Any mums out there who went into labour when baby's head was completely free (5/5 engaged)? Please tell me your birth story!

[Ninunina]

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5/5ths engaged is fully engaged. Don't you mean 'free' or 5/5ths palpable?

But yes, I did with DD1. It's not uncommon

Yes - twice!
I think the first time it was he was back to back and second time, not sure, possibly tangled in the cord.
Anyway, both slow starting (but not uncomfortable) early labours stretching over a couple of days, and the active labour very straightforward, and reasonable time frame (4-5 hours for no 2, 12 hours for no 1).
Now i have the novelty of an engaged baby - I thought that would mean I would go in to labour promptly, but here I am 40 + 2 and no developments!
Good luck!

I'm not sure what the official way of saying it is, but I've been told that baby's head is completely free and above the pelvis. It was the same story with DD and I was advised to have a ELCS because of the risk of Shoulder Dystocia and prolapsed cord. I'm 39 weeks now and one doctor has already advised another section, though my consultant wants to give me up to my due date before advising a section. Baby is estimated at 8lbs, so a good size but not massive.

My DS head didn't engage until I went into labour at 40+6.

First baby, straightforward 12 hour labour, just gas and air. 9lb 4oz baby, small tear, all fine.

My waters broke when I was 35+1 with DS4 still free and swimming around. I had a C-section at 35+3.

DD2 engaged 45minutes before giving birth, and i was still at home! Midwife told me on thursday that after having one baby you can go from 2-10cms in a matter of minutes when baby engages! good luck xx

Explosion of water, straight into strong contractions, ready to push when I made it to hospital 1.5 hours later....

FP both times ended up 1) cord prolapse and ECCS and 2) Uterine Rupture and ECCS.

Probably not the reassurance you are looking for- sorry . If you want to labour with minimal intervention they will need to keep a close eye on you when your membranes rupture.

Good luck!

Those are the two scenarios that I'm most scared of! If I do go into labour I will go straight in (especially if my waters break). My consultant has emphasised the importance of this. I'm still sitting on the fence about whether I should push for a VBAC or go for an ELCS.

DS was free, spinning around all over the show & often transverse in last few weeks. I was kept in hospital from 38+4 & ELCS at 39+5

Yes you should go straight in. It may well be that the membranes remain intact well into labour because the head is free and placing less pressure upon them.

I had ARM both times to try and regulate irregular but powerful contractions. The head remained free. They weren't prepared but it does sound as if your team is prepared.

I cannot advise you what to do other than paying attention to your instincts. Think about what is important to you- trying for a VBAC or controlling the tiny risk via a more managed birth.

Yup DD never engaged until I was in established labour, Labour started about 4pm and she was born at 9am, so not overly long either! Only thing I was told was to call and go in to be checked if waters broke at home in case of cord prolapse.

My second baby was completely free when i saw the midwife at 11am at midnight after a few hours of contractions her head engaged and she was born 50minutes later and ten minutes in the hospital!

Ds was completely free at my 37 week check. Told he was v high and to go straight to hospital if my waters popped. Which they did that night. 38hrs later I had an emcs. He was malpositioned and wouldn't engage at all. I should add that dd was fully engaged from 31weeks and still malpositioned and born by emcs.

I had this, gave birth at 41 weeks.

Baby could not not engage as had umbilical cord wrapped around neck twice.

I was given an epidural and told to NOT push until they had released him ( doc stuck hand in and disentangled him).

It was a bit risky as I had a speedy birth and only got the epidural just jn time ( without it I would not have been able to resist the urge to push, and would have strangled him. )

I still think about this sometimes, and do retrospective worrying....

Good luck! I would follow doc's advice, safety is everything.

My mum never engaged with all three of us and had three completely straightforward 12 hour labours.

Baby wasn't engaged at 40 week appt and he was born at 40+2. 10 hour text book labour at home...all good. I'm now 38+1 and this baby isn't engaged either!