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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Can you feel when the baby engages?

37 replies

Stefka · 18/09/2007 08:18

I am 36 weeks keep getting pains low down - could it be the baby dropping or is the baby just knocking against something in there. It's been happening for three days now. I have a midwife appointment later today so I can get it checked out but I was just curious to see if you could feel the baby dropping like that.

OP posts:

Report

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 08:32

Hi Stefka,

I've been feeling something like that (I'm 36wks too)...sort of like pressure on the cervix. Anyway, I had a midwife appointment yesterday and apparently the head is 2/5 engaged so I guess that's what the pain was about. It might be totally unrelated though.

Good luck with your appointment. I was really excited to find out that the baby's engaged. It makes me feel like it won't be too long before the big day !

Stefka · 18/09/2007 08:34

You Edd is the day after mine is it not? I am the 14th Oct - it's not long now!!!

OP posts:

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 08:38

Yes, you've got a better memory than me I'm 15th Oct.

Let us know what the midwife says about your baby being engaged.

Stefka · 18/09/2007 08:43

Will do - it will be interesting so see which one of us goes first!

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Stefka · 18/09/2007 15:30

The midwife said that the baby's head has dropped to the brim of the pelvis. So it's on the way but not engaged yet. She said that's what the pain is though so at least it isn't anything to worry about

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swollen · 18/09/2007 15:40

Hi girls, im 34 weeks and my pelvis aches constantly at min esp if i ve been sitting or lying down for a while. feels as if there s constant pressure on it. good to know im not alone.

lisad123 · 18/09/2007 16:20

I was in hell when LO engaged a few weeks ago, but one day she thought she would pop out, then decided she preferred to be engaged, and yes I knew she had engaged Still engeged now but no labour yet

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 17:17

Hi Stefka,

I'm glad your midwife appointment went better than my driving test

My midwife said exactly the same thing last week but then this week she said it was 2/5 engaged. I bet it will be engaged soon. Very exciting

mandler · 18/09/2007 17:31

I have just been told that baby is 1/5 engaged and pretty stuck in there (I am 35+5). MW also said that she can't see me going past 38 weeks......eeek! Exciting but flipping heck!
Although I bet I am still here at 42

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 18:57

Ooh, that's exciting Mandler. Is that because you're already well engaged or were there other things to make her think you'd be early (like starting to dilate etc)? I'm 2/5 engaged and it feels like it might have moved further down today...your post is making me wonder if I should be getting ready for an early baby !

lisad123 · 18/09/2007 19:02

my bumpy has been fully engaged since 35 weeks and still showing no signs of coming

Stefka · 18/09/2007 19:06

Do you get to see your midwife every week missbumpy? I only get to see mine once a fortnight.

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missbumpy · 18/09/2007 19:13

Hi, no it's meant to be every fortnight but somehow they'd got confused with the dates which meant that I saw the m/w at 35 weeks and again at 36. I don't have another appointment until 38 weeks though.

I actually feel like the baby's dropped more today . I've just been so stressed and upset about the driving test...it seems to have led to a lot of baby movement and a lot of painful pressure on my cervix. I was starting to worry that the stress of it all might send me into early labour!

Stefka · 18/09/2007 19:20

Ah thought I was missing out there.

Hope you had that cake.

OP posts:

missbumpy · 18/09/2007 20:13

Ended up baking a cake (and eating it )

Stefka · 18/09/2007 20:38

Baking! Bloody hell - you are nesting! I thought I was good for cooking the tea but I can't top baking - I just ate a twix insted.

OP posts:

missbumpy · 19/09/2007 10:29

I know. The baking thing started a few weeks ago. I don't seem to have the energy to make proper food (like dinner) but I seem to have endless reserves of energy when it comes to baking tasty cakes So far it's the only sign of my nesting instinct. My flat looks like a pig sty!

mandler · 19/09/2007 11:21

I think some of it was that old chestnut "instinct" stefka! I will take it with a little pinch of salt but get my bag ready this week just in case

mandler · 19/09/2007 11:22

Sorry I mean missbumpy! Looks like babies can be engaged for a while - although she said if my little fella were any more angaged he'd be married!

