The baby is 3/5ths engaged!

[ScatterBrain912]

Had a midwife appointment and just reading through my notes and it says 3/5ths engaged. I'm currently 36+5.

I told my partner once I'd read it that the baby is 3/5ths engaged and his response was "she's not old enough to be engaged!" 😂

First baby so I'm unsure what this means for labour and estimated arrival, or even if there is a relation between the two but how exciting!! Get to meet my little girl soon

[TwinkleStars15]

Are you sure it wasn’t 3/5th palpable? During both my pregnancies they have recorded it as what is palatable, not engaged. I.e free, 2\5th, 3/5th palpable. So in your case, baby would be 2/5th engaged and 3/5th palpable, if that makes sense.

[ScatterBrain912]

@TwinkleStars15 definitely engaged. Was written as "3/5ths eng" on my paperwork.

[TwinkleStars15]

Cool, just checking as some places do it differently. It’s good, as it means baby is in the right position, but doesn’t have a bearing on when labour might start unfortunately- it’s very common for first time babies to engage much earlier. Second babies usually bob around a bit longer before they engage, sometimes not engaging until labour starts. Good luck!!

[chubbyhotchoc]

Babies move. 2 weeks before my due date, dd was engaged and I got really excited. Then a week later I had a growth scan and she wasn't engaged at all and had gone back up. Sonographer told me I'd probably go overdue. In reality I had her the very next day. Think they pop in and out lol

[BlackKittyKat]

I had this but then ended up going two weeks overdue and needing an induction.

I'm not sure it means too much (didn't in my case).

[niki26]

I'm reading about babies being 'engaged' a lot on here at the moment - I'm 38+2 and have no midwives appointments scheduled - haven't since 28 weeks - and I'm wondering when/how people are finding out about their babies being engaged?! My first was breech so this is all new to me! All I've been told was that baby was head down at 36 week growth scan.

Have I been forgotten about?!

[moonriver32]

@niki26 You should have 28, 31, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks! One or two of these may be over the phone due to Covid, but they should all be happening in one form or another, especially by 38 weeks x

[RowboatsinDisguise]

@niki26 assume you’ve seen a consultant? You should be seeing someone! Often we don’t double up appointments if you’re seeing a consultant as they’re doing all the same things anyway.

The RCOG recommended schedule during Covid is slightly different from the above but as a guide, you should be seeing or speaking to someone four weekly from 28 weeks or 2 weekly from 36 weeks.

[niki26]

Sorry - was doing school pick up! - yes I saw a consultant at 36 weeks so I wasn't massively concerned as I had blood pressure and urine done then. I just wondered if I should have found out about 'being engaged'! My section has been booked for 40 weeks instead of the 37-38 weeks my consultant verbally stated to me. I have no appointments from 36 until 40 weeks and I'm high risk so would have thought I would have....plus I had a trace of protein in urine at 36 weeks and no one has contacted me about that. I have left three messages for the midwives. Sorry I'm completed highjacking this thread, I didn't mean to.

[TwinkleStars15]

@niki26 you need to phone and get an appointment, you should have been seen this week. Your saw your consultant at 36 weeks so you should have seen your midwife at 38 weeks and again at 40 weeks if you haven’t had baby. Give them a call.

[niki26]

@TwinkleStars15 thank you - I have called and left messages. No one is getting back to me! I was avoiding calling the triage line but I'm thinking I should....I'm so disappointed in my experience this time round. It's a different hospital trust to my first child and the experience has been so much worse but I appreciate that COVID has changed things somewhat.

My sister had a stillbirth three years ago and I have explained my own anxieties with regards to this but no one is listening to me.

[ScatterBrain912]

Ahhh that's a shame about engagement not meaning much. Just so excited to meet the little one!

@niki26 no problems in hijacking! I'd rather you ask and get your answers than be left worrying about it. I'd be phoning triage, maybe phone doctors as well and see if they can organise you an appointment with the midwife? I would have thought that a 36 week appointment would still be booked for you regardless of your circumstances. Definitely advocate for yourself and get the results you want!

[Chanel05]

@ScatterBrain912 my baby was 3/5 engaged at 36+2. I'm 38+2 and at my appointment today baby was 1/5 engaged. Midwife said that they pop in and out and it doesn't correspond with when labour will start whatsoever, as babies often won't engage until labour starts.

[ScatterBrain912]

@Chanel05 ahh, there I was getting all excited, I wasn't sure if there was a relationship between the two things happening. ahaha.. I shall keep on playing the waiting game for her arrival in that case!
Hope your little one is doing well too