How to get babies head engaged! For a sweep…

[Twiglet2]

I am getting induced next week at 39+1 and went for a sweep today to hopefully start things naturally (this worked previously with my son) but they said the head was still a little too high and ‘bobbing about’ so didn’t want to do a sweep. They said we can try again on Monday or just do induction on Monday if head still not engaged (but I also could t get the at home balloon catheter induction if head still high which I wanted). I’m a bit gutted as I was hoping to get things moving and spend the least time in the hospital as possible!

so any tips on how to get babies head engaged or even start labour naturally! Or would you just get induced on Monday with the pessary and give up trying to get baby to come out on its own lol

[WillowPark]

Hi Twiglet2, have you seen the Spinning Babies website? It has exercises designed to move baby into position. spinningbabies.com/pregnanc...

Other than that I'd be walking everywhere, staying upright and sitting on nothing but a bouncy birth ball! Good luck!

[Twiglet2 in reply to WillowPark]

Fab I hadn't saw this, this is fantastic thank you ☺️ xx

[WillowPark in reply to Twiglet2]

Let us know how you get on! Sending all the good vibes! 🙂

[Solly-44]

So close now!! I’ve got no advice as both mine were elective sections but saw your post and wanted to wish you all the luck for next week. Hope you have a magical experience whatever you decide xx

[Twiglet2 in reply to Solly-44]

Thanks lovely 🥰 xx

[DLZ321]

same as above, good luck!! Let us know how it goes 🥰 x

[Kitkat10]

hi, they told me to use a birthing ball to try and get the baby’s head to come down. She wasn’t fully engaged, apparently second babies rarely are as there is more room 🤷🏻‍♀️ but they still let me have a balloon induction , which I have to say was more painful in terms of the contractions it caused compared to the pessary I had with my firstborn.

I bounced for 2 hours on the birthing ball on the labour ward and nothing happened so they broke my waters manually and put me on the oxytocin drip, then things got going. I was 39+2

Xx

[Twiglet2 in reply to Kitkat10]

Thank you! Yeah they said the same to me about 2nd baby and sometimes don’t engage until you are in actual labour! I didn’t t know this at all until yesterday! That’s so interesting about the peasary vs balloon…. I had thought the peasant might have been spree cos it was hormone led and only really want the balloon so I can go home with it in for a bit as I really really hated being in the hospital for days on end last time I got no sleep at all and felt like a zombie when it came to actual pushing baby out! Even though labour and waters breaking were natural they kept me in the induction ward anyways to monitor me and baby and I just really felt like I was stuck in there. It was Covid times though so might have been cos I was on my own… will see what they say Monday but this has made me less nervous of the pessary, thank you!! 💜💜💜

[Saskiahope]

ohhh exciting! I’m getting a sweep on Monday and induction Friday, so following for tips!!! Xxxxx

[Twiglet2 in reply to Saskiahope]

Eeek. Very close for us both! Looks like a lot of birthing ball and walking about for bus this weekend lol …. I didn’t need to do any of this with my first he was engaged no problem for the sweep! This one is still bobbing and squirming about in there lol. X

[HollyT7]

I would give up and just get induced. I tried every trick in the book with both of mine, positions, walking, food, bouncing about for days on a ball (including in hospital after the pessary), sweeps galore, even tried a second pessary with my second and they both stayed put. I couldn’t not have tried any harder and if I did it all again I would just go for induction and not even bother faffing about wasting my much needed energy 🤣 All the best ! Such an exciting time!! ❤️❤️