39 weeks and head not engaged

[Juletron79]

I am 39 weeks with my first and the midwife told me today that the head hasn't engaged yet which is a cause for concern. I've read that sometimes the head doesn't engage until labour starts. Is there anything I can do to encourage it to move?

[Kate91]

Bouncing on birthing ball should help and moving about as gravity will help but yes sometimes head doesnt engage till labour but dont worry your 39 weeks you can change drastically over a few days. I was engaged at 39 weeks but at 40 weeks my cervix was still way to high to do a sweep and yet i went into labour spontanousley at 40+3 within under 2 hours of waters breaking i was measuring at nearly cm dilated hich amaed them to say 3 days before it looked like i was no where near ready

[Hidden]

Hiya!

I'm 38+5 and also not engaged although my midwife is not too concerned. She said so long as the head is the right way that's all that matters! She said gravity is the best tool to get baby to drop and suggested lots of bouncing and hip rotating on a birth ball and walking. Gentle squats supposedly also help but are not ideal to do now if you're not used to the exercise. I'm trying to do this more than sitting in the sofa with my feet up which I read is counter productive. My midwife told me some babies don't drop till labour starts too which is also fine.

Good luck! Xx

[VRT102]

I wouldn't worry about this too much to be honest, plenty of babies don't engage before labour. My little girl only engaged when I was in active labour and I had a textbook delivery.

As mentioned by the other ladies, bouncing on birthing balls is supposed to be good (didn't work for me though).

[Juletron79]

Thanks girls. I just hate the way one midwife can rain on your parade and leave you anxious! I have the ball out and will sit on that until baby arrives Thanks so much for putting my mind at ease

[GingerAcorns]

Hi Juletron,

I agree with everyone above. A high head at your gestation is not uncommon and the baby will likely move down at the onset of labour. However, your midwife was right to point it out although she should have explained why it was important for you and your maternity care team to be aware of it. There are a few risks associated with a high head at term and for most of them you don't need to worry about now. The one you should have been made aware of though is your waters breaking. An engaged head acts as a plug over the birth canal. If the head is high then there is a small risk of the umbilical cord slipping into the birth canal when the waters break. Whilst this is very rare it is a serious emergency. Therefore, if your waters break it is important that you phone your hospital to speak with them straight away telling them your midwife told you that your baby's head is high.

Hope that makes sense and again it is most likely that your baby will move down into the pelvis when labour starts. Enjoy bouncing on you ball!