In the final weeks of pregnancy, the baby’s head moves into an engaged position in the pelvis, also known as “lightening.” This is a crucial step in preparing the body for labor and delivery, and can be measured in weeks 2/5 or 3/5 engaged.
Engagement is a crucial moment in pregnancy, when the baby’s head moves down into the pelvis, ready for labor. It occurs when the widest diameter of the head passes through the brim of the pelvis, causing a feeling of fullness in the pregnant woman. This is often accompanied by a lower belly, pelvic pressure or pain, easier breathing, hemorrhoids, more vaginal discharge, frequent need to urinate, and back pain.
In first pregnancies, engagement can occur anywhere between 34 and 38 weeks. However, there is no universally accepted definition for engagement, as it may indicate labor is 2-4 weeks away for first-time mothers. For women who have already had children, the baby may not “drop” into the pelvis.
Signs of engagement include a lower belly, pelvic pressure or pain, easier breathing, hemorrhoids, more vaginal discharge, frequent need to urinate, and back pain. The lower the first number, the more engaged the baby is, but it is not always the case. To determine engagement, consult your midwife or maternity notes.
The fetal station is a measurement of how far the baby has descended in the pelvis, measured by the relationship of the fetal head to the ischial spines (sit bones). First babies may engage from about 34 to 36 weeks, also known as lightening. However, some babies only engage once labor starts, and if the baby does not engage by the time you go into labor, it is likely that your contractions will soon push him down.
Engagement is a sensation that a pregnant woman feels when the lowermost part of the fetus descends and is engaged in the mother’s pelvis. In subsequent pregnancies, engagement may occur later or even not.
📹 9 Baby Dropping Symptoms – What does it FEEL and LOOK like when baby drops?
… what they mean is that the baby has descended deeper into the pelvis. This is usually referred to as “the baby is engaged”.
What does it mean for a pregnant woman to be engaged?
Some babies spend most of their time head-up during pregnancy. In the last four weeks of pregnancy, babies turn. Most turn until they’re upside down with their heads near your pelvis. This is the start of the baby’s head being engaged. It prepares them and you for a head-first delivery. Your baby will likely start turning at 36 weeks if you’re a first-time parent. If you’ve given birth before, your current baby may not engage until just before labor.
Your baby drops into your pelvis when it is upside down. Doctors measure head engagement to see how far into your pelvis your baby has settled.
It’s measured on a scale of -5 to 3. When your baby is at -5 station, they haven’t settled into your pelvis. If they’re at 0, they’re fully engaged. Once labor starts and the baby crowns, they’re at 3 station.
What does it feel like when baby engages during pregnancy?
What does it mean when my baby’s head is engaged? Your baby’s head is engaged when it passes through your pelvis. A pregnant woman knows this because her pelvis feels full. Your baby’s head is engaged when it passes through your pelvis. A pregnant woman knows this because she feels full in her pelvis. Some women say it feels like a bowling ball in their pelvis. She may also feel the baby dropping. She may know the baby is lower in her abdomen and have less heartburn. Sometimes the baby’s head is engaged one day and not the next. As the baby gets bigger, there is less room in the uterus and abdomen, so the baby’s head is pushed down into the pelvis to make more room.
Is 3-5 engaged good?
This is the most engaged baby can get before labor. Your contractions will help your baby move into your pelvis. If you’re a first-time mom and your baby is 3/5 engaged, this is a good sign labor is coming. If you’ve had a baby before, it’s normal for babies not to become engaged until labor. Don’t worry if your baby isn’t engaged yet! What are signs of labor starting? Bloody show. This is when your mucus plug comes away. You may have thick, bloody discharge. This means your cervix is opening in preparation for labor.
Braxton Hicks. These are contractions that don’t lead to labor, but show your body is getting ready for labor. Your uterus is contracting, but it’s not as strong as labor contractions. Braxton Hicks stop when you go to the bathroom, and they don’t get stronger like labor contractions.
Does it hurt when a baby engages?
Your hips may feel more pressure as your baby is now in the pelvis. You can eat more, but you will also pee more. Your uterus is now lower.
When contractions start, they will get closer and more regular. You will feel the sensations below. Contractions may be regular and 5 minutes apart for hours with or without pain at the pubic bone or pelvis. Contractions can start strong and last a long time, then slow down and become spaced out and mild.
Is 4-5 engaged good?
