Discomfort!

[Demented]

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me I cannot see if this has been covered before. I am just over 31 weeks pregnant with my second baby and had a check-up with the midwife yesterday afternoon. When she was checking the baby's position (baby now head down) and checking if the head was free it was really sore. She said to me is that a bit uncomfortable and I said yes but didn't at the time think to enquire any further as she did not seem concerned. Has anyone else experienced this as I do not recall anything like this first time round. Do you think it might make labour more painful? Can't help worrying about everything this time round. Also at the moment I have a grotty cold and feel a bit achy, could the two be connected? I know I should have asked the midwife but she seemed so unconcerned at the time but after thinking about it I thought I would see if anyone else has experienced anything similar. Look forward to hearing from you, thanks.

Demented, I know that my DD was engaged about 6 weeks before due date and that made me quite uncomfy and sore down there. She was probably just asking a general question. If there was anything wrong she would have gone into it further I'm sure. Don't worry. Also doubt it will make your labour more painful. I think that all depends on the size of the baby and your body. If your first one was ok then the second one should be too.

I too was wondering how you can tell if babies head is engaged. I am at 35 weeks. When the Midwife checks babys position she has to feel very low to find the head, right inside my groin, and she asks me to breathe in and breathe out slowly to able her to feel it. It is, like Demented said, rather uncomfortable.
Pregnancy is uncomfortable anyway, so I am not sure what sensations I should be feeling! XXX

Demented,

As a midwife myself doing the same examination daily I thought I'd let you know that most women find that painful. It's a shame the midwife didn't apologise then explain that. It will not make labour more painful. Sometimes though women who have symphisis pubis dysfunction just about hit the roof if you examine them. That is discomfort around the pelvic and hip area due to the softening effects of pregnancy hormones on the ligaments. You did not mention any other pain when walking or getting in and out of the car etc. so I am assuming that is not a problem.
Ask the midwife to be a bit more gentle next time!

Kicsr
They normally tell you in terms of fifths how engaged the head is - I can't remember exactly but I think it's when it's less than 3/5's it's engaged. They tell you how many 5/s they can feel and if they can feel 4/5 or 5/5 its not engaged. Mears can probably englighten you better on this.

Demented,

As a midwife myself doing the same examination daily I thought I'd let you know that most women find that painful. It's a shame the midwife didn't apologise then explain that. It will not make labour more painful. Sometimes though women who have symphisis pubis dysfunction just about hit the roof if you examine them. That is discomfort around the pelvic and hip area due to the softening effects of pregnancy hormones on the ligaments. You did not mention any other pain when walking or getting in and out of the car etc. so I am assuming that is not a problem.
Ask the midwife to be a bit more gentle next time!

Demented,

As a midwife myself doing the same examination daily I thought I'd let you know that most women find that painful. It's a shame the midwife didn't apologise then explain that. It will not make labour more painful. Sometimes though women who have symphisis pubis dysfunction just about hit the roof if you examine them. That is discomfort around the pelvic and hip area due to the softening effects of pregnancy hormones on the ligaments. You did not mention any other pain when walking or getting in and out of the car etc. so I am assuming that is not a problem.
Ask the midwife to be a bit more gentle next time!

Sorry about that double message there - I had typed a reply to kiscr and lost the connection before posting itand the old one reappeared!

When the modwife examines you ( palpates) they ask you to breathe in and out slowly to encourage relaxation of the abdominal muscles. If she/he (being politically correct) can feel 3/5 or less of the baby's head abdominally then the rest of the head is 'engaged' in the pelvis.
You will probably be aware that the head is engaged when your bump drops giving you more room at the top. You may also find you are going to the toilet more often as the baby's head presses on your bladder.
Ask your midwife to let you feel what she is feeling next time. I used to palpate myself all the time much to my dh's disgust as he felt I never left the poor soul alone!

For modwife read midwife - more haste less speed!!

Thanks Mears, I think I am just getting so impatient now, a few more weeks to go! As a Midwife, and whilst your are on line, can I ask you what your experiences are of Bi Cornate Uterus's. Appparently mine is more "heart shaped" than "double horned". I'm sorry but my Midwife has no actual experience of a patient with one.
xxx

Thanks Mears and Tillysmummy that has put my mind at rest. The head is not engaged at all at the moment and in general I have no pain in the pubic area but I am still trying to keep fairly active, exercising regularly etc and did find that if I was on my feet too long the bottom of my bump where she was checking for the head could be quite uncomfortable. Although I hadn't felt this for a few weeks so I was surprised when it was sore when she was checking the head.

Hi kiscr,

Is this your first baby? Was this picked up on scan?
Sometimes women with a bicornuate uterus go into labour prematurely but I understand you are 35 weeks so that is not going to be a problem for you. There are probably thousands of women going around with bicornuate uterii none the wiser.

I have seen bicornuate uterus at caesarean section when the baby was breech and that might have been the reason the baby settled in that position.
I have also seen a woman with 2 cervixes also associtaed with a bicornuate uterus. She laboured no problem and had a vaginal delivery.
The message is - don't worry. Good luck and enjoy these last weeks of peace and quiet!!

Hi Mears,
Yes this is my first little one, and it was picked up at 12 weeks. Baby doesnt seem to be bothered by my BC Uterus at all, infact, my MW reckons s/he is reaching a good size maybe 8-9lbs min! He or she is Cephalic, LOP so I don't think he'll go back to the breech position again. Mine is more of a heart shaped Uterus as opposed to seperate chambers etc....thanks for your advice once more! xxx

Sounds like you need to ask the midwife to be a bit more gentle Demented. I had a student midwife recently who was pretty rough.

kicrs - with a first pregnancy baby is usually engaged around 36 weeks although can be earlier (mine was 33 weeks). With subsequent pregnancies baby may not engage at all until you actually go into labour. I am sure this is why women look bigger 2nd time round because the baby is actually higher up. My baby is only just 3/5 engaged now so I am hoping this means I will give birth soon (I am 6 days late!)

Thanks Eulalia, I think I am just getting impatient now!! These last few weeks seem to be lasting forever!
Good luck with your new arrival to be!
KICSR
xxx

Thanks Kicsr. Make the most of the last few weeks though, feeling the movements of the baby and generally having time for yourself. The first day or so after the birth of my son I actually missed my bump - you get so used to having them close to you. I can feel my little one moving around right now - hard to believe that he/she could pop out any time now (41 weeks pregnant and counting the days ...)

Thanks Kicsr. Make the most of the last few weeks though, feeling the movements of the baby and generally having time for yourself. The first day or so after the birth of my son I actually missed my bump - you get so used to having them close to you. I can feel my little one moving around right now - hard to believe that he/she could pop out any time now (41 weeks pregnant and counting the days ...)

Message withdrawn

Eulalia-feel for you at 40+6. I went to 42+2 with no1, ds just never engaged. I remember only too well how frustrating it was, and uncomfortable, and worrying, was everything all right in there, convinced mvt was getting less and less, it was a nightmare. Hope you "pod" very soon!!
I've been offered an elective C-section this time (as ended up with cs last time) and could be looking at meeting my little one on Monday!! Can't wait!
Good Luck!

All the best Eulalia can't be much fun waiting, let us know when your little bundle arrives!