United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

John was 7lbs 6 oz. but was born in 18 minutes. I was told that because the labor was so fast he slammed into my pelvis because there wasn't any time between contractions for him to turn into the correct position.

It's called pelvimetry - they measure the outlet either manually or with xrays

http://www.fpnotebook.com/OB25.htm

-francine

also read the risk factors on www.injurednewborn.com

and..did you have gestational diabetes? these moms produce children with larger shoulders it seems

I am 5-3' and gained 36# when I was pregnant.
Mitchell was 7# 10oz and was 20 1/2 inches.
I was induced twice with the gel one day, the next day had gel again then finally pitocin.
I had an epidural(wore off when it was time to push).
I was in labor for 20 hours. Pushed for over 3 hours until Mitchell was born.

My son Payton was only 8lb 10oz and now days that is not a big baby, that's pretty average. My daughter was 8lb 8ozs and suffered a dislocated shoulder.

Shannah was 8lbs 10oz, and I am 5' 1". She was born very quickly (half hour). I've been led to believe that the size of your hands and feet are in relation to your pelvic size, it could be an old wives tale but would be true in my case as I have very small hands and wear size 2/3 shoes.
My mum lost a baby whose shoulders got stuck, she was over 10lbs, then I came along a couple of years later, my shoulders also got stuck but midwives pushed on my mums' tummy to push me out!! (weighed 8lb 15oz), Mum is smaller than me. The Erbs palsy group in Ireland believe that Irish women have small pelvises, and both my parents are Irish.

My ds was 8 lbs 6oz on the bigger side of average maybe, he was a bit wide shouldered though. Also I did not have an epidural, or any other interventions. Looking back I had none of the common risks for BPI. Oh and I'm average size, but my hands aren't small and I wear size 9W, big ski feet ;o). I do think I have a smaller pelvis though cuz my dd (uninjured) was a forcep delivery at 8lbs 3oz.

Okay to clarify I meant I didn't have any risk factors for injury that I was aware of at the time. I attributed my dds forcep delivery to Demerol and a very long and tiring labor before ds was born. I avoided drugs and had a short easy labor ending in Atticus injury. It wasn't until after ds was injured that I suspected I prolly have a smaller pelvis.

Francine- I was never told that I have gestational diabetes but I had to keep going back to have the test done and was told to eat certain foods. I guess I was borderline, they never said one way or the other. I gained 42lbs during my pregnancy.