Your midwife will note how many fifths of your baby’s head they can feel above your pelvis. 5/5 or 4/5 means your baby hasn’t dropped down yet, while 3/5, 2/5, or less means your baby is engaged. Your midwife may also write NE, NEng, or free for not engaged, or E or Eng for engaged. If your baby hasn’t engaged by the time you go into labor, your contractions will push it down. If your baby’s head engages weeks before your due date, don’t worry. It doesn’t mean you’ll give birth early. It just means your baby is getting ready.
Can you feel when your baby engages?
How do I know my baby’s head is engaged? If you’re not sure, ask your midwife at your next appointment. Your midwife can feel how far your baby has dropped into your pelvis by pressing around the lower part of your bump. Your midwife will note how many fifths of your baby’s head they can feel above the edge of your pelvis. 5/5 or 4/5 means your baby hasn’t dropped all the way down, while 3/5, 2/5, or less means your baby is engaged. Your midwife may also write NE, NEng, or free for not engaged, or E or Eng for engaged. If your baby hasn’t engaged by the time you go into labor, your contractions will push it down towards your pelvis and then your cervix.
What does being engaged mean in pregnancy?
Your baby is 39 weeks. In the last weeks, your baby’s head should move down into your pelvis. When your baby’s head moves down, it’s said to be engaged. Your bump may move down a little. The head may not engage until labor starts. You’re at 39 weeks. Pre-eclampsia is a serious pregnancy condition. Not everyone with pre-eclampsia has symptoms, but tests at your prenatal visits check for it.
Symptoms can include severe headaches, vision problems, pain below the ribs, and swelling of the hands, face, or feet.
Where do you feel kicks when a baby is engaged?
If your baby is in an anterior position (head down, back towards your front), you may feel movements under your ribs. Your belly button may pop out, too (Tommys 2016). Don’t worry if this happens. It will go away once your baby is born. You might feel fewer movements in this position than in a back-to-back position. You should still feel them move regularly (Tommys 2018a). If you think your baby is moving less than usual, call your midwife right away. If your baby is in a posterior position (head down, back against your back), you’ll feel kicks at the front of your tummy, around the middle (Tommys 2016). Your tummy may look flat instead of round.
Is it good if baby is engaged?
If you’ve had a baby before, engagement could mean you’re going into labor soon or already in early labor. Most women don’t feel the baby moving until labor starts. Engagement doesn’t cause labor. It may mean your body is preparing for labor, but it won’t make your labor start any sooner or later. Some things about your baby’s engagement are out of your control. Sometimes you can help the baby move into your pelvis. You can encourage engagement by: Stay active, walk, swim, do low-impact exercise, or prenatal yoga. Sit on a birthing ball. Visit a chiropractor. Stretch your body every day. Sit in a tailor-style position a few times per day. This is like sitting cross-legged on the floor, but don’t cross your legs. Instead, place the bottoms of your feet together. Maintain good posture when sitting. Sit up straight or lean slightly forward, rather than reclining back.
What is the difference between lightening and engagement in pregnancy?
Babies usually enter the pelvis first, but if they are breech, their butt or feet will. Once your baby drops into your pelvis, they are engaged. The process is also called lightening because it creates space between your breasts and your pelvis. You may feel lighter. You’ll probably know when your baby has dropped because some pregnancy complaints may get worse. Here are some signs your baby has dropped into your pelvis: You may need to urinate more often, feel more discomfort when walking, have back pain, or develop hemorrhoids.You may be able to eat more without feeling full. Your breathing is easier. You may get some relief from heartburn. You may notice a change in how your belly looks. You may lose your mucus plug.
How long after a baby is engaged does labor start?
A woman is usually told when she is in labor. This is part of the birth process’s protective design. It means she will have time to prepare for the birth. This means she can reach the people she wants and have her baby where she wants. Preparing the environment for birth makes the experience safer for the woman and baby. As a woman gets closer to giving birth, she may feel physical and emotional signs that labor is near. These signs may include the baby moving into the pelvis, nesting behaviors, irregular contractions, a show, and the waters breaking. Even with these signs, the baby usually doesn’t arrive for hours. Engagement. In the last weeks of pregnancy, the baby’s head moves down into the pelvis and engages, as the muscles of the uterus relax. You may feel like you have more room to breathe. This can happen at any time from 36 weeks, but in 50% of first-time moms, it happens between 38 and 42 weeks. For most first-time moms, labor starts within two weeks of the baby’s head engaging. For women having their second or subsequent baby, the baby might not engage until labor begins. If the baby engages in the pelvic area, you can be sure that your pelvis is big enough for the baby to pass through.
