40 weeks and "at the brim" (not engaged) - what to do?

[grainmum]

So for my antenatal appointment at 37, 39 and 40 weeks the midwife has said the head is "at the brim". Today is 40 + 1. I'm beginning to feel a sense of despair that this baby isn't moving and I'm never going to get it out!

I'm sitting on my birthing ball, going for walks, doing a bit of yoga - all suggestions gratefully received (or should I give up now?) or indeed positive stories of women who have experienced the same thing?

I can't imagine there's much you can do to make the baby's head engage.

Neither of mine ever did. Was induced at 42 weeks with both.

Hopefully I'm wrong, though!

IIRC you can go into labour without his head engaged, it can all happen during the process

TobyLerone did your induction result in a vaginal birth?

Yes, both times. No problems.

The second time they were concerned the cord might prolapse if they broke my waters to induce me, so they put a venflon (?) thing in my hand just in case because they said that if the cord prolapsed they'd have to knock me out and c-section me immediately. But actually there was no problem and it stayed in my hand throughout with nothing ever going in or out of it! That was a very easy, quick birth once my waters had been broken. It brought the baby immediately onto my cervix, contractions hit like a train, and I went from 4cm to her being born in just over an hour, with no pain relief

Mine didn't engage until i went into labour, and that happened spontaneously on my due date, so don't worry! I think i was lucky really as i wasn't too uncomfortable even right at the end

Honestly it will come out! I know it's horrible going past that magic due date, I have had 3 dcs and none of them engaged prior to labour, in fact with 2 of them there was much shaking of heads and.... Unfavourable blah blah and both times went into labour that day so don't despair it will happen & probably soon!
Good luck!

I'm 40+2 and mine is not engaged either, got my induction date for next Thursday. Hopefully he comes before then