34+3... please give me hope someone!

[TinyHumanJan17]

This is my 1st baby!!

Had random pains for what feels like forever!! Feels like period pains but no hard tummy with it, have been checked over by hospital the other day and theyv just said its pregnancy pains and just to take paracetamol which does help but i dont wanna take too many!!

Just had my 34w mw appt and bubba is 3/5 engaged... the little scamp can stay in there for at least another 1/2 weeks hopefully!! but any 2nd+ timers had this and baby has stayed there or things have progressed?? I dont think i can cope with it if he pops back out and then i have to do all this again when he decides to head back down there!!!

I have never engaged at all until well into actual labour with my subsequents. My second though I had period pains and lots of tightenings and gradual mucus plug loss from 34 weeks. He arrived at 40 weeks.

My fourth and 5th babies though did come early, but I was losing mucus plug from very early stage and bloody show before they arrived aswell as like proper contractions that would last all day and go away and then return on a different day. It was very different feeling from my second and third baby. My fourth was born at 34 weeks and 5th at 31 weeks. The head didn't engage both times until 4-5cm.

I do know though that with subsequents they can engage and then go back free again. Theres no way to be sure; I have been there and had term babies and also had lots of niggles and had preterm. But head being engaged doesn't mean imminent so try not to panic. If you feel like something is happening do not hesitate to get checked out again. I was told with my fourth that I wasn't in labour and I actually was.

I was 3/5 at 32 weeks and dropped down to 2/5 at 37 weeks. I'm currently awake due to waters going at 4- can't sleep! I'm 40.2 weeks.
I wouldn't worry!

I started contracting with my first at 32/33 weeks and ended up in hospital/having steroid injections. It all stopped and I went on to have him at 41+6. You can engage very early with your first, but unfortunately it doesn't mean much. You could go into labour today, you could last until 42 weeks. I know it's frustrating, but you're still early so hope you keep baby in a little longer. I'm currently 38+4 with my second and it hurts more each day, but no sign of baby making a move soon!

I'm not really sure what you're asking - are you worried the little one will come early? If so the fact that the baby is engaged already doesn't really mean anything. With DD1 she dropped at 34w as well and I had to be induced as I went overdue. It's quite common for first babies to engage early whereas subsequent ones often wait until the last minute.

im not really sure either tbh!! im stressing that hes gonna try and make an appearance too early with him being engaged but also if he stays where he is im not sure i can stand another 5 weeks of him pushing down so much!

Sorry I'm totally unhelpful but you can never really predict when they will show up! My first never really engaged despite going to 42 weeks. My second began to engage early but not sure if she's still there - judging by the pressure on my lungs she's gone back up again, a mw appt on Monday at 38 + 3 will tell me more about where she is. She could still come at any time mind you!