Engaged at 31 weeks

[autumngirlxo]

I had my mw appt on Mon at 31+2 and she said the head is 2/5 engaged.
I'm 32 weeks today and since yesterday evening I have had strange period pain type pains and braxton hicks tightenings. This morning I also have a strange heavy twingey feeling really low down, I imagine it's due to the head being there.

Does this have any impact on when I could go into labour!?
I'm supposed to be having an elective section and I'm worrying things won't pan out that way😅

Also is there anything I should be doing to keep the baby in for as long as possible? I assume the face my mw didn't show any concern means I can carry on as usual?

Many thanks in advance

Also to add, this is my 2nd baby but 4th pregnancy. My eldest child is 10 so it's been a long time since my body got this far in pregnancy. Unsure if this is relevant.

Anyone had a similar experience with early head engagement? Would love to hear your stories :)

I asked similar to this, as at my last midwife appointment my babies head wasn't engaged at all, and I'm further along than you, so wondered if that would correlate to him being late. Everyone assured me that engagement, or lack thereof, doesn't matter. Some babies engage early, some not until labour, so there's really no way to tell! X

I was 4/5 engaged at 33 weeks

Then not engaged at 36

Currently 39 weeks 🙄

I have been feeling the same twinges and alot of pressure in my pelvis, and the last 2 appointments the baby was in position and engaged. My GP and midwife both told me it doesn't matter at this stage because there is still plenty of room for the baby to move out of that position. They said it was nothing to get excited about at this stage. I'm a week further on that you!

4/5 isn’t very engaged (it sounds like it should be, but they measure it the ‘wrong way round’). So it’s not surprising that a baby can move from 4/5 to 5/5 - the latter being not engaged at all.

I wouldn't worry too much, baby can move back out at this point.I was 2/5 engaged from 32w and lasted until 39+4.
Good luck with everything

No, there is no correlation between when your baby becomes engaged and earlier labour.
Lots of research done about this.

According to the NHS website many babies do engage at around 31 weeks. Of course there may be some summersaults after that though! Still plenty of time for things to change

Thanks everyone for your reassurance and info :)