38+1 head not engaged

[irishqueen]

Hi this is baby no 3 for me ( 1st with new partner and 5 yrs since last one) and head is still free.
Is this a bad sign? had my others at 39+2 and 39+4. Does the lack of engagement mean i may go over?
Have lost a few bits of plug over last week.
Also madwife told me if waters go and no contractions to be careful and not walk about as cold be cord danger?

Heeeelllp

Well both my babies were on time give or take a few days and heads not engaged before hand. Can't help with waters tho' as mine had to be broken! Good luck

Antenatal courses suggest assuming the polar bear sleep position or hypnosis (seriously) to help turn the baby around.

Babies head can engage later after the first pregnancy and sometimes only just before labour starts.

The cord danger might be to do with if the head is high and the waters go the cord can drop into the pelvis instead of the head. Its not common but can happen. Contact labour ward if the waters go.

brilliant guys ta
my waters had to be broken with my first and my second waters popped and out came son an hour later.
i've just been convinced I wont go overdue so this spooked me

I went for a sweep on Monday morning at 11.30am - head not engaged, baby was born Tuesday morning at 1.45am!!! Also my 3rd, everything happened within the space of a few hours!!

It's normal in subsequent pregnancies for the baby's head not to engage until labour starts.

You're 38 weeks which means you have a whopping 4 weeks until you're 'late'.

I had an antenatal appointment at 39+4 weeks and my son's head was still free. I went into labour at 39+5 and delivered him at exactly 40 weeks. His head stayed free until I was 6cm dilated (my waters didn't even real until 10cm) and the moment he dropped I knew it had happened because I went from y lungs feeling squished to my lady-bits feeling crushed - if I ever had the choice I would choose to have a free head right up until labour next time too as I can't imagine how uncomfortable it would be walking around for weeks with an engaged baby.

With 2nd, 3rd, etc babies it's not uncommon for the head to stay free right up until labour.