37 weeks, baby not engaged, have to go see consultant - what will he do?

[Lottielou]

Hi!
I've just came back from check up with MW and found out that baby isn't engaged, she said that as this is my first, really baby should of engaged at 35 weeks.
I now have an appointment with a consultant on Tues to see if there is any reason for the baby not engaging. I asked what he will do, she said the same as her, palpate to feel the baby's position and then decide what to do from there. I asked what are possible reasons for baby not engaging and she kinda looked at me with a blank... didn't really say anything apart from "lets see what they say on Tues" wanted some indication at least.
What are possible reasons for baby not engaging? (other than that baby will probably be late and it will happen in time) I'm thiking more on the line of possible complications as she said just keep an open mind about a c-section.
Got me all worried now!

Securmummy, thanks - i thought i may of been a little over sensitive but guess not. I thought the same.
Thank you for your good luck wishes x

xx

Hi Lottielou,
My DD decided not to engage her head at all during my pregnancy. She was posterior, had a massive head and decided that she didn't want to come out at all.

At 40+12 days I was due to be induced, but on the morning of my induction I was offered a c-section instead as the midwives were concerned that there was a chance the cord could be delivered first, meaning an emergancy c-section would have been necessary.
I was scared stiff of hospitals, needles, doctors, operating rooms, drips ... anything like that, you name it I was petrified! But I decided an elective c-section was the safest thing to do for my DD.

45 minutes later I was looking straight into my DD eyes and couldn't have been happier. I was petrified of having a c-section, but it really isn't bad at all! I had no pain at all (thank god for drugs!) and was walking around and in the bath the next day!

Basically I wanted to post this message to re-assure you that it really isn't that bad and to say good luck to you and your new little sprog.

Kingy12 - Thank you, i really appreciate that. Those were all our concerns too, about cord prolapse and mainly having the emergency scenario. I feel more reassured now thanks.
I'm not too bothered about having the section as i know it's the option that will cause less stress and as i said before i feel more in control.
The only thing that has been on my mind is having the spinal, i hate needles too. But i'm trying to keep in my head that it's for my baby so i need to just get on with it.
Feeling quite nervous but i know plenty have gone through it and have been absolutely fine with a great recovery time so i'm holding onto those thoughts.
Thanks again xx

Hi Lottielou - my DD wasn't engaged AT ALL and I kept asking my Drs + MWs if there was a reason / something I could do etc, and none of them seemed bothered. Anyway, she still wasn't engaged and was posterior (and, they thought she was a big baby by their scans) when I was induced at 40+12. They gave me prostin gel Thurs eve 6pm and FINALLY broke my waters Sat 9am (after a day and a half of full contractions). At 9.30pm Saturday, when she STILL wasn't engaged and I wasn't even effaced / more than 3cm dilated (after 2.5 days!!) I had to have an emergency c-section.

The reason I'm telling you all this is because it sounds like your little bundle is similar to mine and it's probably much better to go into a planned c-section than an emergency. My DH was forced to leave us after 20 mins as it was nearly 11.00pm and visiting hours were over. He was gutted!

Re the actual c-section - I was terrified going into it as the only thing I had wanted to avoid was c-section and epidural. All I can say is it wasn't as bad as I expected, I didn't feel the epidural going in at all (honest!!) and although I was sore and I still can't walk very fast or very far, the recovery wasn't that bad. I was out on Tuesday and up and attending to DD next morning.

At the end of the day, no matter how your little one is born, it will be magic!

Actually, my dd was similar, she was back to back and quite big (but not as big as they thought in the end, 8lbs 4oz)

Good luck with the cs, take some big pants!

Hi Lottielou, good luck with the c-s on Friday.
We knew why ds didn't engage as he was frank transverse so a c-s was always on the cards.
With dd she also failed to engage at 38 weeks and as I was hoping for a VBAC I was pretty sad when my consultant suggested an elective again. But there were good reasons - she was big (but not huge, 9lb on delivery) and I had quite a lot of amniotic fluid. With an unengaged baby bobbing around, cord prolapse is a potential risk too.
Wishing you a safe and happy birth!

squidgeymiller - Your post only confirms to me that I have been given good advice from my consultant and chose the right option for me.
What an ordeal you had to go through, your poor thing. Glad all went well in the end though.

Is there anything in specific that anyone would recommend taking with me into hospital, feel i have to re-pack my bags now! (apart from big pants!) Any suggestions welcome! x

Ooooh getting all excited now!

Marina - Thats the same as me, they first said that i had excess fluid, and at the last scan, 1 week and a half ago they couldn't estimate the weight as all the mearurements were over 42 weeks so they think it's a big baby too. Consultant actually ref to baby as an elephant! lol Well with parents like us... DP was 11 3 and i was 10 1 so it's kinda in the genes! hah
Guess i'll find out if he/she is big on friday.

All this support is great.

