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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

i think baby's head has started to engage and im only 31 weeks-?

32 replies

divastrop · 08/01/2007 21:05

this is my 5th baby,due in march.ive been having really strong braxton hicks for the past week and getting alot of pain in my pelvis and lower back.now i can feel pressure 'down there' and when the baby moves i can feel it very low down.

i think with my last 2 the head started to engage at about 34 weeks,and it was later with the first 2.but i read somewhere that it normally happens later in subsequent pregnancies?

does anybody know what is 'normal'?i dont think i can cope with 9 weeks of that 'football hanging between the legs,need to pee every 5 mins or i wee myself' feeling

OP posts:

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Skyler · 08/01/2007 21:12

I think it can pop in and out with later pregnancies, so although it may be there now, it might pop back out again....Good Luck!

Original poster

divastrop · 08/01/2007 21:16

oh good...

OP posts:

lou33 · 08/01/2007 21:21

i was engaged with number 3 at 27/28 weeks, but he didnt come until i was 38 weeks, if that helps?

Original poster

divastrop · 08/01/2007 21:37

yes,thank you.i didnt realise it could happen so early,and pregnancy books are only written for first and second time mothers

OP posts:

sexkittyinwaiting · 08/01/2007 22:05

Diva, none of my babies have ever engaged until they've been on the way out. However, I'm starting to get that pressure between my legs and all the lovely "I'm going to wee myself/ have I already weed myself?' sensations. I think it's called having had lots of babies and poor pelvic floor muscles. Keep squeezing

Pesha · 08/01/2007 22:25

Im sure i also remember reading that with 2nd plus babies they can just drop in and out so to speak so every chance it will come out again

foxabout2pop · 09/01/2007 08:58

Diva - I've no idea what the norm is but my books all say that 2nd and later babies engage much earlier than the first. Mines not engaged but its very uncomfortable. I feel as though its about to burst out through my fango any minute and have very bad hip and lower back pains when I walk (read: waddle). Also need to pee every 20 minutes .

I'm sure if yours is engaged it may pop back out of your hips again, but its an alrming feeling isn't it?

Mines jumping around so much I keep feeling as though my waters are about to break.

Rosylily · 09/01/2007 09:58

Diva , I could have written your post! I was also thinking it'll probably change again. My mother even commented at the weekend that she thought I'd dropped.

Booboobedoo · 09/01/2007 13:57

Hi diva,

In Ikea on Sunday I felt like I needed to pee every 5 minutes, and wondered the same thing. (I'm 32+2 now).

Was hoping you could tell me what it's supposed to feel like!

I'm no help at all, am I....

Original poster

divastrop · 09/01/2007 20:15

needing to pee every 5 minutes is normal in the last trimester anyway,i think its just more noticeable in your first preg when youve previously enjoyed fully-functioning pelvic floor muscles and a fully-working bladder

the hanging between legs feeling isnt as obvious today so maybe she is just going to pop in and out due to lack of muscle tone

ive been 'excersising' every day since i found out i was pregnant with ds2(now 3.5)alas,4 vaginal births have taken their toll

OP posts:

Original poster

divastrop · 09/01/2007 20:17

boo-maybe you needed to pee more often in ikea cos you knew you couldnt easily get to a toilet.i always have that problem when i know im more than 5 minutes from the nearest loo.

OP posts:

foxabout2pop · 10/01/2007 09:12

Me too - I get obsessed with loos when I know access is limited.

I though DS was engaged, but when the Dr examined me he said the head is down but not engaged yet.

Booboobedoo · 10/01/2007 12:58

Good point. It was good ten minute waddle to the loo every time I needed it. How glamorous I must have looked.

Piffle · 10/01/2007 13:00

diva = snap
that weird nervy feeling as it bounces on your pelvic floor (or what remains of it)
I get an awful lot of downward pressure with my braxton hicks too.

spongecake · 10/01/2007 13:07

sorry to hijack your thread Diva, but I was going to start one and thought this was kind of the same. Can anyone tell me if an trtenal at 30/31 weeks will break waters or anything? think they might want to do one today and am v scared about it. thx.. will be off in an hour

Booboobedoo · 10/01/2007 13:23

Sorry spongecake: don't understand the ref cause of your typo (which you obviously made cause you're worried). Are you ok?

spongecake · 10/01/2007 13:33

sorry- internal examination- am ok aprt fom panic that baby is coming early and i can't relax and that makes it worse.

Booboobedoo · 10/01/2007 13:38

If you mean will they break the waters by mistake, then no. It'd be bloody difficult to do.

And I'm sure they wouldn't do it on purpose at 31 weeks!

Why do you think the baby is coming early? Have you had a show/blood/leaking?

I'm sure you'll be fine: hope the midwife can reassure you.

foxabout2pop · 10/01/2007 13:40

sponge - I'd hope they know how to examine you without triggering labour

When my waters were broken with DS, it took ages and they really had to push to get them to break.

I remember having that feeling though, in the last few weeks, that they would break at any moment and they never did.

I think its the hormones which make them break, rather than a bit of physical pressure.

I'm sure you'll be OK. Why do they want to do an internal, if that's not being too nosy?

lulumama · 10/01/2007 13:42

unless your membranes are bulging, or your cervix is already dilating, should not be a possibility at all that your waters are broken during the exam

an internal is not always the same as a sweep...and you won;t b e having a sweep at 31 weeks

why an internal anyway?

spongecake · 10/01/2007 13:44

thanks- they want to check if my waters have broken. I think not but they want me to go in anyway.

Booboobedoo · 10/01/2007 13:46

Good luck: let us know what happens!

I'm sure if you don't think they have, then they haven't.

spongecake · 10/01/2007 13:46

sorry- blimey am useless under pressure have leaked a bit but only noticed as was a bit damp, like sat on a wet bench

lulumama · 10/01/2007 13:54

ok...well, they will give you a speculum exam, i should think to have a good look, with a really bright light!!......and they can test any fluid that night be leaking,

Booboobedoo · 10/01/2007 13:57

Isn't it true that your waters can leak, but the sack can reseal? And doesn't the amniotic fluid replenish?

I'm sure lulumama knows.

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