2nd DC. Head 'fixed and deeply engaged'. Does this mean labour is imminent ?

[Lolski]

Or could it still be weeks away yet ? I am 36 weeks. Saw the MW this morning and she told me that it was deeply engaged now so just wondered how long it could be now and if it's likely that it could still go full term.
Thanks everyone.

I posted this in the 'childbirth' section earlier but have copied it over as I am not sure which one to put it in.
I have googled it and the general thing seems to be that with first babies the head can engage very early before the birth but with second babies it tends to engage at the start of labour so am just wondering whether that means labour is imminent.
Thanks again

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

You could still go to term (37-42 weeks).

It is a good sign that things are progressing well though

[Minniethemoocher]

Not necessarily, in my case, baby was fully engaged at 32 weeks, baby born 10 days overdue, so I spent many weeks walking around feeling like I had a coconut between my legs!

[fiodyl]

no unfortunatley not especiall in a first pregnancy the babys head does usually engage quite early on and has no link to when it will be born

[TheFallenMadonna]

My mum was told this when pregnant with me. It was 1 Dec and she was told to do her Christmas shopping pronto. My birthday is 30 December...

[whomovedmychocolate]

Lolski - you may well still go full term or even be overdue. Most babies don't engage properly until labour starts in second pregnancies because the uterus is simply a bit more elastic (it's been stretched that way before).

But, bear in mind, by 36 weeks there is very little danger from prematurity aside from temperature regulation.

Good luck.

[OneLieIn]

I was same as Minnie, totally engaged with DC2 at 32 weeks in september, pool inflated in october, due in November, born in december.

[Heated]

I was ready to go from 38 weeks but dc2 was induced at 41wks+

[BigBadMouse]

Don't get too excited (doubt you will after all the previous responses though).

My DD1 was 'head fixed and fully engaged' at 32 weeks born at 40+3,
DD2 was the same at 34 weeks but born at 39 exactly.

I'm 40+1 with DS1 and he is completely not engaged (he obviously likes to be different )

[MrsJohnCusack]

unfortunately not
both of mine engaged by 34 weeks and well down, 6 and 13 days over. Sorry!

[ShowOfHands]

DD engaged and fixed for 9 weeks...

[Lolski]

Thanks everyone......by the sounds of it I could be in for a long haul yet Will start on the raspberry leaf tablets and hope for the best.

[Minniethemoocher]

Good luck Lolski!

[Lolski]

Thank you. Back to waddling around for the time being

[CJM88]

Hi everyone,

Baby engaged at 34 weeks, now 35 weeks pregnant. Being second pregnancy is baby likely to come earlier? What was your experiences second time round? TIA x