39+3, baby back to back and not engaged

[Bex2110]

Hi everyone.

The subject pretty much says it all. First baby. The only thing is that one of my midwives has said she has felt the baby almost 3/5 engaged. Can the head pop ion and out? Does anyone else have experience of this? When did you go into labour? When did baby's head engage?

Also, starting to feel really down about being at home (work made me take holiday before mat leave). I've cleaned everything to within an inch of its life and I just find that waiting everyday is driving me mad! I just want to meet my little baby!!

[Onlyaplasticbagdear]

Mine never engaged. Was told it was fine but was in agonising labour for 4 days, then had C section.

Doubt my experience is representative though!

[Onlyaplasticbagdear]

Oh and I went into labour 2 days after due date, with head still not engaged.

[Abetes]

According to my mum, I was never engaged. She had normal labour and natural birth....but she does still remind me that I liked to do things differently from the start.

[Bex2110]

Oh no, that doesn't fill me with much hope Did your labour start naturally?

[daisygirlmac]

Unfortunately mine was also back to back and his head never properly engaged as it was tipped back - I ended up being induced after my waters broke but i didn't go into labour. My advice is to walk, walk again, walk a bit more and bounce on a ball! Also if you end up being induced, get the epidural in first

[daisygirlmac]

Mind you we sound a bit scare-mongery, you have loads of time yet and it's not a given you will need to be helped along in anyway. Everyone is different and there are plenty of people who have gone into labour on their own and managed perfectly well with back to back babies. I think it's also normal that your first doesn't engage till very late on as your muscles are tighter

[Onlyaplasticbagdear]

Yes I went into labour and was in agony but not dilating.

[Onlyaplasticbagdear]

And yy to getting the epidural before you are induced.

I got induced as wasn't progressing. That epidural was lush.

[Bex2110]

Were you sick when you had the epidural? I have a huge phobia of sick so I'm really worried about anything other than a natural birth.

[ItsNiceItsDifferentItsUnusual]

I had a back to back baby which never fully engaged. Don't think they got more than 2/5.

I had a sweep and reflexology at 40+5 and had ds naturally at 41 weeks. It wasn't the nicest labour in the world - not helped by them not realising he was back to back until he was stuck - but all in all it was completely fine. I'll be doing it all again in about 6 weeks!

[daisygirlmac]

No I wasn't sick, I didn't even feel sick although obviously everyone is different. I believe you can have anti sickness drugs if you need them.

[Onlyaplasticbagdear]

not helped by them not realising he was back to back until he was stuck

Same.

I did get sick but that was before the epidural. I think being sick during labour is pretty common tbh - I was in so much pain I didn't give two shits about the vomit even though I am usually a huge wuss about being sick!

[Onlyaplasticbagdear]

Also my mum was sick during every single one of her four labours and she had us all naturally without even gas and air. It depends on the person, doesn't have much to do with drugs or no drugs.

[redjumper]

3/5 engaged sounds good to me, I'm on baby 3 and I don't think any have engaged further than that. Isn't that normal? This one isn't engaged at all, head is completely free and I'm 39+3. That's ok.
Back to back should be ok too, baby will probably turn as labour goes on. Or if not then back to back labour can be ok. I did it with no pain relief once and I survived, just a longer pushing phase than normal. To help, when you start having tightenings you could get on all fours to help baby turn, and try not to be on your back in labour.