Kittiwake · 19/09/2007 13:47

Hello

I am due 15th October too and saw midwife on monday she said same to me Stefka that baby was on brim of pelvis but also wrote down that it was 4/5 palpable which I'm guessing means 1/5th engaged?

Sorry to hear about your driving test Miss Bumpy I had 3 goes at mine as had terrible nerves and just fell to pieces, on the one where I passed the instructor said I'm guessing that was your first test and I said no my third and he looked like he wanted to grab the test certificate back. You will do it though and glad the stress didn't bring on labour .

I had a couple of days of baking and made some chutney and jam but that seems to have passed now.

It is the strangest feeling isn't it knowing it could happen sometime soon but no idea when very excited and can't wait to meet my baby but I have to say I am enjoying this kind of calm before the storm period.

missbumpy · 19/09/2007 14:08

Hi Kittiwake,

Someone else with EDD of 15th Oct !

TBH, I'm finding this 'engaged' thing quite confusing. As I mentioned earlier on the post, my mw said that baby was head down but not engaged a week ago but she then wrote 4/5 on my notes (which I think means that it's beginning to engage). Anyway, a different midwife the following week (this week) said it was 2/5. Not sure if it had moved down a lot or if it was just because it was a different midwife. She did say it's quite a subjective thing and not very scientific.

From what other people are saying on this thread it sounds like being engaged doesn't necessarily mean that the baby's about to put in an appearance any day soon though.

It's funny, I feel different though. I feel like it could happen any day or week now. Whereas a week or two ago I couldn't imagine going into labour...it just seemed like something in the distant future. Does that make sense ?

Kittiwake · 19/09/2007 14:24

Well I'm confused too I thought that the difference is between 4/5 palpable which means she can feel 4/5 ths of the head so 1/5 is engaged and so therefore if you are now 2/5 engaged you would be 3/5 palpable. But this is not what your midwife said so I may be completeley wrong and this may not make sense hopefully somone will come along to tell us!!! Baby definitely feels lower down though.

No I think your right probably makes no difference in terms of immenency of arrival. I feel exactly the same though that it could happen now. Actually I think I have 'spoken' to you before on a different thread you are hoping to have a MLU birth like me? I wonder which of us will go first and how it will go.

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missbumpy · 19/09/2007 14:32

Oh yes. Sorry, I'm really scatty at the moment .

I'm totally confused now! At 35 weeks she wrote down 4/5 in my notes (but said it wasn't engaged ) and at 36 weeks she wrote down 2/5 and said it was engaged. It feels like something's different to me anyway. The bump looks a bit lower and I feel like there's more pressure at the bottom of the bump and on my cervix (ouch!).

I'm still hoping for a natural MLU birth. How about you? I know it sounds crazy and I should be petrified about what's in store for me but I actually feel quite excited. I know it's going to hurt but I feel like there's no point in worrying about that until it happens...famous last words !

Kittiwake · 19/09/2007 15:12

I am also really excited and almost looking forward to the birth which I know is madness and I will regret saying later. I guess it's not knowing what to expect. I have never even been in hospital before for anything, never broken a leg or anything like that so I have no idea what it feels like to be in that much pain. I know it will really, really hurt but I don't know what that feels like!?

Hoping to go to the MLU still but keeping an open mind really. My pregnancy has been so straight forward so far I feel like maybe the birth can't be too. Would just be too lucky.

WheresMyWaistGone · 19/09/2007 15:58

Hi

My due date is 13 October! I was at the midwife today and the baby is still head down - this is good since it was breech till 2 weeks ago - but not engaged yet.

Lordy - does that mean I'll be late?!

I get to see the midwives (team thereof) every week now, which is quite reassuring.

At least if it's late, I'll have time to do all the stuff that still needs doing - clapped out car, boiler, shower, home insurance needs renewing all that sort of thing - oh plus the washing and shopping for the baby...at least I have finished work now! Oh and I want to bake too!

Good luck to all of us mid-Octobers!

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