How do you check for engagement?

[BanditaMamacita]

It's mostly just curiosity, since it obviously doesn't really matter, but I feel VERY much like my baby dropped last week (currently 32+4 with #3). She just feels soooo low, and my heartburn is better (tho not entirely gone) and my ribs dont hurt as much. And I can definitely feel her head very low when I palpate my abdomen.... I was trying to measure my fundal height this morning, but i actually couldn't tell where my pubic bone ended and her head began, lol.

So anyway, I was wondering if any of you know what it would feel like externally if the baby is engaged?

[KristaDJ]

If you've been measuring consistently and your fundal height has decreased that can be an indication. Of course IME it can also be an indication of baby turning into a different position or just measuring different at a different time of day. They say you can breath better and eat more and you have to pee all the time again but I've honestly never noticed any of those things. I have a very short torso though so my babes don't even have enough room to get out of my ribs once I'm full term. I have noticed though that the head seems MUCH lower at times, like you described with it being right there where your pubic bone is. The thing for me is that it doesn't stay there. Baby is in and out of my pelvis for the entire third tri and doesn't seem to drop for good until they're on their way out.

[gossamerwindweb]

I was like you. My heartburn got better, his head was so low that it was right under the front of my pubic bone, and I could breathe easier. It sounds like she has engaged!

[Astraia]

What my midwife showed me with DD was to put 2 fingers on either side of her head (like, 2 fingers of the right hand on the right side of her head and v.v.) and then push with the right hand, then the left, then the right, etc.

If baby's head wobbles back and forth- not engaged.
If it feels stuck- then it is!

[BanditaMamacita]

Definitely stuck! I've been nudging her like that for days to see how ballotable she is, and i haven't been able to get her to budge. lol. It's nice to see your body getting ready... It reminds me how my body (and this baby) instinctively know what to do! It's just so weird how early it is.... I didn't engage till about 36 weeks with either of my first two, and both came by 38 weeks. Neither turned till 34-35 weeks either tho, so this baby is just ahead of the game

[Astraia]

Haha, my first didn't engage until 4 days before she was born (and she was born at 40+2). Made me mildly concerned since everything I read kept saying she should engage a month before the due date Oh, the internet and the things it does to me!

My dude is very much NOT engaged at this point, and breech, but i'm only 26 weeks so there's lots of time.

[BanditaMamacita]

I just have to add, at the end of this, since i have nowhere else to post it, that I just checked myself. And there is a head in my vagina. Can't totally reach my cervix yet (tho i couldnte even in labor with my first 2, so i'm not surprised) but I can definitely feel a rock hard head. Good lord, am i uncomfortable these days!