Can you go into labour with first baby before it is engaged?

[Megsy]

I'm due with my first baby in just a few days, but my ob has told me her head is still quite high. He said if it hasn't dropped by next appointment (when I'm officially one day over) then he will book me in for an induction.

With the weekend looming (and my doctor not on this weekend) I just wondered if anyone knew the likeliness of me going into labour with my first baby before she has actually engaged. I understand this happens sometimes, but mostly with second and subsequent births.

Has anyone had personal experience with going into labour before engagement takes place with number 1? I have had no other signs at all that labour is near, and to be honest I would prefer to get through the weekend so I have a better chance of getting my own doctor to deliver as he is really nice!

[Inertia]

First bubs usually go over. You probably wont get any labour signs over the weekend. Bub will engage when they are ready to - so its no need to speed up labour with an induction, imo. They are far more painful than spontaneous labour, so worth discussing in more detail (and reading up on) before making the appointment.

[Heaven]

Tell him to bugger off!! Your body and baby know what they are doing and you don't have to be engaged before labour.
My DD wasn't engaged and I went into labour at 10 days over.

[Nelle]

The day before I had my first, the midwife checked me and said 'yeah I think it might be awhile yet'. I felt fine, had had NO niggles that I noticed (and you'd think I'd have noticed since I was watching for them), and said to my birth support partner that I thought I'd go a week over.
I went into labour at 2:30 the next morning.

So....you never know, but your body can generally be trusted with its timing, and while it's often simpler for an ob to induce so they can keep tabs on things, it's not necessarily the most fun for you.
Just don't forget you do have a choice, it's your body.

[STARRYSKY]

hi! I had prelabour for WEEKS before my jbaby was born, when I went to my last appt at the hospital I was 3 cm dilated and bubs was only 3/5 engaged and that was as far as he ever got! I ended up being induced but wished I hadnt. but thats my story, you do what feels right for you.

[~clover~]

I had an OB say exactly the same.
My induction with DD1 was booked for 2 days over due. My mum chucked a fit about him oushing me into it & told me to discuss it with my gp. I did & he rang my ob to see if there was any medical reason for the induction.
There wasn't, so I didn't do it. Went into spontaneous labour at 8 days over.

[~Kim~]

Neither of mine engaged and my waters broke spontaneously with both, so def possible. Tell him to bugger off!

[sneakysparkle]

megsy - dont worry hun DD1 didnt engage till I was already in labour she was born at 41wks.

there was a thread just like this posted the other day - and the girl who posted it has gone into labour today

what hospy are you going to? please dont tell me its north west...

[Megsy]

My ob only suggested we book the induction when I see him to be prepared for the possibility that we might need some help. So I'll make the booking for the maximum time he feels comfortable with (he said 10 days over is about the most he usually lets baby stay) so that hopefully she comes along on her on anyway.

I'm having bubs at The Wesley. Boy, right now she is moving HEAPS - she must know I'm talking about her!

[~*Niadalla*~]

I've read that in 10% of all first pregnancies, babies don't engage before the onset of labour.

[sneakysparkle]

All the best - I hope bub decides to come before induction day!

check out the Spinning babies website if you havent already - it has great tips for getting bub in a good position

[Tobily]

Lots of babies don't engage before labour including first ones.

I've done two births this month, both first babies that weren't engaged at the onset of labour.

I'd really encourage you to do some research into an induction - with your baby still high, your body may not be ready to labour and an induction will dramatically increase your risk of a caesarean.

And an induction at one day over your EDD seems a tad trigger happy if everything else is fine. Is there anything else going on that has your OB concerned? It's really important that you ask questions - don't be led into something if you don't understand exactly why it's being recommended. All the best.

[Megsy]

Tobily, yes I will do some research - in fact, that's why my ob 'warned' me that an induction might be on the cards. I think you misunderstood - he certainly is not going to do it one day over - that's just when my next appointment is! We will try to book it in for the maximum 'safe' time I'm sure, as he is completely willing to allow me to take the lead in my own pregnancy. But thanks for your concern and for all the info you other ladies have provided. I'll let you know...

[Maybebabie]

My first was only 1/5 engaged when my waters broke. She came down in the end but got a huge bruise for the effort. She was 1/5th engaged from 30-35wks never moved lower.

A friend of mine who just had her third last week was telling me the baby engaged from zero to fully in one go as her waters broke and that water went flying! It left a pretty funny visual.

[diva det]

although my last pg was my 3rd child, it was the first time i had a natural labour so treated like a newbie- also a VBAC
OB had concern that bubs would not engage and be too big to engage and would have to have repeat c/s. No way was i gonna let that happen

The nite before i had him i felt a drop and clunk and pressure in my pelvis- so much that i got out of bed to check that my waters hadnt broke- they hadnt and didnt till i hit transition in labour
cx started 9 hours after i felt bubs engage and i had him that afternoon- 6 hours later.
trust yourself and your body- it will do what it needs to- when the time is right!!!
good luck

[Megsy]

I saw ob this morning - bub STILL hasn't engaged but my cervix is soft (not sure what that means, but ob said that was a good sign). So he has booked me in for an induction next Mon evening so by Tues we should have our first little baby! That's assuming she doesn't come earlier all on her own (I hope so) but I'm happy to take my ob's advice and go with the induction if she doesn't. He said at 41 weeks, doing an induction doesn't increase the chances of intervention but does reduce the risk of lots of other rproblems that arise with overdue babies. I am taking his word on that (he should know I guess!) as I would like to have as close to a natural birth as possible.

[Tancy22]

Never hear about to do a induce because the baby have not engaged!!! I have my DD 2007, and when I was in labour she was only half engaged and I was 3 days over due. My OB tald me that sometimes the baby will not full engaged until you are half way through pushing, which was my situation.

Hope this helps.