Baby posterior & not engaged

[Renee_AW]

I am now 40 wks + 2 days pregnant (I know this for sure because I was measuring basal temperature & ovulation at time of conception).

Baby hasn't engaged & when our Obstetrician did an ultrasound yesterday he could see that baby was in the posterior position and said it was probably the reason he has not engaged.

He said that it was possible that if baby didn't engage that labour would probably not occur naturally. He has booked me in for an induction on Wednesday next week. We have an appt with him the day before & if placenta and fluid are looking healthy then we can change the induction but I know the risks of still birth increase the longer I go so feel like I am stuck between a rock & a hard place here.

He told me that scrubbing floors or being on my hands & knees for approx. an hour each day could help to move baby. I tried this last night and managed two x 15 min sessions of hands & knees...it is hard on my wrists & knees but I will do better today.

I have also left messages for my acupuncturist & herbalist to see if they can help.

I am really scared of induction esp. if baby is still so high as I really want a natural birth without pain relief. Due to fertility issues this may be my only chance of pregnancy & birth and I am feel so upset that at this late stage things seem to be going 'belly up'. I know there is time for things to change but it just feels bad right now.

Does anyone have any other baby moving techniques that they have heard of or have worked for them. I have found some information about posterier babies during childbirth but not prior to.

[Visitor7]

Have you looked at the spinning babies website?
It is perfectly normal for a baby not to engage at all until labour starts. And that doesn't necessarily mean it will be a longer labour either. I personally know of 4 women who have gone into labour with posterior babies who were not engaged, and all had their babies under 6 hours! All were first babies as well.

[Olive]

definatly look at the spinning babies website and get that bubs turned!!! otherwise try accupunture to tuen bubs for you i wouldnt want to get induced with a posterior baby

[Renee_AW]

Thank you. I will look at spinning babies.

I just spoke to my acupuncturist and am going to see her tomorrow for moxibustion and she is going to give me some moxa to bring home to I can do it myself. She said the point to use is on the litte toe & it is possible that my broken little toe is having an effect on the position of the baby. I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful therapist!

Need to be more positive & give my baby more confidence that it is okay to turn and engage and that if he can't it is okay to come.

[Visitor7]

I forgot to add in my first post that DD1 was induced and posterior. I had a fantatsic labour. Don't lose hope hun.

[~clover~]

Both by youngest 2 children didn't engage until I was in labour. DS was posterior, DD was sideways. They turned & engaged while in labour, so just because your bub isn't engaged, doesn't mean labour won't start itself.
My last labour was also only 5 hours, even without him engaged.

[Renee_AW]

Thank you so much - your stories are helping me to feel more positive which is wonderful. Baby doesn't need a miserable Mummy!

[human bean]

Do you have access to a fit ball? Draping your arms over it, resting your head on it, letting your belly hang, and some pillows under your knees might be more comfortable then actually on your hands and knees

[Alan]

As others have said not all babies engage prior to labour.
Instead of putting your hands on the floor and thus causing pressure on your wrists try using a pillow on the floor for your head but still with your bum up in the air. (I hope that makes sense).

[Hahamama]

Hey hun,

I don't have any advice but just wanted to offer and wish you well, I really hope things turn out the way you want them to.

Try not to feel stressed/upset about it, as hard as that will be! Being scared and stressed can make labour longer and more painful, I'm sure you know this. Don't think of things as going "belly up", even if the birth doesn't happen the way you planned, I'm sure you're in the best of hands, and at the end of the day, a healthy bub is the only outcome that matters! Try to stay positive about it all.

[~Hestia~]

My DS was also posterior & did not engage until my waters broke, at which point I was already in hospital at 8cm dilation. Which is exactly what my midwife had said would happen!
So please don't worry that this means you won't go into labour naturally. It's quite normal! Good luck!

[Sagres]

My DD was posterior at my last appointment (Wednesday) and I was booking into be induced due to PE on the Sunday. My ob said the same thing, labour was probably not getting off the ground because of DD being posterior. I remember feeling the same as you have described.

Good news was that when I went in to have the gels inserted she had turned and we were all ready to go! I had one session of acupuncture on the Friday, not sure if that got her moving or she just got into position herself, but just wanted to say there is still time for your little one to turn around.

[kylieb77]

My DS wasn't engaged at 40+1 and I was told to go and do all those things to get him to drop and engage, and the midwife told me she would be working the next day and was sure she wouldn't see me - wrong!!! My waters broke that night and contractions started not long after. DS was posterior and still took a long time to turn and engage during labour, but I ended up having him naturally.