39 weeks baby's head high

[noodlesmum]

:mad: Hi I am 39 weeks and yesterday my ob told me that with the baby's head still high in my pelvis, (not engaged) I will not be delivering naturally. I'm devastated. Has anyone been in this position at this stage of pregnancy? I would still like a natural birth. Is a caesarian inevitable?

[Crazyfamily]

Hi,
If this isn't your first baby it is quite common for the head not to engage until labour begins. Did the doc say you would be needing a c/section. If you have concerns make your doctor answer your questions no matter how long it takes or how busy they are. You deserve to know what is happening with your situation.

[Kamaikia]

I had my last checkup 4 days before my bub was born - his head hadn't engaged and the doctor said to wait another week or two and see what happens. Didn't have to wait long after all. If this doctor says a c-section is the only way to go I would ask for a second opinion.

[noodlesmum]

thanks for your advice. This is my first baby. Yes the doctor advised that I would have to have a caesarian. He said my chances of going into labour in the next week (which would take me up to week 40) are "miniscule", and that with the baby's head high, he would not be able to induce me. Are all these things true? My doctor is a very well known and experienced ob.

[dee dee]

Hi noodlesmum, my dd was also very high and not engaged at a late date. My ob suggested we wait to see what happened. 10 days after my due date and still no action so I was induced. My induction failed, and I did not go into labour, so ended up having a caesarean.

This is just my experience, and I am not saying that the same thing will happen to you, as everyone is different. :)

goodluck,
dee dee

[xkwzit]

Hi
Just to add my two cents, I don't think that anyone can predict the onset or difficulty of labour (even docs). I've certainly heard stories of ppl being told its nowhere near and delivering the very next day. I also had an OB est my baby's weight and be a good pound under. I just don't think that you can accept his opinion as fact (its only his opinion).

Ask him how long he's prepared to let you go overdue, I think most docs will let you go 10 - 14 days over. That gives you another 3 weeks (or so), plenty of time before you need to start worrying about CS. You could also get another opinion, I wouldn't have thought that a CS was required unless there is some diagnosable problem with your baby or the uterine environment or you got into difficulties in labour.

Please don't start to worry just yet.

[TwoBlue]

My girlfirend was on the phone to me one day crying her eyes out because doc had said bub too high...etc..etc..
she went into natural labour two days later !!!

[LittleBoysRock]

Hi,

I wouldnt worry too much If I were you. I was told at 40 weeks that my baby was not engaged. I was really upset and starting bawling thinking the baby was never coming out and was totally sick of being pregnant.

3 Days later I went into labour myself. After 12.5 hrs my little boy was born. I did have to push him further as he never engaged but I was able to do it. I really wanted to avoid a caesar because of the longer recovery. Once I had the largest part of his head through my pelvis the Doctors were happy for me to deliver naturally . He was a failed vaccum, forceps delivery but all worth it. :D

Good luck with the remainder of pregnancy and with the birth!

[Susan_75]

Hi Noodlesmum!

I was in exactly the same position as you, and given exactly the same advice. At 40 weeks my baby had still not engaged so natural birth didn't look likely. 5 days overdue my waters broke and 12 hours later no contractions had started so things weren't looking very promising!! I was put on a drip, my contractions started 3 minutes apart straight away and DD was born 5 hours later!

Sometimes labour doesn't go quite like the textbook......

[stellaj]

Hi Noodlesmum

I thought i'd let you know what happened to me. I turned up at the hospital in labour at 10 days overdue and was waiting to be examined etc. when the midwife feels my belly and laughs that the head is still practically under my armpits so she wouldn't expect to see the baby for at least another 12 hours and would i like to have a sleep. She even called in another nurse to have a look, they thought it was quite amusing (I DID NOT) .Well 2 hours later my baby was in my arms, he must of swum himself around quick smart.

Try not to worry, babies suprise people all the time and worse case scenerio is you will need a caesar but you will still have him or her with you.

Good luck!!!

[madvoice]

I was 38 1/2 weeks when I went in for my OB/Gyn appointment and my daughter's head had popped out. She had previously descended but in the two weeks since my previous visit, Raleigh had popped out again. My OB told me that my chances of natural delivery were slim to none but he was quite happy to let me go until 41 weeks. He recommended a ceasarean. I didn't want to go down that path but at the time, I decided to go for the c-section delivery. Here are my reasons.

