Anyone whose baby did not engage until labor?

[butterflywolf]

So here I am 40 weeks 1 day and I am 4 cm dilated, 80% effaced, but baby's head still very high.

Doctor said he will induce on Monday if she doesn't come by then. Is there any reason why baby isn't engaging? Those who have had a vaginal birth did baby finally engage when you were in full labor? Or did you end up having/needing a C-section.

This is also my first baby.

 

[Dinksmummy]

Just had my 2nd baby girl 4 days ago and was induced for growth issues i was induced at 12pm started having having contractions from 1-6pm and no change at 6pm midwife said babys head was still high up she was born at 9pm the same day all normal delivery and no pain relief so yes she engaged when in established labour.

 

[seaweed eater]

Mine still hadn't engaged when my contractions were 4 minutes apart (in fact I had no progress at all). I had Cervidil inserted, and labor went fairly fast and very smoothly, born vaginally 12 hours later.

As my doctor said, there are lots of different paths to a normal, uncomplicated vaginal birth!

 

[Misscalais]

Yes my 2nd baby I had him at 40+5 he didn't drop down until just before birth basically.

 

[MindUtopia]

My daughter was never engaged as far as I know. I saw the midwife about a week before (36 weeks) and she was still free and no where close to being engaged. I never felt her engage and I didn't really had any contractions or even BH before labour. My water broke at 37 + 5, contractions started an hour later and she was born after 12 hours of completely natural labour. You absolutely do NOT need to be induced just because your baby isn't engaged and being engaged isn't necessarily a good sign labour is about to start or not. No one stays pregnant forever and it's actually safer for most women to forgo induction up to 42 weeks. So hang in there and don't feel like you need to do anything you aren't comfortable with.

 

[Reno]

me here too! I was in the midst of contractions and 7cm dilated but they were cautious about breaking my waters cos there was a risk the cord could come down first! i guess he must have been engaged at one point, then moved out?! I dunno, but they left me for 3 hours and I hadnt progressed, so some special person broke my waters and then the fun began! perfect delivery and happy, albeit cheeky, baby!

 

[Butterball Ma]

DD didn't engage until labor. The good part is that she had a lovely, non-pointy head, lol.