39 weeks and not engaged - am I facing a long wait?

[KittyChat]

I've just had an appointment with my midwife and, as I thought, he/she is not engaged and seems 'very comfortable where it is'.

Does it look like I'll be hanging around a while? Any experiences of going into labour when baby is still up high?

I want this baby out on time, dammit!

DD never engaged, went into labour at 40+4

Babies always arrive on time: just that their definition of 'on time' is not the same as ours

Ooh, thanks Trina!

I know the baby will come when it's ready, but I am already contemplating turning my phone off because I've had it up to here with the 'is it here' texts and calls. Why oh why did I tell people my due date...?

Just get snippy with them. 'Oh, yeah, the baby arrived three weeks ago, we've called her Fido, we just didn't tell you because we hate you'

Either that or answer the phone with a drowsy half-awake voice. 'Hello? Oh, hi, yeah, I was asleep. No, no, it's fine, I'm just SO tired at the moment and I'd finally managed to doze off. NO, don't worry, I'm sure I'll get a decent nap in another day or so. Knowing my luck though as soon as I do, labour will start. Now, why were you calling?'

With any luck the guilt overload will be great enough to make them leave you alone

Thanks Super. I have heard they can sometimes engage and then move back up? It's a confusing business.

Thank you for the passive-aggressive suggestions, Trina! One of the most prolific callers is my colleague, who I wouldn't say I am even friends with. "Just checking to see if anything's happening! Do you promise to call me when you're in labour?"

Yes, I'll call you before the hospital, before DP, before anyone. I promise.

I wouldn't have thought so. I'm 38 weeks and he's only just started to engage, midwife said he might not go any further than 3/5 until labour. It doesn't work on the flipside as my sister was fully engaged for about 6 weeks before she was due and kept being told she'd be early, she went 6 days over and even then baby didn't want to come out when waters broke!!

Kitty Oh, she wants to be called when you go into labour? Ring at around 3-4am every day four days running. Each time, ring back again an hour later saying it was a false alarm. With any luck she won't be asking you to ring any more [just plain EVIL emoticon]

I like your style, Trina, you devious woman!

At 39 weeks DS was still incredibly high up and showed no signs of moving himself downwards any time soon. I had dire predictions given to me by everyone from my mum to my aunts to the sodding lady in the Post Office - you'll go overdue, you'll have to be induced, an extra two weeks in there will mean it'll be a huuuuuge baby, blah blah blah.

I went into labour and delivered exactly on my due date - DS didn't engage until I was 6cm dilated (my waters didn't break until I was 10cm).

Is this your first Kitty?

im on first and baby popped head down for a short spell last night but then popped back out again this morning!! Ive said he/she is doing the birthing equivalent of the Hokey Cokey!

Im 38 + 5..

Yes it's my first - and getting impatient! Should be glad he or she is not here yet as the house is filthy. Maybe some floor scrubbing this weekend will help.

I think it's normal for the head to engage and then pop out again during the last few weeks. TBH, I don't think it's a sign of when you'll go into labour.