Thanks everyone! I was all worried and down in the dumps earlier now i'm all smiley and excited!

take one of those cheap electric hand fans - maternity wards are HOT and the windows don't open very far! Also take something to tie your hair back, some of those 3 in 1 cleansing wipes (you probably won't feel like doing the full cleanse / tone / moisturise etc) and your favourite make up item (something that makes you feel fab and glam but doesn't take long to apply - like a really nice lipstick or fab mascara). Your probably won't feel like doing full make up but will want to make an effort if visitors come.

Something else to cheer you up about baby not being engaged and the c-section: Because your bb's head hasn't been squished into your pelvis for the last few weeks, and won't get squished through the birth canal, he/she will have a beautiful unsquished head, and won't have puffy eyes or broken blood vessels, and is less likely to get infections. One of my MWs commented on how beautiful my DD was and asked if she was breech / not engaged, she said she could tell because her head wasn't "all mangled".

I have all my fav make up in my bag already, i bought double on things, i didn't want to be in labour and have to think about putting make up in my bag. Now i have spent double money but never mind cos it'll all be nice and new to use.
Didn't think about a hand held fan, good idea!
Wipes, have those too.

Thats a very good point about head not getting all squished up! you made me grin like a chesire cat then when i read that! lol

Good luck on Friday. Take some arnica 200 to help with bruising. 1 tablet before, 1 after and 1 later on that day.

Thanks
Whats arnica? Where do i get that from?

Be careful about how you (or dh)unpack your stuff on the ward, make sure everything is within arm's length of the bed. My dh chucked everything behind the bed to keep it out of the way, it was only after he went home that I realised I couldn't reach any of my carefully packed stuff for me or dd.

Health shops sell arnica cream and tablets usually. Get the strongest potency you can (200 is best, but you might not get that in a shop).

I'd also recommend bendy straws (great for before you can sit up to drink) and your fav. pillows (inc a bf pillow if you're planning to breast feed).

You can even get arnica from Boots (though probably not a 200). Try to get arnica 30 if you can't get 200 but you'll need to take it more frequently and maybe for a week or so afterwards. Take about 3 a day. I'd go for tablets rather than cream.

pillows, pillows, pillows!

after my c-section i wasn't able to sit myself up (it's actually similar to how you're probably feeling now - but without the bump! ), so having lots of pillows to wedge under me was a god send... also a little bit of "home" is always nice!
I'd also recommend some breath mints, as you'll not be very mobile for a day or two afterwards to get the the sink and back, you'll not be wanting dead dog breath when you're visitors come to see you!
Straws were a good suggestion too!

Definitely arnica tabs.
Also, if you like the scent, treat yourself or get someone else to pay for as much in the way of lavender goodies as you can - L'Occitane and Tisserand are good brands. Lavender is cooling, mildly antiseptic and has relaxing properties.
Also, and I hate to be prosaic, but take some anti-bac wipes for the loo seat and door handles Lottie. Hospitals vary but I was very glad of mine.
My other top tip would be to check out the availability of amenity ("private") rooms. These are single rooms, sometimes with an ensuite bathroom, on the postnatal ward. They are given free to those with clinical need (complications, multiple birth etc) first, and then you can elect to pay for them on a nightly basis. Charges vary. Sometimes if the ward is not busy, they will let c-section patients have them free on the understanding that if someone else needs the room you have to vacate it.
As it happens I had a few complications after my surgery and was glad of the amenity room offered. I was statistically unlucky though - most people sail through the procedure. Good luck!

My MW told me to take lavender baths to help heal my episiotimy so imagine the same for c-section scars. Just put a few drops in a coolish bath and it is very soothing.

Re private rooms; I got a private room by default after my c-section as I was the only person on the ward and they had a fre single room so moved me there. The only probs were that when DH had gone home I was pretty lonely, and that the room seemed even hotter due to the close proximity. Otherwise a godsend - private bathroom etc. Just figure out if you'll wawnt to chat to someone or if you'd rather be alone with your bb

Didn't see this in time to wish you luck, but hope it goes/is going/has gone well anyway! Let us know when you get back...

Don't worry about a c-section. In this country they are blown way out of the water.
It's less stressfull for the baby, thats all you need to think about if you need one. I am having my second soon.

Sorry for the delay in posting. Well Ladies, all went well with my section aqlltho it took them 5 attempts to get the spinal in and then afterwards i cou;dn't have the main pain killer they give - volterol so i was in agony as a shot of morphine dodn't touch me. But they increased the dose and i managed to get some comfort! ANYWAY.....
16.06.06 Grace Lilly was born at 10.51am, weighing in 9lb 3oz, mass of dark hair and absolutely perfect.
We came home on the 19th and had DF at home until today. Taking in every moment and thoroughly enjoying my new life with my beautiful baby daughter.
Hope you are all well? Thank you for all your great support, it really helped me.
xx xx Proud Mommy Lottie xx xx

Congrats!