Will baby engage?

[Mel09]

1. I had my 39w appt wednesday and baby's head is still high and mobile, they were going to induce due to size, and wouldn't as bubs head is higher. I am happy to wait the week out, but today OMG OMG I can't move... my sorry for the term... fanny muscles are so sore that I really am struggling to move my legs, either sitting, standing or walking...

I prob should have posted this in professional support area, but I would love Natalie's opinion, and Kels... and anyone else with experience here...

2. The hosp well the ob was pushing for an elective c-s if bubs doesn't come down as it's in the 90th percentile for size, he said that staying high could be babies way of saying its too big to fit. I am sure that I can birth a bigger baby, and want to atleast try. I told him a cs was out of the question unless an emergency or baby's life was in danger (hence emergency!) anyways, I am a bit worried that if I wait til baby comes on her own, or 42 weeks comes along, then maybe she will be too big, so am seriously considering the induction, even though bub is still not engaged.

NATALIE- I have been doing the sitting pose from your site, will this help bub come down?

[Pandora]

ok so I dont have an expert opinion, but i thought it was not uncommon for second and subsequent babies not to engage until labour?

[BellyBelly]

Yup there is more stretched space after the first bubby, they usually engage close to labour. I would be making the spinning babies site your best friend right now! I would be more suspicious he is possie than too big - if it's anything at all!

spinningbabies.com - Home

Any walking you can do will help to make sure you are moving your pelvis for baby...

So is your Ob saying babies at the 90th percentile are too big to be born?! I hate percentiles because it takes a big baby and a small baby to make an average baby. Not to mention ultrasound being inaccurate... anything actually on the percentile chart is normal to me!!!

[Lulu]

Hang in there hun!!!

[Mel09]

Thanks guys... thats what I thought, re being second baby and being so close as DD is only 17 months.

So Kel in you opinion, and I know that it will just be an opinion, there would be no HUGE extra risk in being induced with bub still not engaged to going in naturally with out bub being engaged... maybe if I just have the gel it will help bring bub down... you know not use anything else like synto etc...?

I did a fair bit of walking today... maybe that is why I am so sore???

Thanks again... off to bed to try and sleep.

[BellyBelly]

They wont induce with a high baby, they will c/s as there is a risk of cord prolapse if they break the waters.... hang in there hon, you are so close!!! See the checkered flag, you can do it!!!

[blue daisy]

Hey lovely Mel

yes that sitting pose will open the pelvic cavity and encourage your baby to engage when he or she is ready some babies are so cheeky before birth

what your OB didnt tell you is that a baby with lots of room to move, due to an ample pelvic cavity, will pop in and out of the pelvis without engaging until labor starts

well done you for saying no to c/s

any guestimation of baby size is usually so very wrong, and even an ultrasound is not a reliable source of info

an induction at this stage would prob result in lots of unnecessary medical intervention and maybe a c/s due to failure to progress or fetal distress

your only 39weeks lovely, you still have 3 weeks up your gorgeous sleeve

your baby will engage when he or she is ready to be birthed, and you may find that once engaged your labor will start

dont feel forced into having your waters broken either to induce, as a high head has the risk of cord prolapse (not good)

even if you go into labor with the babes head high this is fine , and with the waters intact will allow things to move along at a pace that is right for you and your baby

another pose you can practise is to sit back to front on a chair, facing the back rest, legs straddling the seat. This provides a supported squat position and again opens the pelvic cavity. Also bring your elbows to the back rest and rest your forehead in your hands. This calms the nervous system, relieving anxiety and increasing endorphin release (which encourages oxytocin release)

I hope this has helped, please dont hesitate to email me directly if you want to chat (or even ring )

x

[BellyBelly]

your only 39weeks lovely, you still have 3 weeks up your gorgeous sleeve.

I don't think she wanted us to tell her that LOL