I am 38 weeks 2days pregnant and my baby has still not started to engage yet. My blood pressure has been high (have been put on meds) and there has been talk of induction if bubs has not arrived by my due date.
As bubs is not engaged by now I am wondering whether this means i will def. not go into labour naturally before my due date?
Also wondering whether induction is even possible if baby is not engaged?
Would this mean I would need a c-section if baby still not engaged by time of induction?
Is there anything I can do to encourage bubs to engage?
I go back to hospital for another check-up tomorrow, I guess im just trying to prepare myself for what may happen.
Please don't stress about bubs not being engaged yet. It is possible to go into labour without them being engaged. My first baby didn't engage until labour had started and there were no issues with it at all, so it doens't mean it's a given tht you will have a c/s. How high is your BP? You have the option of starting an induction with gel only instead of going the big gun of syncto drip and that will make it start off a lot easier and possibly give bubs a bit more time if she hasn't already engaged
hi there,
i have heard loads of stories about babies that didn't engage until the actual labour started, so i wouldn't worry to much...
with mine, she wasn't engaged and i had a c section planned but then i spontaneousy went into labour, she still wasn't engaged...i still ended up having the csection though as she couldn't fit thru my pelvis
try not to worry too much, im sure she/he will drop down when it is time.
good luck, how exciting!!
Hi Sherie
Blood pressure has been:
8 weeks 130/60
14 weeks 124/60
18 weeks 120/55
22 weeks 130/60
26 weeks 124/65
32 weeks 127/75
33+6 wks 130/80
35+6 wks 135/80
36+6 wks 150/95, 150/90, 130/90,
37+3 wks 120/85, 140/90 (started meds this day)
37+5 wks 136/88
38 weeks 146/96, 140/90
38+1 wks 150/90
Thanks for your response.
If I have to be induced I would def want to start with gel only, I just wasnt sure whether induction was an option if bubs was still not engaged...From what I have read of other BB posts the drip can be full on.
Hi Emma1979
When you went into labour was it before or after your due date?
I had heard of stories of the baby not engaging until labour but wasnt sure whether this was only people who were past their due date?
From what the midwife was saying on Monday, it sounded like if I wasnt engaged by now I would probebly go over my due date, which wouldnt have worried me except for the high bp.
Hope that makes sense...
Its so confusing at the moment...
It seems like a risk to stay the way I am,
Induction also doesnt sound like a great option if it puts more pressure on me and bubs,
And I would really like to avoid a csection if possible.
Fingerscrossed bub will drop and il go into labour naturally before my due date...
Being your first bub, it is hard to say whether you will go into labour before your due date, but I would say, statistically it's not likely. First time mum's generally go 8-10 days over their due date.
That being said, I had my first on his due date.
See if you can negotiate and push back your induction date as long as possible. Always ask "what will happen if we do it the day after". Always understand the pro's and con's of each decision, in your case, induction vs one or two more days of higher blood pressure.
If you have an induction, statistically your chances of ending up with a c-sec is higher, especially if your body is not ready to birth your baby yet.
Not sure if this is any help but a chapter in the book i am reading (Gentle Birth Method, Dr Gowri Motha) i read last night that reflexology can help baby engage and encourrage labour!
Hi Shannon
Congrats on the recent birth of Kassidy.
That info def helps...Although I would prefer to avoid induction altogether my biggest fear was having to have a csection...So your story gives me confidence that a csection can be avoided even when bubs not engaged.
I guess I will have alot of questions for the doctor/midwife tomorrow at check-up as to what may happen next and how they will go about it.
Shannon- They started me on medication on Fri last week, hasnt made much of a diff to bp levels as yet. As for pre-eclampsia my urine test has so far only come back with a slight trace of protein.
Kara- Thanks for advice, induction vs 1-2 days longer of high bp is another question I will add to my list for tomorrow.
LG- I will look into the reflexology, willing to try just about anything at this stage.
Thanks
i went into labour two days before my doctor's due date, but right on my due date by my own personal calculations, if that makes sense.... had bubs the next day as it was 28 hours later... HELL!
A visit to a Chiropractor might help - they do this Webster Technique, by releasing any tension they remove anything that could be hindering bub moving into an optimal position.
Do you know if your bub is lying frontways or backways? Your baby may want to rotate forward before settling into an engaged position. Or it might just not be time yet.
Optimal Foetal Positioning may help.
If you can keep your BP Ok, you may be able to wait until you go into labour naturally.
Thanks for all your replies.
Well at check up today blood pressure was still up, 135/95 and so my doctors have decided it would be best for both bubs and my health to be induced. Booked in for my first lot of gel at 3pm Monday (1 week before due date)
I am very very nervous and would love to hear of anyone's positve early induction experiences to boost my confidence.
Also I am booked in for my 3rd lot of accupuncture on Monday morning, should I not worry about going now that I am being induced?
Thanks again for everyones advice and support.
Advice needed
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