Nesting. You might feel different during this time because your hormones are changing. You might feel like cleaning or doing baby laundry a lot in late pregnancy.
📹 Types of Fetal Positions – OSCE Guide | UKMLA | CPSA
This video demonstrates the various fetal positions you may need to describe during an obstetric abdominal examination in an …
I found your articles when I was looking for more information on breech baby positions, and you explained it so much better than anyone else had explained it! I am so grateful. After only a few days of doing the exercises the way you guys explained it, my baby flipped to head down. That was when I was 34-35 weeks. Now I’m 37 weeks. I love your articles. I love how you explain all these things. Very clear and concise! Also I love your accents. Your accents are not horrible, they’re the accent of geniuses ❤😊
You two are one of my favorite pregnancy educational websites! You speak clearly and are so informative and cover all of the questions / concerns I’ve had throughout my pregnancy. I’m currently 33 weeks, due 24/06/21 💕 Thank you for the amazing content!! I’ve been recommending your website to all my fellow pregnant friends. P.S. there is absolutely nothing wrong with your accent! I love it. 😸
You guys are awesome i love your articles! I have been perusal the whole series of them, currently 38 weeks pregnant and ready to meet her 😀 Also your accent is fine – great communication of all information! Clear, professional, and concise. (the only thing i happened to notice is how you guys like to use the transition word “moreover” often – which I just personally don’t hear that used much in north american dialogue)
I was struggling to find out if my baby dropped since my appointment isn’t for another week but I randomly got stretch marks over night. And my husbands mom said it looked like she’s dropped. And the sharp pains have increased tremendously when I’m working. This article helped me understand a lot and I didn’t have any problem understanding ya’ll at all. Thanks so much for the information☺️💜
At first i found your accent difficult but im happy that i got used to it so fast. The thing is that most of the people have accents while talking in english and learning to understand all is something that i want to do and everyone should do, because we are not perfect nor is our english, and this is perfect. I’m 30 weeks pregnant with my first baby now and 22 yrs old and I find your articles really helpfull. Thank you so much ❤️
I like your articles very much! Loved to discover your website! I like the fact that you communicate the information as a couple, both husband and wife explaining things to us. It’s very rare to see a man giving childbirth education. And also I like the humour in your articles! This is great. I also like the interactive features of your articles (virtual images etc), not only theoretical. 👏🏻👏🏻
I am 37 weeks 5days pregnant i was searching the content how to induce the cervix or prepare body for labor and i came across with ur articles…. Since yesterday i have been perusal ur articles just subscribed ur website after perusal so much good content. I really appreciate your work . U two are cute couple 💑 may god bless u both.
Yup. Definitely dropped, I just can’t see it. I actually feel like I felt her drop twice? Maybe she just moved. Bit more off balance, (scares my husband sometimes as I wobble out then back in balance), got more back pain, and my pelvic girdle pain got so much worse. Ech. XD 37 and 6 today. 38 tomorrow. I love your articles and I’m binging them right now. Your accents are adorable and they bother me at all. My doc has given me the okay to try home induction methods, dates, spicy food, walks, sex, etc.. She’s doing great apparently and so am I :D. Very excited to meet my baby girl. Great articles guys!
Love all your articles. Im on my 39weeks and 5 days while perusal this article. I’ve tried the EDD you shared on the other article since i know when was my first last period. So my EDD resulted to sep. 19. So there’s 2 days left. Im so excited. I think he will come out exactly on our wedding anniversary which is tmorrow sep 18 hehe. Can’t wait to see our baby boy. 🥰❤️
Hello guys! It’s always lovely to hear from both of you. I am 36+2 weeks, I’m feeling many of the baby dropping signs but 2 things im facing totally opposite is breathlessness, as i lay down i feel more breathlessness and I’m also feeling more heart burn today, but otherwise I’m can feel an obvious change in my belly shape, more urination, more pain and shocks in pelvis and vaginal part, difficulty in walking, etc
My wife is pregnant,we are at 39 weeks and 3 days currently. Our baby girl was already fully engaged just before 39 weeks as our midwife said. We started to check around for some information about how to help her start etc and your articles are great. Actually the best one so far. We like your accent as it is and very informative articles with the facts. Like it that they are clear and understandable without asking. Don’t change your accent, that is making stronger our (foreginers) superpower 😁😂
Thanks for asking for feedback, first all of all you are a lovely couple, so energetic, friendly and knowledgeable. You categorized all topics very well and easy to engage with your conversation. One more thing I can a little the way you talk it seems that it’s for children than adult, I don’t know it’s tone of voice or style of it. If this one improves, you’re the best! Thanks again ❤
Hello lovely couple with cute accent. Greetings from India.❤️❤️❤️. My due date is 16.05. but I’m not experiencing any major pain although I feel my baby might have dropped. It moves to right side of belly most of the times and I feel it is mostly towards right hand side. Can you please help me with explanation of same
I’m 37 weeks pregnant and I’m feeling almost all symptoms you guys talked about except the breathing and mucus plug discharge part. This is my first pregnancy and I’m eagerly waiting for my little one💓 Also is it possible for the first time pregnant women to deliver at 37 to 38 weeks naturally? My baby weighs currently 3.3 kg .
