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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

41+1 Baby Not Engaged

55 replies

EdithGrantham · 27/07/2021 14:22

I'm a FTM, 41+1 weeks with not so much as a Braxton Hicks or bloody show and getting a bit fed up now.

The baby's head was engaged last week but have been seen by the midwife today and that's no longer the case.

Because of this she wasn't able to perform a stretch and sweep (which I was hesitant about anyway) but has booked me in for an induction this weekend. Has anyone been in a similar position and gone into spontaneous labour? I've also read that induction may not be successful if the baby isn't engaged at the start of the process but I've only come across this today after trying to read some positive induction stories.

OP posts:

Narutocrazyfox · 27/07/2021 22:20

Yes! I was 12 days past my due date and refused induction. I didn't have a single twinge until suddenly going into spontaneous labour on day 12. The birth was very quick - 45 minutes. Poor baby couldn't wait to get out!

Original poster

EdithGrantham · 27/07/2021 23:14

Oh that's great to hear! I'm trying to stay positive and when I went for a walk earlier I could definitely feel the baby moving and felt like she was lower then as soon as I sat down she popped back out again,will be on three walks a day from now on to try and get her to stay in place!
What were they like when you declined induction?

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Narutocrazyfox · 28/07/2021 07:54

They told me I was 'booked in' for an induction on day 10, so I phoned my midwife and told her I wasn't interested. In France, where my sister lives, women usually go 12-14vdays over their due date before anyone worries, and as a result there are far fewer inductions (unless requested). I just had a feeling the baby would come when ready! Going for long walks is a great idea, let gravity do its thing and good luck!

DinosaurDiana · 28/07/2021 07:56

Is it your first baby ?

PrimeraVez · 28/07/2021 08:28

My baby’s head wasn’t engaged - I went in for an induction, the pessary did nothing, then I had a doctor break my waters whilst the midwife pushed the baby down. DC2 was born less than an hour later.

Original poster

EdithGrantham · 28/07/2021 09:32

@Narutocrazyfox thanks, it will be day 12 when I'm booked in, I think if she's still in there by then I will go in to check everything else is ok and if it is will decline.

@DinosaurDiana yes, first baby which made me more worried as I'd read that it's more common for first babies to engage early, I know she can as she was last week, just need to convince her to get in position and stay there I think.

@PrimeraVez that's positive, I have had anxiety around birth for a while, even prior to getting pregnant and I've managed it really well up to now and trying not to let my brain think that induction will automatically mean a cascade of interventions ending in a C-section.

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GoldenOmber · 28/07/2021 09:35

Yes, I had a midwife appointment the day before induction where baby wasn’t engaged and then went into labour a couple of hours before I was due in for the induction. Child still dithers over everything until last possible moment now, so very much on brand

LordFoofingtonismyMaster · 28/07/2021 09:38

My first didn't engage ever until I was in early labour. I felt her moving down quite suddenly and it went from ticking along nicely to suddenly all happening in the space of a few minutes. Best of luck

Narutocrazyfox · 28/07/2021 09:39

Good luck and remember it is entirely your right to refuse an induction (or any medical procedure at that). Sometimes you have to be firm with midwives but stand your ground and fingers crossed baby will make an appearance soon!

Original poster

EdithGrantham · 28/07/2021 10:27

Thanks all, these are exactly the type of things I needed to hear! Going for my first walk of the day soon, have PGP so won't be long walks but I'm hoping shorter frequent ones will do the same job!

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shas19 · 28/07/2021 10:32

Get on the ball if u have one and wide circlular hip movements and figure 8, Try doing squats or failure in that scrub the kitchen floor. That worked for me😂

MyGrassIsBrowner · 28/07/2021 10:36

I also second a birthing ball if you have one! And if you're up for it, a bit of sex.. get that cervix softened up! Also trying to get in all fours position as much as possible to get baby into a good position! I was 41+6 with my first then went into spontaneous labour, had her 4.5 hours later. You've still plenty of time for things to change! Good luck! X

BertieBotts · 28/07/2021 10:38

You can ask for expectant management instead of induction or consider doing straight to a planned c section, it's what I'd think about rather than a long drawn out induction ending in an emergency one anyway.

But it might be by the time you get to talking about induction, things are looking much more favourable anyway. Look up about Bishop score so you know what questions to ask. Don't panic! It might not be anywhere near as bad as you're thinking now.

Chanel05 · 28/07/2021 10:52

Some babies do not become engaged until contractions start 😊 so no indication of when you'll go into labour at all. Put it this was, my daughter was not engaged, then not, then became transverse in labour!

