Question

An infant is admitted to the nursery after a difficult shoulder dystocia vaginal birth. which condition should the nurse carefully assess this newborn for?

Answer 1

The nurse should assess the baby for a brachial plexus injury such as brachial plexus paralysis because this is the number one injury caused by a shoulder dystocia vaginal birth. This type of birth produces pressure and traction on the brachial plexus. Sometimes the injury caused during this type of birth are only temporary, but other times they are permanent.