38 weeks tomorrow. Is there anything I can do to encourage the baby to engage?

[norktasticninja]

Thankfully the midwife seems certain that he is head down but she's worried about cord prolapse if my waters break before he engages. She's told me that if they go I have to lay down and that sounds like the beginning of the end of an active birth to me. I assume there is no way of knowing if the cord is actually tapped until I'm far enough dilated for them to have a damn good feel

DD was born at 39+2 but somehow it feels like I'm running out of time with this little varment...

So, any cunning suggestions, tricks or tips?

My mw led me to believe that it is likely that subsequent babies don't engage and it's most likely that they'll engage with the on set of labour.

Also, your waters may not break until you are in established labour.

Pelvis opening tips:

Sitting with your legs crossed to open your hips out (sit like this when you are on the sofa.)

When you are sitting, make sure your hips are higher than your knees,(keep long car journeys to a minimum as most car seats place your knees higher than your hips.)

Sit on a birthing ball whenever possible, and do hip circles and figure of eights.

Going on all fours.

Google optimal fetal positioning (ofp), you'll get tips.

Good luck, things will be fine

Great, thanks! I'll try all that.

I wasn't at all worried about him not being engaged, like you I'd understood that second babies engage later but she did seem to think it was worrying if the waters went

What worries me is that if the baby engages at the onset of labour, before the waters break, I may still be made to lay down because the midwife wont have 'witnessed' him being engaged IYSWIM

Hmmm, that didn't make much sense did it? I mean if labour starts, the head engages and them my water break I worry I may still be made to lay down.

With DD the waters did go pretty early in labour. I think I'd probably been having contractions for about six or eight hours (mostly in my sleep) but I was just saying to DP that this might be it, but maybe just hefty BH or just wind and POP...

You can't be made to do anything. But they probably will ask to feel if the baby has engaged during labour. Tell them they can feel between contractions?

No, they can't force me to do anything, and they are pretty relaxed about home birth here (the Netherlands). But, I'm pretty sure they'll want me flat and/or in hospital if they think there's a risk of cord prolapse. Surely if they haven't witnessed engagement before the waters go they'll assume a risk?

Goodness only knows, I think I just need to stop fretting, do what I can, and hope