Head Not engaged (not first child)

[JoKB]

Hi ladies,

im 37 weeks with my second and he’s still moving from transverse to breech to head down every few days and head obviously isn’t engaging which is bothering me as I’m really hoping I won’t need a section!

Has anyone else had an experience like this with second or third births and ended up having a natural birth- where the head engaged before or during labour?

I wouldn't worry at all, sometimes the head doesn't engage until you're actually in labour or just before. It doesn't matter what number birth you're on.

Try the movements on spinning babies if you are worried but there's still time for baby turn and settle down.

It certainly doesn't mean you'll need a C-section. Xxx

With my 2nd the head didn't engage until I was pushing him out. It's very common with 2nd children and beyond.

@boogiebabies thanks, I’m hoping!!

I was doing spinning babies, moxibustion and chiropractor when I knew he was breech but now that he’s up and down frequently I’m not sure what to do, wait and see I suppose!

Yes only time will tell! Maybe just do the forward leaning inversion once a day and see what happens!

My first was cesarean for breech, and my 2nd still wasn't engaged at 40+4 when they did my second sweep. She came naturally 2 days later, and very very quickly :)

Yes my second was like this and she engaged perfectly once my waters broke then when she came out she was sunnyside up. My first, on the other hand, was perfectly cephalic and completely engaged from week 32 right up to the day I was due to be induced, according to one doctor, then later that day, maybe 4 hours later, DC1 flipped himself around to oblique and got totally jammed so had to have a CS!
They just do what they want really.
I did LOADS of bouncing on my birthing ball with DC2 though, I think it helped her work out which way the exit was.

@Blessedbethefruitz ah I didn’t think they could do a sweep until the head was engaged!

thanks @ReamsOfCheese @boogiebabies @Hibernatalie

Had DD2 in August and she was engaged at 34 weeks, then flipped to breach, transverse and moved around right up until induction. She was then head down, but not even slightly engaged when they broke my waters, they started the drip and after a few hours of strong contractions I was only 3cm, asked for an epidural and within 5 mins of being examined I went from 3 - 10cm. Had her 90 mins later. Total time from waters being broken was five hours.

@annlee3817 this what I’m hoping for! Just hoping he’ll be head down the day I go in!