4/5ths engaged is this only 1/5th to go??

[nomorebooze]

hi peeps! i had my midwife appointment today 37 weeks tommorrow? she said the baby was 4/5ths engaged! ive been thinking about it since and have confused myself, does this mean its on its way out and only has 1/5th to go or it still has 4/5ths to go??? i have looked on internet but confused myself even further! mushed pregnancy brain x
thanks in advance

[Biccy]

Hi there. I think they normally talk in terms of x 5ths palpable, which is how much of the baby's head the can feel, so if they put in your notes 2/5ths then they mean 3/5ths of the baby's head is in the pelvis.

My midwife told me on Monday at 36 week check that baby was 3/5ths palpable, but just to take this as a good sign that baby is getting in a good position, and not a sign of imminent labour.

Don't know if that helps at all....

[JaneS]

Ok, not a mummy but I've just come back from ante-natal with friend, so I'll give this my best shot.

Yeah, how far the head is engaged is a way of seeing if the baby is in a good position or not. Ideally, baby needs to line up with the wide point in your pelvic bones and with your birth canal.

It's true that the baby feels lower in your body than before, because the head is heavy and is now moving towards your birth canal - but despite this, how engaged the baby is doesn't actually have anything to do with how far 'out' s/he is.

It's only when you start labour, that the baby will really start moving down there - at the moment, sounds like s/he is just getting into a good position for the big move.

Good luck there!

[BarbieLovesKen]

I had my appointment on the 29th and am 3/5's engaged. Like you I didnt know exactly what that meant and after looking into it a bit, my understanding is 4/5's of the baby's head is palpaple (sp?) - so only 1/5 is engaged. Oh I dont know... sorry.

[nomorebooze]

thanks peeps! still unsure glad its not just me!!