Your website has amazing articles and gives us wealth of scientific information related to pregnancy. I have watched almost all the pregnancy related articles in your website. Thank you both so much!! Im 35 weeks pregnant, I have been having tingling/numbing sensation in my shoulder recently. It started only when I completed 35 weeks and started to experience this weird sensation in my shoulder and back, it doesn’t hurt but just feels weird. Is this a common symptom in late pregnancy or could it be related to the baby dropping pressing on some nerves? Would really appreciate your feedback, thank you! BTW I’m loving the accent 😊 please don’t change it.
My 1st born dropped the day before I gave birth. Now pregnant with my 2nd born and the baby dropped at 34 weeks. Am 37 weeks +5 days and hope that cz the baby dropped early it means baby will come sooner rather than later. The pressure to pee is so real that I even recently got Braxton Hicks cz of a full bladder! Anyway, thanks so much for your articles. Love from Kenya 🇰🇪. Please don’t change your accents! They make you unique and are pleasant to listen to!
37+1 with baby #2 and every time baby moves his head, I get excruciating nerve pain down the front of my groin/hips. It’s so debilitating that I often can’t leave the house or walk more than a few metres without doubling over in pain or getting down on my hands and knees…it’s been happening for weeks, but I’m desperately hopeful that the increased frequency means he’s coming very soon 😭 Never had this with my first!
(Wife typing) Love your articles! I actually enjoy hearing your accent! Thank you for caring so much about mommas and babies to make this content! We are preparing to welcome baby #5 into our home in May. I am just about 37 weeks and love viewing your content! Even though I’ve traveled the labor and birth road before, I’ve learned much from you both! God bless you!
You guys deserve more subscribers than you have!!! .. such wealth of information!!! I love how everything is backed by research but you give an holistic approach to this whole childbirth .. ! Love love love ur articles .. can u also do a article on how to check ur own cervix, if it has softened etc .. without havin to visit a doctor?
Wish I had found your website weeks ago! I’m 40 weeks today, so too late to start early, but I am really enjoying your articles, and I actually love your accents. 🙂 One question. I have been resting reclined with my feet up the majority of the time due to major fluid retention. I want to start sitting the way you recommend, but how do i manage my fluid retention at the same time?
Yes. Please dont change your accent. Everybody has it if it is not your mother tongue language. Everything in this article is great and very informative and can understand clearly. May I ask if you feel the pelvic girdle pain at 30 weeks, is it too early? I can barely walk and feel the extreme pain in between may pelvic area. Hope to get some more info.
I know this article is old but I just want you both to know that I love your articles and your accents. You’re both wonderful, I love your attitudes and the way you share information. I’ve been perusal a lot of your articles in the last few weeks in the leadup to my first baby’s arrival – currently 39 weeks + 2 days pregnant 🙂 My baby dropped “late” for a first baby (only really at 38 weeks) but he’s definitely lower now. The “lightning crotch” is next level, lol!! I have mild polyhydramnios and a long torso so he had plenty of room and fluid for baby acrobatics throughout weeks 36-37, crazy baby!
37+4 today.. Have an anterior placenta, they say because my placenta is at the front of my stomach I won’t feel baby move as much. This is so untrue.. The movements are extremely strong and very painful. Had severe back pain since around 20 weeks and also strong Braxton Hicks every day since around 25 weeks… My ligaments and hips are always in pain, I can’t stand or walk for long This is my 5th baby and by far the most painful, my insides literally feel sore… last week baby was breech. Scan showed that she is now head down but not engaged… This pregnancy is more uncomfortable than my 4 previous combined. The only other known factor is the placement of the placenta… I typically make it to 39 weeks maximum,as long as my baby is in good health is all that matters but it’s been super tough! Bring on her Birth day!