Final answer:
In the case of shoulder dystocia, it is important to manage the situation by using specialized maneuvers and avoiding uncoordinated maternal efforts to push, rather than focusing on stimulation of contractions with oxytocin release.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient is experiencing shoulder dystocia during delivery, it is crucial to manage the situation with care, even if the patient feels the urge to push without a contraction present. Shoulder dystocia is a medical emergency because the baby's shoulder is stuck behind the mother's pelvic bone after the delivery of the head, which can lead to severe complications if not managed properly.
To address shoulder dystocia, healthcare providers deploy various maneuvers, such as the McRoberts maneuver (hyperflexing the mother's legs toward her abdomen to widen the pelvis), applying suprapubic pressure, or other techniques to dislodge the baby's shoulder. It is vital to guide the mother and avoid any uncoordinated pushing that could exacerbate the issue. Based on the stages of labor, synthetic oxytocin, known as Pitocin, may be administered if labor progression stalls before the active stage of labor.
Additionally, the interaction of cervical and myometrial stretching along with the release of hormones like oxytocin contributes to maintaining productive labor contractions. However, in the case of shoulder dystocia, the focus shifts from promoting contractions to resolving the dystocia in a controlled and safe manner for both mother and child.