4/5 engaged at 36 weeks - Does this mean I will be early?

[pastalady]

Saw my midwife today. She's a bit fauge and not very reassuring. Told me the head was engaged and that was a 'unusual' at this stage in a second pregnancy. Wasn't until I got home a looked at my notes when I noticed she had written that I was 4/5ths engaged.

Anyone gone to full term while being this engaged before? Just wondered.

[cupcake78]

Sorry to tell you but apparently it makes no difference. One of my friends was fully engaged at 33 weeks and was still induced 2 weeks overdue.

But you never can tell- maybe your little one is wanting out sooner than later.

Good luck

[feetheart]

My DS (also 2nd pregnancy) decided to engage from about 33 weeks but only turned up 2 days before due date. Felt like I had a bowling ball between my legs forever

[MumtoBen]

My baby was 1/5 engaged 6 weeks before my due date (2nd baby). I was also told this is very unusual for a 2nd baby. But he didn't arrive until 5 days before my due date. It was very uncomfortable. I looked at my notes from DS1s birth and the head wasn't 1/5 engaged until I was 10cm dilated!

[Mumpbump]

I believe that 4/5 means that they can feel 4/5 of the head, not that 4/5 of the head is engaged, so you are only slightly engaged, iyswim.

[phlossie]

My first was 3/5 engaged at 33 weeks, and 4/5 by 35 weeks - he was still induced at 42 weeks! Like you, I thought he'd be early, and walking around for 9 weeks with a head between my legs was soooo uncomfortable. You may be lucky, though - the things is that you can never tell with babies.

(4/5 engaged means that 4/5 of the head is down in your pelvis.
4/5 palpable means that the midwife can feel 4/5 of the baby's head above your pelvis, so only 1/5 is engaged).

[Mumpbump]

Palpable was obviously what I was thinking of!

[pastalady]

Realised today that it's 4/5 palpable - so head is only a bit down there!

Nice to know 4/5 engaged doesn't necessarily mean early though as well!

Thanks for all your posts

[kittenbaby]

it did mean early in my case pastalady dd born 38+3

good luck for the birth xx

[missbumpy]

Sorry, I know this is an old thread but I'm confused about being engaged. I saw my MW on Monday and I asked if the baby had engaged (I'm 35 weeks) because I've been getting a sharp pain which feels like something pressing down on my cervix. She said the baby wasn't engaged. But when I looked at the notes I noticed she'd written 4/5. Doesn't that mean that it's a bit engaged ?
Sorry if I'm being dense!