baby engaged, other symptoms - is this it?

[elportodelgato]

sorry - confused first timer here in need of some advice!

I am 36+2 today and in the last week or so I am sure my baby has engaged - bump has shifted down, lots less pressure on lungs, and more pressure on abdomen. I'm seeing my midwife on Wed to confirm.

Today I am also getting a whole load of other new symptoms: lower back ache (which I have not had so far), slight feeling of nausea, constant need to empty my bowels (3 times this morning!), general twinges which could or could not be something...

Can anyone advise if this is the start of something REAL or if I can expect these symptoms to just continue off and on up to my EDD (and possibly beyond!)?

Could be. My labour started wtih a show, lower back pain, nausea/vomitting and diorrhea. Not much you can do but wait and see and rest though

keep your eye on the twinges and if you notice a pattern emerging ring your mw with the info. FWIW my bub due in 5 days and i have thought "this is it!" at least twice a week since week 30! i experience the symptoms you describe regularly but my mw said that the last few weeks are very similar to the fisrt trimester, hence nausea etc. in fact i have vomited more recently than during morning sickness. hope all is well foir you :-)

I hate to say this but it could be days or weeks. And that other cliche, when your contractions start you will know it. sorry

This is a normal time for your baby to engage, it just means that you are slowly getting ready.

The only one of your symptoms that could indicate labour at this point is the opening of your bowels, but that may also be something you have eaten.

Good luck, hope lo stays put a bit longer.

Thanks all

I am also hoping LO stays put a while longer - I am very far from ready and was expecting (given family history) to be overdue, not early! well, definitely nothing approaching contractions yet, I only wish I didn't have 4 more days at work to get through!!

I would still get my hopsital bag ready just in case. You never know!

novicemama - my dd engaged at 34 weeks but didn't come for another ten weeks. Sorry

Oh and I got a terrible bowel thing going on for the last three weeks or so.

She was eventually ejected through the catflap (caesarian)