Head not engaged at 38 weeks - normal?

[soon2befamilyof4]

Hello. I always thought it was completly normal but MW today seemed a bit concerned. He said that if my waters go or anything while head still not engaged then the cord can end up coming down first and cause problems? I am not panicking, but would like to know a bit more about it.

I am 38 weeks today and hope to give birth in the low risk birthing center.

Completely normal as its not your first

So what about this risk though? He said I would probably need to come in if my waters broke? I don't want to be in long ideally because DD is only 15 months and unless this baby comes early while the easter hols are on - we have major childcare issues already.

Will I still be able to deliver at the birthing center?

I know I should have asked all this there but I wasn't really worried at the time.

Never heard of it being particularly high risk. Its really quite common

this might interest you especially the stats at the bottom

My DD3 didn't engage until I was in established labour. Perfectly normal for anything other than a first pg.

There are risks of a "cord prolapse" if your waters go and baby is not engaged. But TBH your waters are not likely to go if there is no pressure on the cervix, and if there is no engagement there is not likely to be much pressure on the cervix IYSWIM.

I think perfectly normal, especially with second and subsequent babies.

With my last pregnancy, baby's head was not engaged when I went for a sweep at 40+4, so they couldn't do it due to risk of cord prolapse. My waters have never broken until well into labour so I wasn't worried about that.

Thanks for that bronze - thats really helpful. Think maybe this MW just worries too much! He did seem to double check everything!

Sorry x post - thank you SMSC and Ceolas.

My waters were the first thing to go last time. In fact, they went 49 hours before DD was born .

I had been trying a few of the old wives tales to get labbour going - sex, essential oils etc - do you think it is still safe? I haven't done anything dodgy like take caster oil or anything, just the minor things that are usually safe.