Due yesterday, baby has un-engaged :(

[lilylilyrose]

I have just got back from a rubbish MW appointment and wondered if anyone has any words of advice...

I'm 40+1 today. For the past 4 weeks, my baby's been 3/5ths engaged and LOA. 3 days ago I started losing my mucus plug, and I've been having tightenings/period pain-like cramps for about a week - all good signs, yes? Well today the MW told me that the baby's only 1/5th engaged, and moved to ROA.

Not sure that it has moved though - I'm still feeling a bum-shaped lump on the left by my ribs, and little feet on the right - surely this indicates a LOA/LOL baby??

I am really fed up now, was close to tears at the bus stop on my way home as I thought things were going so well but the baby appears to have changed its mind, and doesn't want to come out after all!

I really, really want a homebirth, and I'm dreading having to fight for one after 42 weeks. This is a real worry for me as I am TERRIFIED of induction - my mum was induced with me when she was 19 days overdue, and ended up with a crash c-section. I am also petrified of being dumped on a trolley in the maternity ward, stuffed with gel and a drip, and left there without my DH until 'established labour'. I know I would just hate it, and the whole experience would be awful.

If anyone has any words of encouragement/experience, I would be so grateful to hear them!

I had a homebirth at 10 days overdue. Not a problem. I would stop panicking. Maybe your midwife was wrong if you are still feeling bum and feet in the same positions.

I thought 1/5th engaged meant only 1/5th left????? This has always confused me with different people telling me different things so please someone explain in the know clarify!

Oh, it's miserable waitiing for an overdue baby isn't it?

Do you think she's a careful and attentive midwife generally? There are some useless ones out there, and I got many different opinions and assessments from different midwives regarding the various problems and issues I had when PG.

Also the baby is just one day overdue - chances are it'll be ready within the week.

If I were you I would try to relax and embark on some tried and tested labour-hasteners, eg sex, curry, pineapple, or you can book various massage sessions etc (I'm sure there will be lots of MN threads on what works, going to a noisy rock gig did it for me!). They may not work overnight but you'll feel like you're doing something.

I echo Lailasmum on your MW being wrong. My baby didn't engage and was 4 weeks early. A consultant also scanned me when I was fully dilated as they thought he had turned and was breech (he wasn't, he just had a little solid bottom under my ribs that they thought was the head). They get odds and ends wrong all the time. Your baby will come when it's good and ready. Hold out for your lovely home birth and keep smiling. Good luck

CarGirl that's what I thought too, but when I asked her she said she could feel 4/5ths of baby's head.

Snowleopard she is a lovely midwife - all of them are on my team (5 altogether).She seemed genuinely sympathetic when I sat there looking disappointed - I'm thinking she just got baby's position wrong. After all, it's my ribs it's booting, so I sohuld know which bits are where, right?

I honestly don't mind going overdue - I expected it from the beginning, being a first-timer - but I feel like I've taken a massive step back all of a sudden.

Now I'm going to get back on my birthing ball and send the baby some encouraging 'downwards' thoughts...thanks

Hi I'm due today (40 weeks) with my 3rd DC, both my DS's were head down and 3-4/5th engaged way before now (32 and 37 weeks) but this LO is head down but free, so not engaged at all, my MW said it maybe down to how active LO is, but also reassured me that it could be a very last min thing or may even happen when I'm in labour, I to want and have a home birth booked, I'm sure our LO's will come soon, good luck chick!

Hi BabyMad - my baby is very active too, so maybe that's why it's unengaged. Maybe it just bobs in and out of there without me noticing!

Good luck for your impending home birth

ds bobbed in and out. when i went into hospital in labour mw said she thought i was in latent phase and told me to expect it to go on for ages maybe even days. she felt my bump and said ds still had a long way down to go. then she examined me and i was 7cm dilated and ds arrive 45 mins later!

hope baby arrives soon. good luck!

Start to think about getting that baby down into your pelvis by opening it up a bit. Use upright and forward leaning positions, sit with knees lower than your hips with back straight as possible. Do you have a birthing/exercise ball to sit on? If you do watch Tv on this rather than slouched on the sofa. Make sure it's pumped up enough. You can usually borrow one from the midwives. When sleeping lie on your left side as much as possible rather than you back.
I found with both mt pregnancies that going for a good long walk get things going.
Good luck, I had a home birth and it was fantastic but make sure you look after yourself afterwards and someone elae takes care of you for a bit.