1. I was suffering from severe hypertension and moving around was extremely difficult.
2. My husband only had limited time off
3. My MIL was visiting.

If I had've waited until 41wks my hubby would only have 1 week with me and my MIL would have gone home. I would have next to no support. I do believe that if I had've waited it may have been different but I was so uncomfortable I just wanted her OUT. I don't regret the c-section though I do wish it could've been different. If you have the time to "wait and see" then I'd definitely go down that path.

[AM]

I'm pretty gobsmacked that a c/s is being talked about this early in the piece, remember full term is anywhere between 38 and 42 weeks, so you have LOADS of time!

With my first baby his head did not engage, and he was sitting way up high until the actual onset of labour at 40w + 4d.

I think your Ob is being rather irresponsible telling you such a load of bs!

Best of luck, chances are very likely that you WILL go into labour naturally.

Angie

[JanetF]

Lots of babies don't engage until labour so to be even considering major surgery at this point is a huge over reaction to something perfectly normal. Caesareans are major surgery and like any major surgery ought to be used only as a last resort in an emergency life and death situation. As Angie said, term can be anywhere up to 42 weeks (also depending on how you're dating your pregnancy whether from conception or LMP and remember that they're all only a guess - less than 5% of babies come on the due date.) and taking out a baby too early can lead to massive health problems at birth and in their early life as they struggle to adapt to a life they're not ready for. A neonatologist could give you excellent advice to protect your baby. Mother Nature is surprisingly smart about babies cooking until they're ready to go. Your body and your baby know how to birth. Trust them to work together. Hugs to you.

[Ondine]

At my 38 week checkup I was told by the midwife that the head had not yet engaged and that the baby was still quite high. I had high blood pressure, protein in my urine and odema, so was admitted for observation and to see if they could perhaps induce me the next day!

The doctor came and gave me an internal exam . . . I was already 2 cm dilated!!! She did a stretch and sweep and I went into spontaneous labour only a matter of hours later - in fact I watched Rove Live whilst in labour in the maternity ward!!!

My daughter was born a healthy 8lb 5.5oz the morning after I was told she was not engaged and still high!??

Anythings possible. You could ask to be induced if nothing had happened at 42 weeks and see what happens from there?!

Ondine

[pickles]

both my first and second babies did not engage until in labour . with my first I had an appointment 12 hours before and although I had a small show they said I wouldnt go into labour as the babies head was so high. 6 hours later my waters broke and 4 hours later I went into labour. my daughter was born after 5 hours ( 7pounds 10 oz ). My son was 7 days late so the doctor broke my water , with the first few contractions he dropped into my pelvis and was born 1 and a half hours later at 9 pounds. By the way I am only 160 cm tall and usually a size 6-8 so although I dont have wide hips I must have a really nice shaped pelvis for childbearing.

[TokochickUK]

hi, Im am 40wks 3dys and baby is no where near engaged and i am also panicking about this i live in the uk. Docters and midwifes seem reluctant to do a sweep as they say it will be useless as bubs is so high. I have an appointment with consultant tomorrow and i know he will wan to book induction date. I feel pretty low about this. DS#1 never engaged but when i was induced at 9 days over after my waters were artificully broken he moved down x and i delivered naturally x

[noodlesmum]

Hi, thanks for all of your advice. I am now 40 weeks 4 days. At my 40 week appointment baby's head had still not moved down. OB told me he would be happy to wait up to 42 weeks, but that he will not induce me. He hasn't done an examination and I presume therefore he would not do a strip and stretch. My only options at the moment are to go into labour naturally (which is what I'm really hoping will happen) or have a caesar on my 42 week date.
It's interesting that obviously some doctors will induce when the head is high, but mine will not. I would still rather be induced than have a scheduled caesar at 42 weeks. I'm desperately trying everything to go into labour!!!

