Wood's screw maneuver is practiced in

obstetrics Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

when dealing with shoulder dystocia – a condition in which the fetal shoulders cannot easily pass through the vagina. In this maneuver the

anterior shoulder Anterior shoulder in obstetrics refers to that shoulder of the fetus that faces the pubic symphysis of the mother during delivery. Depending upon the original position of the fetus, either the left or the right shoulder can be the anterior shoulder. ...

is pushed towards the baby's chest, and the

posterior shoulder Posterior shoulder in obstetrics refers to the shoulder of the fetus other than the anterior shoulder. Thus, the posterior shoulder faces the rectum of the mother during delivery. Whether left or the right shoulder becomes the posterior shoulder is ...

is pushed towards the baby's back, making the baby's head somewhat face the mother's rectum. This maneuver is tried only after the

McRoberts maneuver The McRoberts maneuver is an obstetrical maneuver used to assist in childbirth. It is named after William A. McRoberts, Jr. It is employed in case of shoulder dystocia during childbirth and involves hyperflexing the mother's legs tightly to h ...

, and application of suprapubic (lower abdomen) pressure have been tried. It is named after Wood, who was the first to examine this maneuver in detail.

References

{{Obstetrical procedures Obstetrical procedures

See also

References