Help me read my notes please

[Tomatefarcie]

Just got back from mw appointment.

I'm 37 weeks pregnant with my third.

Mw said all is well, baby is head down, heart beat is good etc. But didn't mention anything about being engaged or not.

However, in my notes, it says "fifths palpable: 4/5".

What does it mean?

Does it mean anything in a third pg? I remember reading somewhere that some babies don't engage till labour, or can come out again or something?

Am I getting excited for nothing?

Picture a ruler running north to south, with markings going (at the top) from -5 to (at the bottom) +5. When the baby's head is AT the cervix, it is at 0 (zero) station - if it hasn't reached it yet, and is still up in the uterus, it is from -1 to -5 station - in your case, it's still pretty far up. On it's way out, the stations go positive, from starting to pass through the cervix (+1) to head all the way out (+5).

-5
-4 -> Where you're at currently. Head slightly engaged in pelvis.
-3
-2
-1
0 ---- > Cervix
+1
+2
+3
**
+4 -> Head crowning and visible
+5

Thank you very much ABM! Great explanation.

So, do you reckon it can come back up again?

See, it was breech till not so long ago, so am I right in thinking it'll stay head down now it's slightly engaged?

Sorry for all the questions, you'd think I'd know these things having produced 2 before..

I'm no expert, but afaik, a baby can and will move about quite often. My friend recently had a baby who was far from cooperative (4/5 engaged one week, transverse the next - nightmare).

I wish I could reassure you that you little one would now stay in position until birth - but I can't. If it's any consolation, the friend I mentioned above was induced last week and wasn't remotely engaged - within 3 hours of being induced she was 2/5 engaged!! Have faith in your body and your baby - I'm sure everything will be fine. Failing that, spend the next 3 weeks jumping on a trampoline!!

Thanks!

Had DD2 in half an hour (she wasn't engaged at the previous mw appt), so we'll see what surprise this one has in for us!

Glad it all worked out well for your friend. Eeek at being transverse at full term, it must have been so uncomfortable..

And finally, I could try and jump on a trampoline, although I would probably need some giant nappies..TMI!

FAR TMI!!! But I have a 2 year old DD so I know exactly what you are talking about. I curse the 22 year old young woman in my office who looks at me funny when I start dancing aroung trying to hold a wee in! One day she will fully understand! Mwahahaha!! [gtin]

yep it basically means that the MW can feel 4/5ths of your babies head, so 1/5th has descended into the pelvis

Thanks Memorylapse!