HELP - How can i get bub to engage?

[tadpolesmum]

Hello wise women of MNet, if there is anyone that can help me I would be forever in your debt!!!!

I am currently 38 weeks with my first and due to baby being large i have been booked for an induction on wednesday. Problem is that although baby is head down and NOT posterior bub still has not engaged. The consultant is convinced that i will end up with a c-section and is only trying induction to indulge me (I would really really like a natural birth).

Would anyone have any techniques/tips on how to get baby to start heading south?

I think sitting and rotating on a birthing/gym ball can help , if you get what I mean. Like hula-hooping action on it.

p.s. have been bouncing on birthing ball for months, and drinking RLT like its going out of fashion just to give you an idea. Been experiencing quite a lot of BH over the last couple of weeks too

Maybe if you straddle the ball wide legged rather than sit on it also? Makes sense in my head anyway...

Thanks LadyOfWaffle, have started that [says she face set in determination] I am probably doomed to a section at this late stage but am going down fighting.

Maybe swimming ie. breast stroke? Thinking of things that would (gently) open your pelvis up a little.

Argh! I'm nearly 39 weeks and only 4/5th. Weirdly I was bouncing on a ball last night and the baby went 'clunk' a bit although it appears to have swum back up in the night

Your baby may be a large one, in which case it may not descend into the pelvis until contractions start.

found this on a website

Thanks Turniphead: No i don't have diabetes it just seems to be one of those things. According to growth scan this week bub is hitting the 4kg mark , I am 5 ft just so everyone around me seem to be getting quite nervous....

I'm not a health prof but surely there is no indication to induce you simply because they have estimated a 4kg baby. Your height is irrelevant to the size of baby you can birth and the baby could be a lot less (or a lot more than 4kg- nobody can predict accurately. If you really want a natural birth I would be asking a lot more questions about why they think they should induce you before your baby is ready to come. Good luck!

tadpolesmum, Have they told you that growth scans are not very accurate ?

This is a home birth site which quote stats about 'big' babies

At 4kg (8lb 8ozs) your baby isn't that big, I thought the offical 'big' babies were 4.5 kg (9lbs 9ozs) and over.

But considering that scans can be out 500g, you could be expecting an 3.5 kg (7lbs 7ozs) baby.

I don't understand why they won't let you have a trial of labour at full term if there is no other health factors.

All the best

stairs and walking is good - as are squats- but at 38 wks baby might just not be ready

Thanks all, you have definitely given me some food for thought, I will read the link and try to educate myself a bit more. Its quite tough because since about 20 weeks consultant and midwife have all been goiing 'ohhhhh big baby' which is freaking DH and my family out and i have just kind of gone along with anything they have said.

The only thing is, its not just this consultant thats pushing the induction issue. Due to a lack of continuity of care i have seen several consultants and midwives at this hospital and they have all said it.

I have refused growth scans as I don't want to be pushed into the situation you are in.

BTW they all said my last baby was going to be massive (like 11 lbs) and she was 8lbs 12ozs at 10 days late.

So now they are trying to use the 'big' baby argument to stop my home birth for my second baby...flipping midwifes/doctors

walking - loads off walking and going up and down the stairs also bouncing on gym ball. but mostly the walking as definitely moved baby down from being not engaged to fully engaged.

And agree with other posters re the inaccuracy of scans re birth size

My first wasn't engaged, and the danger is that when labour starts, the chord can go down, getting trapped when the baby follows it. If this is the worry, then why are they letting you be induced? and if it's not, then what's the worry?

Lego - I suppose it is better for the bub to be monitored while the waters are being broken rather than risking them breaking at home?

Tadpole - I had the exact same problem - and in the end went to 42 weeks, induction and c-section. I wish in some ways I'd been induced before because it was only in the last few weeks the m/ws commented on how big my baby had got! Anyway I did try long walks, bouncing, to no avail. Hope you have more success!