Tips to get the baby to engage?!

MamaK · Apr 28th, 2009, 06:16 AM

Hi,

Just back from the midwife and she felt that the baby's head is not engaged, she tried to engage it and it did, but then came out again....

She said she will do a scan next week to see why baby hasnt engaged yet.

Question is, what does this mean exactly???

I know some babies dont engage til labour but what are the implications?

Also, anyone got any tips for how to get the head to engage???

I have a birthing ball, but to be honest dont exactly know what Im doing with it, hahaha

xxx

faille · Apr 28th, 2009, 06:29 AM

I have no idea hun, sorry - not had this problem as I didn't want the baby to engage! (As it would have been her bum, not head

)

I keep hearing the birthing ball and leaning forward like you're on the loo helps baby to get into the right position but I'm not sure if that means engaging too.

Sorry I'm not much help xx

kaykay · Apr 28th, 2009, 06:39 AM

Im not sure either. Im only 4/5ths engaged and I have only 8 days left.. Basically it just means that you will prob be in labour a little longer because the baby has to go down further..Just keep bouncing on your ball.. but I cant seem to get minbe to go down further either.. she still had 4 places to go down and shes been like this since week 36!! annoying as it is LO will come when there ready xx

purple_socks · Apr 28th, 2009, 07:05 AM

I've been told that bouncing on an exercise/birthing ball helps and apparently so does walking (i've been told especially walking up and down the stairs)- i have no idea if any of that actually works tho coz this is my first baby and i still haven't had it yet. good luck with it all x

Kiree · Apr 28th, 2009, 07:27 AM

Apparently you can bounce / rock on the ball or lean over it with your chest on it. Also sitting on the edge of the settee with your bump hanging forward between your thighs is supposed to help.. think the ball is best tho cos your pelvis will be nice and open for baby to move down (in theory! We all know how our babies don't like to co-operate!)

Good luck ..come on baby get your head down for mum please!

Kiree · Apr 28th, 2009, 07:28 AM

Apparently you can bounce / rock on the ball or lean over it with your chest on it. Also sitting on the edge of the settee with your bump hanging forward between your thighs is supposed to help.. think the ball is best tho cos your pelvis will be nice and open for baby to move down (in theory! We all know how our babies don't like to co-operate!)

Good luck ..come on baby get your head down for mum please!

MummyToAmberx · Apr 28th, 2009, 08:08 AM

On birthing ball, you sit on it legs apart and you just bounce, i would be on mine for 30mins at a time.
You can do the same, but do circle motions with your hips.
Try going on all 4's for 10mins at a time as many times a day as you can.

I was on my ball none stop from 31/32weeks, started to engage at 34weeks, first baby.

Mum2b_Claire · Apr 28th, 2009, 08:31 AM

My baby's head hadn't engaged at all 38 weeks and was 1/5 engaged at 40 weeks. My midwife said it's because my baby is back to back, so should avoid leaning back, lying on my back or slouching at all.

staceymy · Apr 28th, 2009, 08:42 AM

Wow i have never heard of a MW trying to engage the babies head before.

My LO was head down from 28wks, engaged 4/5ths at 34wks & stayed like that till my 38wk MW appt. At my last appt i was already in labour & she had only moved to 3/5ths! I had her later that day!

Try sitting with your legs apart. Keeping the pelvis as open as possible. I dont think its too much to worry about.

dannydustcart · Apr 28th, 2009, 10:39 AM

Bouncing on birthing ball... but my midwife told me that most babies dont actually engage until labour has started.

Apr 28th, 2009, 06:16 AM	#1
MamaK Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Netherlands (Born and bred in Scotland) Posts: 1,675	Tips to get the baby to engage?! Hi, Just back from the midwife and she felt that the baby's head is not engaged, she tried to engage it and it did, but then came out again.... She said she will do a scan next week to see why baby hasnt engaged yet. Question is, what does this mean exactly??? I know some babies dont engage til labour but what are the implications? Also, anyone got any tips for how to get the head to engage??? I have a birthing ball, but to be honest dont exactly know what Im doing with it, hahaha xxx

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Apr 28th, 2009, 06:29 AM	#2
faille Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kent UK Posts: 3,663	I have no idea hun, sorry - not had this problem as I didn't want the baby to engage! (As it would have been her bum, not head ) I keep hearing the birthing ball and leaning forward like you're on the loo helps baby to get into the right position but I'm not sure if that means engaging too. Sorry I'm not much help xx

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2009, 06:39 AM	#3
kaykay Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Leicester Posts: 395	Im not sure either. Im only 4/5ths engaged and I have only 8 days left.. Basically it just means that you will prob be in labour a little longer because the baby has to go down further..Just keep bouncing on your ball.. but I cant seem to get minbe to go down further either.. she still had 4 places to go down and shes been like this since week 36!! annoying as it is LO will come when there ready xx

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2009, 07:05 AM	#4
purple_socks Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,978	I've been told that bouncing on an exercise/birthing ball helps and apparently so does walking (i've been told especially walking up and down the stairs)- i have no idea if any of that actually works tho coz this is my first baby and i still haven't had it yet. good luck with it all x

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2009, 07:27 AM	#5
Kiree Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North East England Posts: 1,080	Apparently you can bounce / rock on the ball or lean over it with your chest on it. Also sitting on the edge of the settee with your bump hanging forward between your thighs is supposed to help.. think the ball is best tho cos your pelvis will be nice and open for baby to move down (in theory! We all know how our babies don't like to co-operate!) Good luck ..come on baby get your head down for mum please!

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2009, 07:28 AM	#6
Kiree Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North East England Posts: 1,080	Apparently you can bounce / rock on the ball or lean over it with your chest on it. Also sitting on the edge of the settee with your bump hanging forward between your thighs is supposed to help.. think the ball is best tho cos your pelvis will be nice and open for baby to move down (in theory! We all know how our babies don't like to co-operate!) Good luck ..come on baby get your head down for mum please!

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2009, 08:08 AM	#7
MummyToAmberx Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 11,989	On birthing ball, you sit on it legs apart and you just bounce, i would be on mine for 30mins at a time. You can do the same, but do circle motions with your hips. Try going on all 4's for 10mins at a time as many times a day as you can. I was on my ball none stop from 31/32weeks, started to engage at 34weeks, first baby.

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2009, 08:31 AM	#8
Mum2b_Claire Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kent Posts: 16,777	My baby's head hadn't engaged at all 38 weeks and was 1/5 engaged at 40 weeks. My midwife said it's because my baby is back to back, so should avoid leaning back, lying on my back or slouching at all.

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2009, 08:42 AM	#9
staceymy Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 1,241	Wow i have never heard of a MW trying to engage the babies head before. My LO was head down from 28wks, engaged 4/5ths at 34wks & stayed like that till my 38wk MW appt. At my last appt i was already in labour & she had only moved to 3/5ths! I had her later that day! Try sitting with your legs apart. Keeping the pelvis as open as possible. I dont think its too much to worry about.

Status: Offline

Apr 28th, 2009, 10:39 AM	#10
dannydustcart Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Talywain,Wales Posts: 1,626	Bouncing on birthing ball... but my midwife told me that most babies dont actually engage until labour has started.

Status: Offline

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