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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Overdue, head not engaged, and inductions

13 replies

eltsihT · 21/05/2013 18:32

40+7 today

So went to the midwife this afternoon for a sweep, to discover my DC had gone from being engaged to not being engaged, so no sweep, fair enough, was a bit disappointed, and feeling a bit down as I was hoping this might kick start things.

Booked in for an induction on Friday, (was induced at 42wks with ds) midwife mentioned it would be consultant lead if head wasn't engaged. I didn't really think of any questions to ask till after I left, then made he mistake of looking on google.

Anyone got any experiences of inductions when head isn't engaged... I am wondering what options will be given, what the risk of cord prolapse is. Don't really want to have a section, am I better of just waiting till labour happens etc?

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Bunnylion · 21/05/2013 19:09

Sorry not had any experience of this myself but I would ask them to give me another 5 or 6 days to see if labour starts, and or the baby's head reengages. Then I'd walk, rock on birthing ball etc to try and shift the baby back into position.

With monitoring every day or every other day to make sure baby is doing ok, this shouldn't be a problem for them. At least it would give you a chance of avoiding induction, consultant led birth and possibly a c-sec.

Try not to worry and good luck.

catscherrygirl23 · 21/05/2013 19:21

Both my dcs never bothered to engage their head- was 11 days over with dd and not allowed sweep. With both I was told to go straight to hospital if my waters broke as there is more risk of cord problems. I was induced for dd but had a midwife led straightforward delivery (although retained placenta afterwards). With ds I was booked for induction at 12 days but went into labour naturally that morning and had a midwife led water birth. I think with my first pregnancy the doctor (not consultant) got involved as it took 3 goes to get the induction going but then left me to the midwives.
With my second they seemed less concerned about head not being engaged as said would just happen when labour started. I did have a sweep which had to be done by the consultant due to lack of engagement (didn't work though!)
Hth - ii know its not what you expect or really want to hear but get on the birthing ball and try not to worry too much - there is time left for things to change. good luck!

CallTheDoula · 21/05/2013 19:22

Hello, I'd agree with the above - you'll be 41+2 on Friday, right? Still quite early. Induction is less likely to work if your body & baby aren't close to going into labour anyway. Obviously nobody knows when that point is but if you and baby are well you could wait until 42 weeks at least & be monitored - which you're entitled to. There's a great publication from AIMS (Association for Improvements in Maternity Services) which you can download for (I think) a fiver, called "Induction, Do I Really Need It?" - explains options & risks & benefits clearly. Here's the link: www.aims.org.uk/ have a look under 'publications' and you'll find it there.

jumperooo · 21/05/2013 19:27

Honestly? Yes I was induced at 42 weeks, head not engaged until I was in labour and DD was back to back. Very rough labour (epidural didn't work properly, forceps, 2 hours in theatre for 3c tear, haemorrhage, two blood transfusions,) baby as monitored constantly though and was fine. I wasn't told I could have delayed the induction, wasn't offered a section either but wish I'd had one. That's not to say you will have a bad time of it though! I know someone who gave birth 1.5 hours after they started her induction!

BreeVanDerTramp · 21/05/2013 19:40

I've been induced twice at 42 weeks without head bring engaged.

DS2 took a few doses of prostin to get going, waters broken, syntocin drip, he was back to back and engaged about 3 minutes before he was born. Full process took 48 hours, actual labour for 6 of those.

DD1 one doses of prostin, head miles away and cervix very posterior, contractions started 3 hours later labour lasted 20 mins

Good luck! Things might start themselves before...

letsgetreadytoramble · 21/05/2013 21:54

I was induced 10 days early due to preeclampsia, head wasn't engaged and induction didn't work - baby got distressed, heart date dropped and I was taken for a c section 12 hours after induction started. I would agree that in my case at least, my body didn't feel like it was ready for labour yet. I think that's why the induction didn't work.

All the very best whatever happens, the midwives and doctors were fantastic to me. And c section was fine, didn't even feel the spinal and they played lovely music and told me jokes.

Hovis1980 · 09/10/2013 23:40

I'm 41 weeks with my first pregnancy and my baby's head is not engaged. I had a stretch/sweep today and aftetwards the midwife mentioned the risk of umbilical cord prolapse. She explained that if my waters broke and I could feel anything in my vagina I should call 999 and get on my hands/knees with my bottom in the air. I'm now feeling quite worried about whether I'll know or not if the cord has slipped down. Does anyone have any experience of this that they could share? Thanks!

TobyLerone · 10/10/2013 04:28

Neither of mine ever bothered to engage, and I was induced at 42 weeks both times. I had several sweeps before that.

DC1 was induced with the drip.

With DC2, my mw said she could have broken my waters when she did the sweep, but she didn't want to due to the risk of cord prolapse. I told the hospital this when I went for my induction and they wouldn't do it. They even got a consultant in and he wouldn't do it either. My own mw came in to see me on her day off and was so surprised they hadn't broken my waters that she did it herself. No problems at all (except the hospital staff being pissed off!)
Went from 4cm to DD being born within 2 hours after that. Easy!

Hovis1980 · 10/10/2013 07:53

Thanks TobyLerone for your post - that's really reassuring to hear :-)

TobyLerone · 10/10/2013 08:21

In case it wasn't clear, my midwife did the sweep at home. She said she didn't want to break my waters there and then, although she could have, because of the risk. But she knew I was booked in for induction a couple of days later and told me to tell them that I wanted them to break my waters to induce me, because it would be much safer in hospital.

They put a cannula in my hand just in case they had to do an immediate EMCS, but then decided it was too risky anyway. So they left me there doing nothing for hours until my own midwife decided to take matters into her own hands!

Apart from that, nobody was worried about the babies' heads not being engaged when inducing me. Lots of them don't engage until labour anyway.

My sister did have a cord prolapse. Her DS was undiagnosed breech and the cord prolapsed when she was 9cm dilated. That was the point at which they realised he was breech. The staff pulled all the alarms, she had to stick her bum in the air and was rushed down to theatre with a midwife kneeling on the bed next to her with her hand holding the baby's bum off the cord! She had an EMCS and everything was perfectly ok. Bit scary but both completely fine. And that's worst case scenario, if it makes you feel any better :)

Hovis1980 · 11/10/2013 18:04

Thanks for the extra info! That's really helpful to hear about your sister's experience & to know it all worked out in the end. Will be so pleased when babs finally arrives. I'm now booked in for an induction mid next wk so one way or another it won't be much longer

TobyLerone · 11/10/2013 18:07

Good luck

mrsvilliers · 11/10/2013 19:15

My SIL had a cord prolapse with her first, also very scary with alarms etc but totally fine in the end. I don't think they break your waters unless there is a theatre free because of the risk, I had to wait ages for mine to be broken. Also my DS never engaged and I didn't have a cord prolapseprolapse when waters broken. Although did end up with a section as he basically refused to engage even after 12 hours on the drip. Still stubborn now ;)

Good luck!

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