Stories to cheer me up needed.......

[Spice17]

Hi all

Am 38+5 today and just had my MW appt where she rather suprisedly exclaimed 'Oh - the baby's head isn't engaged at all now'. Last appt it was 3/5ths OR 2/5ths (depending on whether you go with student MW or qualified one's assessment)

Now, I'm dying for this baby to come, have SPD, carpel tunnel in both my wrists, swollen sausage fingers/toes and separated stomach muscles and can barely get about now.

Can anyone give me hope that first babies can come early, even if head isn't engaged? I could cry.

Booked in for sweep 2 weeks today but don't want it to be that long - waaaaaa! TIA :)

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

Well, not super helpful as both of mine were late. But neither of their heads engaged until labour. Friend was the same and both hers were early. It means naff all if the head is not engaged.

Does that help a bit?

[Spice17]

Yes it does, thanks. This one has been extremely wriggly last 2 days and I guess she's wiggled her head right back up and out of pelvis!

I'm so torn as a bit scared of labour starting but on the other hand, am excited and really want it to happen soon (even if just because I'll be able to walk, move about, bend again!)

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

Maybe she's just finding a good position? I swear sometimes they aren't 'in' quite right and pop out before slotting in properly.

Will keep fingers crossed it starts soon (as you have an easy one).

[JennerOSity]

You can go into labour even when baby isn't engaged, though more common in second pregnancies it also happens in first.

FWIW, my first pregnancy was 3 days early so it isn't a given you will go overdue. I don't actually know if the baby was engaged or not as if the midwife checked she didn't share it with me.

Hope it happens soon, that list of problems you are coping with is not insignificant and I can totally understand it if you are desperate to get your body back to normal. Good luck.

[Spice17]

Cheers guys, DH advising we try sex this weekend - now that will be comical!

[kellestar]

At 40+5 and still wasn't engaged and had a sweep. Talked about induction. Came home gutted. Labour started in middle of night 7 hours later DD arrived.

I had SPD and was on crutches and spent the last few weeks watching ER, knitting cute baby hats and feeling fed up. I have much symphony.

currently 10+2 with DC2, with all this puking they better be on time

[EldritchCleavage]

My first engaged at very last minute, lazy little thing. So there is hope.

[kellestar]

Forgot the bit to cheer you up...

MIL told me to go cycling as if I could have! Supposedly it worked for her each time.

[AnneH656]

not sure if this helps but with DS she was head down engaged from 32 weeks. i was all jolly smug....then 40 weeks came and went....then 41... they started induction at 41 + 3. still DS didnt move. 3 days late she decided to make an appearance.

dont put too much on the head engaged thingy. it did bog all for me with DS. plus you can go into labour without full engagement.

man this pregnancy birth thing is bloody unpredictable. wish we all got a date stamp at conception!!!

[ShushBaby]

I know one first baby who was born ten days early, one who was six days early, a couple who were on or very close to due date.

Tons more who were late, I'm afraid!

It does happen, but that doesn't mean that it will.

I'm not saying that to be negative or infuriate you; actually to try and help. With my first baby I was convinced that from 37 weeks, it was 'any minute now'. She was nearly two weeks late, and I've never felt so frustrated and, frankly, insane, as I did when I was overdue. Because I did not expect it and I did not want it.

During that time I was in tears every day, walking for miles stomping and sweating to try to get baby out, spotting 'signs' of labour etc. I wish I had just relaxed and accepted that she would come when she was ready.

As soon as she was here the wait and the frustration didn't matter at all.It all just melted away. She was perfect, and mine, and here. She was also a very average size- 7lb 11oz- so clearly was simply not ready to be born before she was.

This time round, I'm nearly 34 weeks and no way will I be expecting baby any time before 40 weeks. I really think that way madness lies.