Is this weird? Baby only engaged when standing?

[Rollermum]

Hey all,

Went for positioning scan today - baby is head down. Had been 4/5 palpable for weeks, 2/5 yesterday by midwife estimate. But when saw consultant today she said baby was totally 'free' when lying down but engaged when I'm standing. Also this means birth won't be happening soon.

Has the baby moved back up?! Or if engaged when u stand could it still be soon(ish)?!

First baby and I'm 39 weeks.

No advice but wanted to bump this up so you will hopefully eat a response.
Good luck xx

Thanks Excited :)

Just bumping this - would appreciate any thoughts :-)

I didn't think it counted as 'engaged' until it was properly in there.

I would have thought that in your case it's just moving down with gravity when you're standing.

I'm not an expert, though!

Yeah that's what I thought too. Just confused because had been seen as palpable and now this. Feel like might be pregnant forever (though I know can become engaged just before labour).

Mine never engaged fully before labour. I also had to be induced both times at 42 weeks. I doubt these two things are unconnected in my case.

Hopefully yours will make its mind up soon!

Thanks :-) yes I can imagine they are connected and I am preparing to be induced - because of this, and general way nothing is really happening!

Hi Rollermum,

DS was born following induction. They struggled to monitor his heart beat and I ended up on the bed for the whole thing - they wouldn't even let me get up to go to the toilet, just handed me a bedpan. It was terrible and I cried a lot. DS was eventually born by EMCS following failure to progress.
Went for a VBAC with DD (Different, much better hospital!!) and insisted I wanted to be mobile throughout, despite them wanting to monitor me as VBAC. Anyway, I contracted regularly when standing, walking, swaying but each time I had to lie down to be examined the contractions practically stopped. I literally went from 1 in 3 mins to 1 in 7/8 mins each time.
One midwife said to me if they were true contractions I would have them regardless of being stood up or lying down and that I couldn't be in active labour. I was 10cm dilated 15mins later and daughter was born 1hr 30 mins later!
Not the same thing at all but thought you might be interested to know! Baby was never engaged until labour either - I had 5 sweeps and was 4cm and baby was still 'free'!

YY I had my waters broken at 4cm with DC2 and they did it prepared to do an EMCS in case of cord prolapse because her head was still free.

As soon as her head hit my cervix the ctx started in earnest. They said I could get up and move around but not leave the ward and they would check me again in 4 hours. She was born an hour and a half later :o

Congratulations

Thanks lovelylentils that is really interesting. Sorry you had such a hard time with DS. That backs up my decision to have as active a birth as possible!

TobyLerone thanks also - I had no idea it could progress like that.

I'm going to spend more time this week getting gravity on side!