Tell me it's happening soon... please!!!

[S082018]

So I am 37+1 today. Went to midwife and she said that baby is 3/5 engaged and is beginning to move his back against my belly which is a good sign!
I am walking for about an hour every day, drinking 1-2 cups of raspberry leaf tea daily and winding down each evening with a warm bath.
Today I've noticed (compared to yesterday) that walking and just generally being mobile is a lot more of a struggle than it usually is. I'm literally hobbling around which is very different to yesterday. Yesterday I had a lot of energy and could move about with ease.
I am having a lot of shooting pains down below today too.

Having said this, I've had no signs of a "show" and based on its description, I don't believe I have experienced any braxton hicks contractions either. Unless they are super mild and I just haven't felt them!
When I went to the hospital for monitoring last week, the trace showed that my uterus was contracting every so often and the midwife was surprised that I wasn't feeling anything.

Does this sound promising in any way?! Does anybody else have any promising stories about the head being 3/5 engaged or am I being overly optimistic that the baby could be here any day?

Oh and I'm also getting regular period-like cramping. It comes and goes throughout the day.

Sounds similar to how it was for me ( bar moving never got harder ... he never felt engaged to me ) I did have a bit of blood on the Monday ( but we had Intercourse to mostly hurry things up as never found it fun when 40 weeks pregnant ) within 5 days of period pains etc .. he came fingers crossed your on your way! I didn’t really feel braxton hicks either and it wasn’t until labour was fully established that I particularly felt the tightening around my whole tummy and my hips were getting a lot of pressure from him pushing down ... my waters didn’t break until I was fully dilated and ready to push ... good luck op hopefully you will be holding your little one soon

I'd love to give you good news but it sounds all pretty normal for late pregnancy! (Although my babies have never engaged so I can't comment on that!)
Based on my experience from my first baby, it's the back ache that's the giveaway.

I think it's worth trying to have sex, it's one thing that could induce labour if you're already favourable.

Other that that, I think you are already doing some things to get your body prepared.

Sounds good but it can still take days.... you're doing well walking and relaxing. For me relaxing was the main thing that got it going. According to my husband it was the curry and the sex after 🙊 I got my show when my contractions were 3 mins apart lasting 50 secs and my body was desperately getting all that curry out..... your baby will come when it's ready. You've got this.

With my 1st I was fully engaged from about 35 weeks first time they engage really early so that's all normal and could be a few weeks off yet xx

Thank you all for your replies!! I hear such a variety of things about it possibly being imminent to it maybe being a few weeks yet. I guess I'm just clutching at straws hoping it's going to be sooner rather than later 🤞🏽 partly because I'm so uncomfortable but also because I can't wait to meet my little one!

I guess I'll keep plodding along and doing what I'm doing... minus the sex part 😂 don't think I could bring myself to do that right now so hats off to those who have managed to pull that off whilst being heavily pregnant! Maybe I'll give it a go if I'm reallllllly desperate...

Any news?

No news yet I'm afraid! All signs seemed to have slowed down now unfortunately 😣

Mine's been 3/5 engaged since 32 weeks so I wouldn't take that as a sign I'm afraid (currently 35 weeks) . Just keep moving and relaxing and it'll happen when it's supposed to (she says as someone that is also desperate not to be pregnant any more! )