Cravey · 28/07/2021 11:02

My daughter in law wasn't engaged. Wanted a home birth but they booked an induction as she couldn't have a sweep. Long walk and hot bath. 4 hours later baby flew out on the sofa 😅

Original poster

EdithGrantham · 28/07/2021 11:39

Thanks so much for the further replies. @MyGrassIsBrowner and @shas19 I am on my ball a lot but it seems she needs a bit more vigorous encouragement, have made up a little "Baby move down" dance which along with a walk seems to have helped
@BertieBotts I'd read about Bishop's Score so was going to get midwife to check that yesterday but as the baby's head wasn't engaged there didn't seem much point, although from some of the replies on here it might have reassured me that at least something had happened, then again I guess it could have been a double whammy of head not engaged and low Bishop's Score. Thanks for reminding of the phrase active management, I'll definitely ask for that if everything is looking ok.
@Chanel05 and @Cravey I was worried about things going too quickly but I'm not at the point where I'd welcome that! @Chanel05, did she turn head down again I'm sure when I went for a bath yesterday she turned transverse, she's obviously just awkward!

Feeling so much more positive about things today from reading all your replies so thank you all again.

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Chanel05 · 28/07/2021 11:49

@EdithGrantham no she didn't turn back once transverse. Only a small percentage of babies will be transverse in labour but it is dangerous. She was also back to back too, so the epidural didn't help with the back contractions as it only touches the front

MyGrassIsBrowner · 28/07/2021 12:13

My baby was back to back too, little sod! The back contractions were horrific ngl, but I got through it on one toot of gas and air. I'm nearly 30 weeks with no.2 and I've a feeling this one will end up being back to back again, just my luck really 😆

pinkteapots · 28/07/2021 12:42

Ive had 4 inductions and no interventions other than pessary and (in 3 of 4) the drip. So the cascade isn't a given at all. I did ask for a few days extra time on 3 of them and still nothing happened (though in my non induced births the extra few days did the trick - so if all is well, do ask).

Also none of mine engaged till labour, not the first, not the other 7. Its not a given really so dont panic. Ask for 2 or 3 days extra, even if you dont goninto labour by yourself in that time your body will be readier to redpond to induction. I had a lovely labour after asking for extra days for DC3, the pessary was enough and like a natural labour from there - i think the extra time made my body very ready.

You can read about cascades of intervention, and its true and real, but not at all a given. Induction increases the liklihood, but by a bit, not by a certainty.

BertieBotts · 28/07/2021 12:43

Mine keeps going breech! And I swear he's transverse some of the time as well. My doctor is totally laid back and just says it's because he's a third baby. When I went for ECV he'd gone the right way around so they are now saying not to worry and just wait to go into labour, then they'll check position and if breech whisk me off for a c section as that is my preference over vaginal breech birth.

pinkteapots · 28/07/2021 13:30

@LordFoofingtonismyMaster

I had this with one of mine! So wierd to feel isnt it? Baby just went plonk all of a sudden from high to low, and it went from chilled to ready to push all in one contraction. Felt it so clearly.

Original poster

EdithGrantham · 28/07/2021 22:49

Thanks again all, I've been on 3 walks today, done some gardening, been doing bouncy walks around the house and hardly sat down unless it's been on my ball. Must have done something as just had what I suspect is a very slight bloody show!! I know that doesn't necessarily mean labour is going to start but is reassuring that something is happening!

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MyGrassIsBrowner · 29/07/2021 07:56

@EdithGrantham omg exciting!! Mine started with a bloody show! Eeek, keep us updated 😁

pinkteapots · 29/07/2021 08:38

@EdithGrantham If its the mucous plug with no pink or brown you may have a while yet, BUT if its really a bloody show you probably only have a few days tops and possibly much less! You're dilating, basically. I'm jealous! Struggling through week 38 here! Best of luck, great news, x

Original poster

EdithGrantham · 29/07/2021 08:51

@pinkteapots and @MyGrassIsBrowner yep was just bloody show, no mucous to speak of, I got the same information from Google which also said it meant labour was imminent but only found that on one website, others seemed to lump it in together with losing mucous plug. So I'm glad you're saying the same! Had some sensations of cramping in the night but was half asleep through them so not sure how strong they were. I honestly didn't think I'd get to the point where I was looking forward to the childbirth part of all this but I'm actually feeling excited, if only because it means I hopefully have a better chance of avoiding induction.

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