Baby not engaged at 38 weeks

[harrietm87]

I know it's common for second and subsequent babies not to engage until labour starts, but this is my first baby and at my midwife appt yesterday at 38+4 it was only 1/5 engaged. Bump hasn't dropped at all.

It's not a big baby (40th centile as have had growth scans for small bump), I don't have a lot of fluid (hence small bump) and I don't have fibroids, cysts or any other physical issue that might affect it (all factors that might make a baby engage late according to google!). The midwife didn't seem bothered but I can't help but worry that labour might be more difficult and/or I'm going to go massively overdue and need an induction/CS.

Has anyone else's first baby engaged late and they've still had a natural birth?

I went in to hospital with bleeding at 34 + 3 and was told by the midwife my baby was still really high up and I had a while to go yet. My waters broke 12 hours later and I had an assisted delivery (vontoose) (due to my baby being poorly) 2.5 hours after waters went. Hope everything goes well for you.

Yes loads of people have natural births without ever being "fully engaged"