A question I should know the answer to :)

[ubba82]

OK, dumb question here but here goes...

What does it mean when the baby is 2/5 engaged?

Thanks

[AmandaJ]

I'm pretty sure it means that the baby is 2/5ths into you pelvis.

I think that 5/5ths is sitting just on the pelvic brim and it works it's way down further into the pelvis.

I was 1/5th 2 days before I had my bub.

So I'd say your well on the way to meeting your bub.

[~clover~]

I think its kinda confusing depending on who's doing it... Sometimes 1/5 is fully engaged, sometimes 5/5 is.
Either way your about half way engaged I think, lol.

[Shades]

I had it explained to me that it's the number of fifths that the babies head is below the pelvic brim... So two is just under half, and from three (just over half) baby's head is considered engaged. But full engagement is 5/5... ie, all of the head is below the pelvic brim.
If you are 2/5 now you're doing well - I'm over 40 weeks and my little boy is only 2/5 since a few days ago!!

[LimeSlice]

There is a - and a + engagement. Both of which have 5 degrees.

Station (engagement) is the relationship of the babies head to an imaginary line drawn between the ischial spines of the pelvis. The ischial spines are two bony prominences in the middle of your pelvis.

-5 is just coming into the pelvis to +5 station which is on the perineum or ready to be born). When the top of the head arrives at the level of the ischial spines, the baby is said to be at 0 station or "engaged.”

Women having their first baby typically engage before labor and may enter labor at -1, 0 or even +1 station and women having their second or more babies often engage during labor.


So at +2/5 bubs is just under half way to your perineum in your pelvis

HTH

[ubba82]

Thanks girls

I was just confused as to whether bubs was closer of further away to the right way out!