Due tomorrow but looking unikely - despondant

[TeacupTempest]

At my check up today midwife said baby was not engaged enough and that she would be surprised if I went into labour in the next day or too. I can't help feeling down.

Midwives at other appointments suggested baby was engaging nicely so I wasn't worried until now. I have been have a lot of contractions each night for a week or so, getting stronger and more. Baby feels quite low and getting lots of odd sensations down there. Feel nauseous and period achy...basically really thought it was coming soon.

Have eaten pineapples and rasp leaf tea by the gallon. Had curry and done the deed with DH. Walk for mile each day with my dog.

Anything I can do to help baby engage more?

You do know there's nothing you can do to make this baby come sooner or to engage more?

I assume it's your first (if it's not, then often subsequent babies don't engage until you're actually in labour)

Only 5% of babies come on their EDD (the E is a clue ) and you're not actually going to be 'overdue' for another two weeks as normal pregnancy is anywhere between 37-42 weeks, and for some women their normal is 42w+.

The midwife today could be mistaken if others have said it's nicely engaged, or it might have moved and then could move again tonight. Some women attempt to have a sweep at 41 weeks, are told that they're unfavourable and the midwife can't do the sweep and aren't going to have the baby any time soon, and then go into labour that night.

Just enjoy these last few days of pregnancy - the more relaxed you are the more likely you are to actually go into labour :)

Oh I feel your pain, I had two late babies, and regular contractions with both for five days or so before - so hard to sleep. This might sound mad, but I started to wonder if I was a bit anxious about the whole thing (with dd2) so I tried to visualise the birth happening and everything being OK and it did seem to help. Also we made plans for every single day and evening because I was getting so snappy with nothing happening (apart from pain and midwives telling me to go away). Take care.

"mile" should have been "miles" in my OP

Yes I do know that baby will arrive when it is good and ready and that is how it should be but its still sometimes hard not to want it to arrive when I am getting so uncomfortable and lots of BH.

I think I keep letting myself get excited that it may be starting but then when nothing happens I feel, I don't know...sad I guess.

I do feel a bit anxious yes but actually quite calm on the whole. Just posting here because I don't want to complain in RL and not really sure why I am feeling a bit down about it. I know it will happen eventually..it can't very well stay in there forever!!

Teacup don't think I'm not sympathetic to you wanting the baby to arrive and being uncomfortable, DD was born at 42+2 after being evicted

It's just that trying to do things to make the baby come quicker can be counter-productive. And please don't be sad - every single twinge, cramp and second of discomfort is one less before your baby is born, even if it doesn't happen that day/night :)

True very true. I do LOVE feeling baby moving about inside me and I have have a very fortunate pregnancy on the whole so far so I am generally enjoying the experience and know already that I will miss those little moments when it boots me in the ribs all too soon :)