36 weeks, head not engaged, can I still go into labour?

[Snowi]

Hi Mumsnetters,

Saw MW today at 36 weeks + 4, baby in optimal position but head not engaged, must go back in 2 weeks to check. But I forgot to ask her, so does anybody know if it's possible to go into labour even though the head isn't engaged??

My friend's babies (all three of them) engaged after the onset of labour.

If it's your first the baby is more likely to engage before labour, less likely if it's a second or subsequent baby.

yes, labour is about more than the head being engaged...if baby is head down and LOA, then great ! just needs to move down..which there is lots of time for.....

a lot can change in a few days towards the end of pregnancy

And agree with what SoH said !

is it your first? Sometimes in subsequent pregnancies the head doesn't engage until labour begins....or so I was told.....

Yes, you can go into labour 1st time without baby's head engaged. My DD's head engaged at 35 weeks, then popped out at 38 weeks - then my waters broke. The MW was very concerned about the risk of cord prolapse, so they got me in, pushed her head into the rim of the pelvis (using a scan), and induced me (I was 1 cm dilated). The rest was fine. If they hadn't been able to get the head to engage, they would probably have opted for a caesarian. Hope the bub's head engages soon, but don't worry if it doesn't, the MWs don't leave things to chance. Good luck.

Hi Flier, yip it's my first.

Snowi
Best thing is try not to worry. Sometimes too much info just makes you worry more.
Plenty of walking and sleeping on your left hand side can help.
The fact that baby is in optimal position is all good news, too.

but, here's a link to give you some more info, hope it helps

best of luck

\link{http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/fetaldevelopment/whenheadengage/\here]

What is your MW service like? Can you phone and ask her directly? I would suggest to do this if you're at all worried.

My first baby engaged shortly before labour began and my second was engaged for about three weeks before he was born, I don't like to do things like the text books say i should!