Bub engaged and popped out again!

**JuliaL** · 09-05-2007 20:36

Hi there,
Has anyone else had the experience of their baby being engaged and then at the last minute popping out? I'm 40 weeks tomorrow and until I found out today, I was 3/5 engaged and bub has been in a great position and head down etc for at least 8 weeks.
I am quite devastated as I was hoping for labour to start soon and I am sick of waiting! I am also very uncomfortable and have been in a lot of pain (back and ribs) for several weeks, if not, months.
Despite reiterating my concerns to the midwives, they won't induce until I am 10 days over, yet other friends said they were induced several weeks early because they were uncomfortable! Midwife also said if i am not engaged properly by the time i go in to be induced I will have to have a caesar. Given I was booked into the birth centre for a natural birth, all this has come as rather a shock and enormous disappointment.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a) getting bub to move back into position or b) pushing for an earlier induction? I don't think I can stand it for another 10 days!
Thanks!!

Julia

**~Kimba~** · 09-05-2007 21:09

OK I'm not intending to scare you but knowing now what I wish I knew before I was induced - I would never ever push for an early induction unless there was a risk to the baby or myself that required it. I'd wait as long as possible to go into labour naturally, as long as it was deemed safe for me and bub.

Going overdue and being impatient is one thing (I was 10 days over, actually 12 by my own dates so I know how frustrating it is!), but the trauma of an induction gone pear-shaped and the subsequent 'cascade of intervention' is something I'd never wish on anyone else.

I was booked into the birth centre for a water birth too and I will always wonder if I had just waited a few more days, would I have ended up with the natural birth I hoped for, rather than an emergency c-section after a 20 hour labour with a baby in distress.

Sorry if I sound negative, it's not my intention, I'm just saying this because I wish someone had told me this when I made the decision to be induced

- I was given the option to wait another 3 days but decided not to, and I'll always wish I had!

Regarding getting your baby to re-engage - lots of walking! If you search the threads here there's plenty of info, there's a current thread on posterior labour HERE where a doula has posted some great tips on getting your baby into the optimum position.

Good luck with it all, try not to stress and be impatient (I know how hard it is LOL), and I hope that you have the birth experience that you hope for

**kadownie** · 11-05-2007 22:47

Just to reassure you- bubs move in and out of being engaged... bub will move back down- don't worry too much- I have attended births where bub wasn't even engaged until the Mum was pushing...

Try to relax (that will also relax the lower segement walls of your uterus which will encourage bub to move back down)

I would also encourage you not to push for early induction- an induced labour is so different to a natural labour- I know a couple of weeks feels like a long time, but in the scheme of things- it's not really!

Blessings in birth

**kas_chat** · 13-05-2007 14:21

Hi... I hope I can help you wait it out...even if you are uncomfortable... have a look at my posts over the last 12 weeks!!! kas_chat

**our little treasures** · 13-05-2007 14:28

Originally Posted by Kimbaleo

OK I'm not intending to scare you but knowing now what I wish I knew before I was induced - I would never ever push for an early induction unless there was a risk to the baby or myself that required it. I'd wait as long as possible to go into labour naturally, as long as it was deemed safe for me and bub.

Going overdue and being impatient is one thing (I was 10 days over, actually 12 by my own dates so I know how frustrating it is!), but the trauma of an induction gone pear-shaped and the subsequent 'cascade of intervention' is something I'd never wish on anyone else.

Regarding getting your baby to re-engage - lots of walking! If you search the threads here there's plenty of info, there's a current thread on posterior labour HERE where a doula has posted some great tips on getting your baby into the optimum position.
s:

I really do support all of what kimbaleo has said! I also was induced with dd and it was a very bad experience with the threat of cs hanging over. Also I was being induced and dd still had her head not fully engaged! With my 2nd I was by my original dates 16 days overdue and yes I was distressed about wanting the labour but I was NOWAY ever being induced again!! My obs knew that!

Enjoy this time dates can be wrong and it is always better to have a spontaneous labour then one that has interventions as they nearly always end up in CS!

**annsam** · 13-05-2007 14:53

My 2nd moved up and down constantly for about 4 weeks before she was born.

**Cordelia** · 17-05-2007 13:40

I agree.. there's nothing worse than being induced when your body/baby is not ready for it and being rushed off for emergency caesarean... I know it's frustrating but 10 days isn't much in the scheme of things!

**Mrs Little** · 17-05-2007 14:18

Hi Ladies..

I will be induced due to medical conditions. I was induced with DS. I feel like i'm never going to know what natural labour is...so many time i think i was a coward for not coping with the pain...but from what you're all saying...it is harder when induced.

ALSO, my DS wasn't fully engaged when they induced me...he engaged properly during labour. They also had me on all fours to turn him round before i began pushing. There are things they can do during labour to help position the baby.

Is that right? Can anyone explain the difference?

Mrs Little & Son.