[JanetF]

I'm glad you haven't had surgery yet. Unless there are compelling health reasons, there is no need for you to submit to surgery at 42 weeks. Some women gestate to 43 or even 44 with no illeffects at all. The far greater danger to you and your baby is that they're ripped out too soon, not that they take longer to cook. Now remember, you employ this guy so you don't *have* to do anything. You wouldn't let a plumber dictate to you where your toilet went, or let your mechanic do stuff to your car without a very good reason, well your OB is the same. He works for *you*. We all gestate at different times, as we do all other stuff at different times and in different ways. In France a fullterm pregnancy is considered 41 weeks so remember that these rules are no more than how your OB likes to do stuff. Ask him for evidence to demonstrate why a scheduled c-sec is safer for you than a vaginal birth. There is none in any reputable medical journal in the world, I guarantee it. Try these for some interesting reading. And keep in mind, you don't *have* to do anything. People can book you a c-sec or an induction all they like - you don't have to turn up! :D

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...0&dopt=Abstract

Midwifery. 1991 Mar;7(1):31-9. Related Articles, Links


A contemporary view of the human placenta.

Fox H.

Our current knowledge of the human placenta is briefly reviewed. Particular stress is placed upon the considerable functional reserve capacity of the placenta, the unimportance of most visible abnormalities of the placenta, the lack of any evidence that the placenta ages during gestation and the lack of significance of placental weight. The effects on the placenta of infection and of maternal cigarette smoking are considered and the concept of placental insufficiency critically discussed. It is concluded that most cases of 'placental insufficiency' are, in reality, examples of maternal vascular insufficiency resulting from inadequate placentation during the early stages of pregnancy.


http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/timely.asp

A Timely Birth
by Gail Hart

http://www.birthlove.com/free/ten_month_mama.html

Birthlove’s 10 month mama page – extensive references.

Obstetric Myths Versus Research Realities

A link to a sample chapter.
Enjoy!

http://www.hencigoer.com/obmyth/index.html#obthink

Suspect Diagnoses Come with Biophysical Profiling

This is a brilliant article for women being threatened with induction based on biophysical profiling.

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/biophysical.asp

Just a little taste...

Quote:
In the past year, I have had a number of letters and phone calls from doulas, midwives and childbirth educators about a flaw in this testing method. An unusually large number of diagnoses seem to be made that "there is not enough amniotic fluid." This seems to be the factor in this outline that is most often used as an excuse for induction. It is important for parents to know that this is likely an inaccurate assessment.

[Ethan's mummy]

Hi noddlesmum,

I too went to my doctor with 3 days to go until my due date, and he told me that Ethan's head was not engaged. I asked him if this was normal and he said it could engage just before labour. I also asked him if it was possible that his head would not fit through my pelvis and hes said no cause he wasn't a big baby. Well 3 days over my due date and i went into labour and his head was still not engaged. The couldn't break my waters for me because of his being too high and didn't get to break them until 10 hrs after going into labour. Well after being in labour for 17 and a half hours I ended up having an emergency caesarean due to him not fitting through my pelvis. Anyways, fingers crossed that this is not the case with you and that you go into labour naturally and have a great birth. Good luck with it all.

Kasey

[TokochickUK]

i just have to say after posting previously, that night at nearly 1 am, i finished watching a film, i had been sitting on birthing ball and nipple tweaking for nearly 2 hours lol, i felt a really strange feeling, and thought baby had dropped, i was excited lol, i switched all off and went to go to bed,,,,, the sensation was my waters breaking lol they went with a gush over the kitchen floor, 4 hours later i had my baby boy weighing 7lb 10oz all healthy x

[jordy&steph'smumma]

Both mine had high heads but were both born naturally.

My first was 18 days overdue (due to Dr being pregnant at same time and mucking me up) he was still high but I was induced and had no probs at all delivering him.

I had a scan to make sure he was going to fit through my pelvis and there was plenty of room.

My second was a week overdue and high aswell by I went into labour naturally.

My cousin just had her baby yesterday a week over and was told to go home and watch telly on her hands and knees to get the head engaged as it wasn't yet. She also had natural delivery.

Hope you go natural too
Good luck!!!!:fingerscrossed:

[keenansmummy]

Just to put my nose into this conversation... my friend went to her appointment with the same issue and the next morning she went into labour 3 weeks early - that was her first bub too so hopefully it will all work for you