Head not engaged at 38 weeks

[kayzr]

I'm nearly 39 weeks with my first baby. He 's due on the 18th. I saw my midwife yesterday and the head still isn't engaged and I'm worried.

Any ideas or old wives tales that might help the head engage soon?

Thanks

Kayz

is it your first?
I wouldn't worry about it myself, there's time. What did the midwife say?
If its not your first it might not engage until you go into labour. Good luck x

it doesn't necessaru]ily mean much. Look on the bright side - you may be saved the indignity of waddling like you've got a beachball between your legs!

He is my first.
The midwife said there is still time for it to engage but she also said you can still have a normal delivery which I think worried me

I don't think you need to wory, it is true that first baby's normally engage before labour begins but not always the way. You still have 2 weeks and this action takes NO time it could happen the ame day as you start labour. If your MW was worried, she would have said, there is still plenty of time. ds engaged at 36 weeks with me, but he was still 2 weeks late, so it doesn't mean anything anyway.

Good Luck with everything.

Thanks for all the comments. A friend told me to go for a long walk everyday to use gravity to help him move down.

you could also try sitting on one of those Swiss exercise balls - think you can get them for about a fiver in Argos. probably more comfy than sitting on the sofa right now - and also fab for using during labour to keep moving and bring the baby down.
wish it was me - got another 16 weeks left! Good luck, hope it all goes well xx

kayzr- goodluck and just to let you know.. my ds didnt enter the birth canal until delivery... The first push he engaged... second push he crowned and third push .. he landed at the bottom of the bed...

Goodluck

Blimey!! Am impressed!

My DD didn't engage until I'd gone into labour. (However my first sign of labour was my waters breaking and because she hadn't engaged there was no 'plug' to stop the flow and it was quite spectacular! ) My midwife never commented so I don't think she was concerned. Good luck xx

I can't believe how impatient I'm getting. I still have a week to go and I don't want to wait much longer. Doesn't help with lots of people mainly old ladies telling me it could be 3 weeks yet when I go out shopping.

Oh I sympathise (won't tell you that I went 10 days over with last one and was ready to MURDER SOMEONE). So worth it when it happens.
Milk the last week (or 3) for all you can! Feet up now!!

sit on a birth ball and walk !

also, you might find that he will have engaged by next week ! things can change quite rapidly at the end of pregnancy...

get your feet up, rest and look after yourself as you need to !

also, the head can be partially engaged and bob in and out for a bit too !

tbh, in my own personal experience head engagement doesn't mean anything....even with the first one....(all mine were on date or early by 2 weeks max, lol...

Same as Pollybear - head wasn't engaged until labour and first sign of labour was hte waters breaking! And it was a straightforward birth.

Have no idea what happened with no2 tbh

Good luck to you kayzr!

Thanks for all the messages. Im going to go walking everyday and hope it helps.

Woo Hoo!!

Just got back from appt and found out his head is engaged now!!

Was getting worried about it, so I'm now feeling much better. The MW said it could happen any day now!!

Best of luck

Thanks!!

there you go !