Head fully engaged at 35 weeks? « Back to Group Discussions

[J1379]

Just got back from my OB appointment and I am just about 35 weeks and the baby's head is already fully engaged.  My OB was surprised since this is baby #3 and usually this does not happen until the onset of labour.  He told me that it could mean I may have baby soon - but if I have very strong muscles then not necessarily.  What were other people's experiences with this in non-first pregnancies?  For those who had babies with fully engaged heads prior to labour - how much longer until delivery?

DS #1 and DS#2 were both late so it never even came into my thought process that this baby could be early!  Just incase I'm going to wash up all my newborn clothes tonight! LOL

Edited by J1379 - 12/14/12 at 6:36pm

[tiqa]

I don't know if I ever felt a baby engage... With DS my water broke first and he had a nuchal hand, so I don't think he ever did get properly engaged.  And DD... well, again, I don't think I ever felt anything with her.  Same with this one.  I don't even know what it would feel like.  I've heard of "lightening" but don't believe I've ever experienced it.

[J1379]

This is my first time ever truly experiencing carrying a baby this low!  I noticed a few changes - including that my sciatica completely cleared up (yahoo!) and all of a sudden I was no longer constipated.  Also, I noticed that I had a little more room at the top of my belly and no longer had awful heartburn.  Now, on the otherhand - I now have a lot of pelvic pain with standing and walking and more back pain....so a few positives and a couple of negatives come with it!