When Does the Baby Move Up From Lower Abdomen

The thing about pregnancy is that it comes with its ain unique linguistic communication. Yous wouldn't be the offset expectant mother to feel like she needs to take a dictionary along to her appointments!

For instance: "your baby's head has engaged". Which simply means your baby's caput has moved downwards to the pelvis – the right position for birth.

First babies tend to engage early – anywhere from 34 weeks. 2nd or subsequent babies tend to engage when labour starts. Your infant may even move in and out of the pelvis equally you near labour.

Your babe's head engaging is non a predictor of when labour volition start.

How tin can I tell if my babe's caput is engaged?

In your tertiary trimester, you may experience a feeling of beingness 'total up' and find it more difficult than usual to breathe deeply. This is thank you to your babe competing for space with your lungs and stomach. Equally you most your due date and your babe's caput drops (or engages), you lot may feel these symptoms ease, or experience a heaviness in your pelvis.

It is important to remember that, as with every office of pregnancy, this may not be experienced by every mother.

"When your baby'southward head drops," says Tina Perridge, Midwife at Private Midwives, "Y'all may notice that there is a petty more space at the top of the uterus making breathing somewhat easier, while there may be slightly more pressure down below making long walks less bonny and visits to the bath more than frequent."

Mum kate3 on our forum describes how information technology felt for her: "Your ribs volition be free at last and you can breathe better… you can as well experience baby pushing downwardly very low. I wouldn't describe it as pain (unless I sneeze or coughing) but it is uncomfortable. I do sometimes become shooting pains when I move besides rapidly coz of it. You tend to waddle a lot more. It'south a real heavy feeling. Yous're also more probable to need the loo a lot more than before, too."

And RedHead85 says, "I've been getting the same sensation since Sunday (on the same day, my mum and my nan commented that my bump was looking lower). Feels like in that location'south a heavy pressure down there! At first, I thought it might be constipation (sorry, TMI) merely everything's fine on that front."

Sectional MadeForMums offer – 40% off The Baby Prove tickets!

Plus don't miss the amazing £v MadeForMums Goody Bag worth over £45

When should I wait my babe's caput to engage?

"With a first baby, this might start at around 36-37 weeks," says midwife Tina Perridge. "While for some women expecting a second baby, it may not occur until just earlier labour. Either way, it is a gradual process."

It is of import to remember, though, that your baby's head engaging has no begetting on when labour will start.

"Many women notice that the infant's head doesn't engage until they are really in labour, and the power of the contractions helps to push the baby'southward caput deeper into the pelvis. Once the caput is well down and engaged you may feel that your bump has 'dropped' and looks lower in advent," says midwife Anne Richley

What does my midwife mean by 2/5 or 3/v engaged?

Your midwife records your baby's head appointment in measurements of fifths. If you read 5/5 or iv/v, this means that the head is not engaged however. Notes of 3/5, 2/5 or less ways your infant's head is engaged. That'south considering – at three/5ths – the widest function of your baby's head is in your pelvis.

Midwives measure out it because when they see that your baby can make it to 3/5ths engaged, in that location'southward a skillful chance that your babe volition arrive without much difficulty. Only delight don't worry if you never see iii/5ths on your notes. Every bit we mentioned, your babe may not appoint until right before birth.

"The phrase ii/5 or 3/5 engaged simply records the baby's progress and descent into the pelvis," says midwife Tina Perridge. "Some practitioners may record ii/five or 3/5 palpable which means that 2/5 or iii/5 of the infant'due south head is felt above the pelvis.

"It is worth remembering that few babies descend farther than two/5 palpable before labour because the head is felt at the front of the pelvis and the pubic bone is quite shallow at this point."

On our forum, natmarie says, "In my notes information technology has an explanation of date which reads: engagement is how deep the presenting part – eg the infant's caput – is beneath the skirt of the pelvis, it is measured by the proportion which tin can even so be felt through the abdomen, in fifths. 5/five = gratuitous, 4/5 = sitting on the pelvic skirt, three/5 = lower but virtually is still above the brim, 2/v = engaged, as most is below the skirt and 1/5 or 0/5 = deeply engaged, equally hardly however palpable from above. In first fourth dimension mothers, date tends to happen in the last weeks of pregnancy, in subsequent pregnancies, it may occur later, or non until labour has commenced."

What can I exercise to brand my baby'due south caput engage sooner?

Your infant's head is more likely to engage if they are in an inductive position, rather than 'back to back'. Anterior means, says Tina, "his/her back is slightly towards your forepart." This position, she says, "Allows the baby to curl upward comfortably and to tuck his/her head which, in plow, facilitates appointment.

"To aid with this, it is a proficient idea to be agile – walk, swim, use the all fours position, kneel and lean forward to aid gravity to rotate your infant. Try to avoid reclining back on a soft sofa."

Mums on our forum advise the same, nicki100's midwife advised her to "spend time on my easily and knees". She adds, "Equally if I'm not uncomfortable enough!"

And Feebs76 says, "Evidently sitting on a birthing ball with your legs astride and rocking from side-to-side is meant to help – although it's all in baby'south easily as to how branch he/she is going to be!"

Once my baby's head is engaged, how long before I go into labour?

It is worth remembering that, simply because the baby'due south caput is engaged, it doesn't mean that you volition definitely go into labour soon. So when volition labour start? "Unfortunately, nobody can answer that." Says Tina. "Some babies like to confuse us by popping out and repositioning themselves. Then just attempt to relax and wait for your labour (and your baby) to take its course."

On our forum, mums experienced the aforementioned, "My baby engaged early and I thought she would come early, but I'thou still here at 39+2," reported princess4aday.

WoWbabies says, "DS was 2/5ths from 33 weeks, he never engaged any further and didn't arrive until twoscore+vi."

GlitterBug09 reports a similar experience, "My dd started to engage at 35 weeks, by 39 weeks she was fully engaged but I didn't give birth until 41 weeks!"

Factors that tin bear upon when your baby's head engages include…

• If your baby is in a posterior position – his back to your back – information technology may exist harder for him to appoint.
• If your baby has lots of room to move he is less probable to appoint. He might be enjoying swimming in lots of amniotic fluid!
• The shape of your pelvis or position of the placenta.
• If you are expecting a big babe it is more likely that your baby's caput will engage when contractions begin.

Most Tina Perridge

Tina is based in London and has been a midwife for 21 years, with a keen interest in postnatal care and breastfeeding. She became a midwife later on having her 4th child and realising what a difference continuity of care and back up can make to a woman's experience. She is a midwife for Individual Midwives , the leading provider of private midwifery services.

About Anne Richley

Anne Richley is a community midwife and a regular correspondent to Made for Mums.

Read more

• How your pregnancy bump drops when your baby'southward caput is engaged – in pictures
• Pregnancy birth and jargon explains
• Pregnancy second time effectually – labour and birth

skaggsding1997.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.madeformums.com/pregnancy/what-does-it-mean-when-your-babys-head-is-engaged/