and glad for it to be over... well apart from stitching that was about to be commenced.
I've calmed down now, and taking your advice on board, going to spend tonight doing a reflection, and am in uni on Thurs and Fri, can't wait to see my cohort to talk to them.
I got out of speaking to the NMC who were doing an inspection on our uni and the trusts we are placed in. Glad I missed them, wasn't in the mood after that little lot ..lol.

Hello there, the same happened to me too, but the midwife fell apart afterwards as it took 3 minutes to get the shoulders out, it was manic, very scary and the midwife said it was the worse one she'd had as the others had come with McRoberts or Suprapubic pressure. I've woke up in a panic about it before now, don't worry, its one of those things isn't it? You pulled the emergency bell, which is as much as you could do, and the most important thing was you were there for the woman, who must have trusted you as she grabbed hold and kept hold of your hand.
You've done really well, it may help to have a good offload with your mentor too, and get her to talk it all through with you xx

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Blimey! no wonder! Pleased they are both ok and glad you're feeling better! The positives of these (and one I neeed to keep remembering too) is that it is great to experience these asa stude, I wouldn't want to as a NQ!

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Blimey that baby must be ready for walking nearly!!!

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FF
you are feeling shocked quite rightly so i would say. It's not how you imagine your first hands on to be, which i think has probably added to your feelings as well.
These things, whilst scary, are good to experience, the outcome was good by all accounts, you did well, and have now witnessed something many NQ's haven't, so well done.
There are many more high risk situations that you will be involved in over the next three years, some of which, or maybe all of which will leave you feeling the same way. This is no bad thing, i think. It keeps you grounded and makes you appreciate the role you have and the profession you have chosen. On the upside though, there are of course so many many more lovely and normal deliveries to be a part of, and these may make you cry, but it will be a good thing!
My first hands on was terrible. I delivered the baby under close supervision, normal delivery of the head, lovely restitution, but as the body delivered it was a navy blue colour. Mentor pulled the cord, i cut and clamped as quick as i could which bearing in mind was the first time i was absolutely rubbish at!!, room full of people, very scary, baby whisked away, taken to NICU, died 3 days later. He had cytomeglavirus ( cmv) which in this case unfortunately proved fatal.
Things will get better FF, one year on and i now have 19 normal deliveries with beautiful outcomes, but needless to say, that first is always in the back of my mind somewhere, along with all the other difficult experiences i have learnt from
chin up,
Of course, like you, i too cried, but also reflected on what i did, read around the subject, and feel that in the situation we all did the best we could.

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Site Administrator, Student Mentor Scheme Manager

STMW 2nd year - no, really!

FF, I can really empathise with you, my first delivery was a Shoulder Dystocia. My mentor ended up pushing me out of the way and I stood there like a lemon. My second had the cord tight round the neck, twice! The third was even worse as the baby was born following a very normal labour, with no concerns, except that the babe didn't breathe for 7 mins, APGARS were, 1 at 1 min, 3 at 3 mins, 5 at 5 mins and 7 at 7 mins.

At the end of that day, I just told my mentor that I shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a woman in labour as it was bound to go wrong. She just laughed at me (in a nice way) and told me that it would all be normal soon.

Unfortunately, the next few weeks saw one section, kiwi and forceps after another, but although only having 8 deliveries by end of year one, I had 28 normal deliveries in year 2. I had all my required deliveries by the end of the first semester of year 3. So yes, it can be awful, but there are far more that are beautiful and a privlige to be a part of.
KS x

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"