Baby's Engagement/Lightening--what is your experience?

[didkisa]

I felt for sure last weekend (at 34 weeks) that the baby had dropped, and sure enough, the midwife confirmed it at my last visit. In fact, she said s/he is so low right now she can't even check my cervix. She said it may mean an early delivery, as well as an easy delivery. I know from my research that this doesn't usually happen until 2-4 weeks before delivery, so it's freaking me out a little. Two reasons: 1) My DH probably wouldn't make it here in time if the baby is more than 2 weeks early, and 1) My midwife does not deliver babies before 37 weeks.

Those of you that have already had a baby, or have experienced lightening before 36 weeks--I'd like to know what you experienced. Did your baby drop early, but still hold out until at least 38 weeks? I'm wondering what the statistics are for the correlation between early lightening and pre-term delivery.

[MrsTC]

This baby has been head down and low since a few weeks ago (I'm almost 36wks now) but she moves up and out from time to time too. My midwife doesn't get real into terms like "engaged"...so I don't know if there's a difference, but I can tell when baby's low like that because I have huge pelvic pressure and different bladder tolerance. And when she's higher, heartburn.

I think you'll be okay; just like women can walk around for weeks being a few centimeters dialated, they can walk around for weeks with baby's head being engaged. Did your midwife seem concerned?

[AngieB]

My second baby dropped very early. I can't remeber the exact time but I would say at least a month before due date.He was very low and there so much presure, I really thought he would be early. Instead I was induced (just broke water) 1 week after due date. So you never know. try not to worry about it.

[Lact-o-Mama]

I have what my MW jokingly described as "childbearin' hips"
All 3 of my kids engaged their heads sometime around the 32nd-33rd week. I have a very roomy pelvis so it was *easy* for my babies heads to descend with little effort on their part. I used to be able to *feel* my babies heads by inserting a finger into my vagina and it would be *right there*.....like maybe an inch or two in. It was really cool to feel that.....well, I thought it was cool anyway
However, ALL of my babies were, by definition of the EDD, late.
My 1st was at 40w3d and about 5hrs, 2nd was at 40w4d and about 3.5hrs and my 3rd was a whopping 42w1d and came in just under 1hour.
All of them engaged early and yet none were born early.
I kinda wish your MW hadn't mentioned the possibilty of an early delivery. The engaged head really doesn't mean that will happen. if you're really concerned, try and limit labour inducing activities until at least 37 full weeks....you know, like long walks, ++sex etc etc.

[marnie]

i'm due april 9 but i've been lurking in your forum anyway

My daughter dropped and her head was engaged at about 31 weeks. She was born at 38 weeks after what I consider to be a very pleasant and quick labor - 10 hours start to finish, only about 30 minutes from transition to birth.

she was 6 pounds, 1 oz, and definitely fully ready by 38 weeks, she showed no signs of being an "early" baby.

[didkisa]

Thanks for all the reassurance! A quick labor is the part I'll keep attached to! Only about a week and a half left until I stop worrying about an early delivery...Lact-o-Mama: I'm gonna try to feel the baby's head, too. That does sound cool!

[Beth Ann]

Sorry to high-jack your thread... but how do you know he is engaged. The midwife says that it will be hard to walk and easier to pee and breath. But I don't know, I have had a hard time walking for a long time know and his head is not done. For the past month it feels like he is engaged but then after about 1-12 hours he will come back up.

So my question is how in your experience do you know that he is down?

[Yummymummy74]

Originally Posted by MrsTC

I think you'll be okay; just like women can walk around for weeks being a few centimeters dialated, they can walk around for weeks with baby's head being engaged. Did your midwife seem concerned?

I can vouch for this, I am currently about 7 with bulging membranes and the babies head is SO low she is crammed under my pubic bone.
However I have zero anticipations of going into labour anytime in the next week or so... I am due the 4th.

Its a bit annoying.. I find when the head is low and engaged it is harder to walk.. as there is more pressure and a head wedged in your pelvis.. JMO.

[Astromom]

miles was engaged a really long time ago but we made it to 39 weeks

I bet you'll be just fine and your dh will make it no problem. If you start contracting before then, just do what I did - PANIC that seemed to do the trick