Baby is 4/5ths engaged??

[joss.00]

Ladies, I have a question for you.....a bit of background first though, I had my first DD at 32 weeks, she was 6pound 4 ounces so she was a very big baby for her gestational age so that is what they are putting down the reason for me coming early. Anyway, I am now 35 weeks pregnant with my second and I can honestly say I am SO UNCOMFORTABLE and unhappy as I am finding it difficult to get through everyday duties and running around after a toddler. I am so excited that I have passed the delivery date of my DD but I am hoping that I will come soon with this little one as the uncomfort I am in is so depressing. I may sound selfish but I assure you, my uterus size is measuring 40cms and I have been told every appointment with my OB that this one is another BIG baby. Anyway, I had an appointment today and my OB wrote down on his forms that the baby is 4/5ths engaged?? He also said that her head will not move any further down until I am in actual labour. Does this mean I may be going into labour soon or can they stay 4/5ths engaged for months?

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Joss it is not uncommon for babies to not engage at all until labour is established - especially so in second pregnancies. You may find that in a few days time little one will not be engaged at all.

Try and stay calm and remmeber that your body will not make a baby that you cannot birth. Maybe look at spinning babies dot com dot au to look at optimal positioning for birth and to hopefully make it easier on you.

Best of luck with the impending labour.

[Trillian]

They can stay that way for a while yet if they want to. I have a friend who was 3cm dilated and her baby was acutally through her pelvis - yep, she had already started to descend a little and her nose was crooked from resting against the pelvic bone and she went 10 days over! But I would be surprised if you went to term or went over at all.

[BellyBelly]

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/baby-engaged

[Nelle]

Ahh uncomfy! My bub was engaged from about 21 weeks, and it's hard to get things done some days hey. I have no idea when you'll go into labour, some babies can be that way for weeks probably, but that might not be the case for you...Like Trillian, in light of your history, I'd be surprised if you made it to term too. But you never know. Hang in there!

(Just an aside for an already engaged bub, they can come in a hurry, so if your bag's not already packed, perhaps do that...)

[joss.00]

Thanks ladies, I think I just get to the point sometimes where wishful thinking comes to mind and I am hoping and praying that I don't have to feel like this for much longer. I have period type pains every night for the last 2 weeks and nothing eventuates or they don't get worse so I am putting them down to Braxton Hicks but I am now at the point where I am tired of thinking every night "Is this it, is this labour"? I try to keep my mind busy but it is near impossible. Oh well, this baby will come when she wants and thats all there is too it

[~Raven~]

Caleb was 2/5 engaged the same day he was born. He had been 3/5 for ages before that though and I thought he'd never move down either!