41 weeks and 1 day pregnant with a ?

[mommy2madison03]

Is it fairly common for 2nd plus babies to not engage until actual labor? This is what I always thought.

Well this child's head is not yet engaged. I post on another board and one woman commented, "I hope that doesn't mean that the baby is too big and you'll need a c section!" I really don't feel like this baby is too big for me to deliver vaginally but her comment frustrated me I guess.:

I am planning on scrubbing some floors on my hands and knees: today to help bring the head down in hopes it'll throw me into labor, lol! I'll take any other suggestions too!

[bradleybirth2mom]

Yes, that's just fine and healthy. And the average pregnancy is now known to be 41 1/7 wks, not 40 wks as previously thought. My baby dropped and 'undropped' the second time for a month prior to labor and took me on a little emotional rollercoaster ride. But he came healthy and when he chose to, so I won't bother him about it. By the way, the C-sec comment was probably made without the knowledge that cephalopelvic disproportion affects less than 3% of women worldwide, and this 3% generally had nutrition issues that caused it, like a lack of vitamin C when they were growing up. Your baby was made to fit through your pelvis, which can expand like a clothespin when you squat to open 30% more than when standing or lying down. Don't worry, mama, and happy birthing!

[bradleybirth2mom]

As far as natural induction, I recommend---now, don't get embarrassed, readers---nipple stimulation for 15 minutes at a time each side, repeated three times a day, and the mouth is more effective than the hands. It is especially useful in starting up a stalled labor. Nothing else I have found seems to make a difference, and it won't work until your body says it's full term for your baby. It may help you dilate before the big day---you never know if it will work for you, but it can't hurt.

[mommy2madison03]

Thank you thank you thank you! I knew I was right but I just wanted to hear it again, kwim?

I was induced with my daughter and I am avoiding that with this baby. I'm seeing a cnm instead of an ob and she's letting me call all the shots. I've already dialated to 3cm without that constant pressure from baby's head so I'm hoping labor will go quick and easy for me.

However since I posted this earlier I lost my mucos plug!!!!!!!!!! I also keep having a lot of bloody show too so I'm really hoping today is the day!

Oh and I did get out my breast pump the night before last and used it to try and start something but it didn't do squat, lol!

[courtenay_e]

Hey, if you're not laboring...hands and knees is NOT good for a baby that hasn't engaged. Better to use squatting or climbing stairs two at a time. Hands and knees is actually something we use to KEEP baby from engaging or to help it UNengage (for instance for a posterior presentation, to allow baby to get out of the pelvis, turn, and then re-engage).

[doctorjen]

Second and subsequent babies in fact rarely engage prior to labor. I've seen babies go from very high to out in 2 or 3 pushes, so it doesn't bug me at all if the baby isn't engaged at some arbitrary point.

I hope you are laboring or holding your sweet baby already!

[eco_mama]

It's common that 2nd babies don't engaged until actual labor. My mw explained it to me. And that's exactly what happened with my 2nd labor. You have nothing to worry about mama.