1/5 engaged at 38 weeks?

[nataliekristin]

I thought by this stage the baby would be more than 1/5 engaged! is itnormal at this stage for a first time pregnancy? I'm feeling sharp stabbing pains below in the last few days, which I thought were indicative of nearing labour but only a 1/5 engaged I'm a bit disheartened!

Why are you disheartened? How engaged the baby is means nothing really.

My first baby was fixed and engaged 5/5 at 31 weeks. She wasn't born until 8 weeks later at 39 weeks. All it meant was that I was bloody uncomfortable and experiencing quite a lot of low down, sharp pain.

My second didn't engage at all and I still went into labour.

A normal pregnancy is between 37 and 42 weeks and it's quite unpredictable. Please don't feel disheartened. You're having a lovely baby and they're happily growing. That's a wonderful thing you're doing. Chin up. In a few weeks' max, you'll have the most breath taking person in your life.

No idea but I am exactly the same! Googling has illuminated me much on this subject - some babies only engage when labour starts and some will move down into the pelvis way before then and some will bob up and down! I have had mild period like pains for a few days but that can go on for weeks so don't think it means anything.

Only one way to find out...

It means nothing and you still have potentially four weeks to go. Try not to analyse or you will send yourself round the twist.

Thanks for the advice I'm just ready to have my baby now the thought of another potential 4 weeks is mad! at least I know now the level of engagement is not an indication of imminent labour!

I do sympathise, but as a veteran of three pregnancies which each went past 41 weeks (the third to 41 +6), honestly just try and ignore it all. With my second, by the time she came I had driven myself half demented. The zen approach for no. 3 was far nicer for me and those around me.