first baby & head not engaged

[Maria2007]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question: I'm 38 weeks exactly, pregnant with my first baby, and at today's antenatal appointment the GP said baby's head is definitely not engaged. The same was confirmed in all the recent antenatal appointments (apart from one, about a month ago, where I was told baby was slightly engaged)... so I'm unsure whether this plays any role in what will happen from now on, or if it's just nothing to worry about. I'm supposed to just see a community midwife at 40 weeks & no other appointments planned.

I also wonder whether it would be worth having a grown/wellbeing scan, just to check baby's size? I haven't had one since 30 weeks & since the baby's not engaged, would it make sense to have another scan, do you think, or not really worth it?

Anyway. Got to go bounce on my birthing ball again
Things are starting to feel really exiting...
Maria xxx

[hertsnessex]

babys head not beigng engaged means nothing - it may not even happen until you are in labour. i wouldnt go for a growth scan, no one has said anything about size, so expect all is well.

relax and enjoy the last fw wks x

[MrUmble]

Its nothing to worry about. The head might not engage until labour actually starts.

While its more common for first babies to engage early on (34 weeks), its not a requirement.

[ephrinedaily]

I had a routine antenatal appointment at 35 ish weeks, was told to go for a scan due to bump size (small). The scan showed nothing except that baby was not engaged. That evening my waters broke and I went into labour.

Put your feet up and enjoy the last few days/weeks! Scan definitely a bit pointless in my case.

[lucysnowe]

Hi!

I had the same problem and in the end had to be induced at 42 weeks. Baby still wasn't engaged after some hours of labour so had an emregency c-section. After the operation the surgeon said "you'd better go for a a c-section next time" - I think, because my DD was a little too big to engage (not sure exactly, I need to read my notes). I ought to stress that it is probably very unlikely that the same thing will happen to you - but it's best to be prepared just in case.

[Lemontart]

not sure why they even bother telling you about the head being engaged or not. Mine seemed to pop in and out right through the last few weeks. Worried about it like mad with DD1 and was more relaxed with DD2 moving around.
I think they only tell you that because they know it IYKWIM. pregnant mums want to know everything they can possibly tell you and this is one of the things they can tell so they do LOL. Not that important other than when you get that awful bone crunching low pain feeling with a fully engaged head. Not fun!

[wasabipeanut]

My ds didn't engage properly until a day or two before my waters went.

They all seem to drop into place on their own schedule - try and relax as much as you can when you have a fully grown baby inside your abdomen and enjoy!

[Notanexcitingname]

It's usual for first babies to engage, but not an indication of something wrong if they don't. mine didn't until well, very slightly at 41 weeks, then when my wtaers went at 41+4 he definitely was.

Only effect was he had a very nicely shaped head ;)