How can I reduce the risk of my newborn having Erb’s palsy?

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How can I reduce the risk of my newborn having Erb’s palsy?

There are certain risk factors related to shoulder dystocia (a baby’s shoulder being stuck inside the mother’s pelvis, which is related to Erb’s palsy). These factors include:

  • High infant birth weight and/or a gestational parent with overweight/obesity.
  • Diabetes in the gestational parent (either diabetes that was there before pregnancy or gestational diabetes).
  • A previous pregnancy involving shoulder dystocia.
  • Being pregnant with more than one baby.
  • Getting medications like oxytocin or an epidural during labor.
  • Breech birth position (your baby isn’t head-first in the birth canal).

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