4/5 engaged at 34 weeks- should i be extra cautious?

[new mrs G]

Hi all! I very rarely post threads but always enjoy and learn lots from reading your messages. I cant believe how quick times going!
ANYWAY!

Today i went to a labour workshop and my community midwife was taking it which was good, because i was due to see her next week and she couldnt fit me in so she saw me after the session.
She did the usual checks and then felt baby and he is still a big 1 ( although i know they're often out) but she seemed quite surprised that he is 4/5 engaged and im only just 34 weeks.

Like us all, its made me excited ( even though i know i'll probably go over!) but its made me and OH question whether to get intimate or not . I could easily go without, but OH is highly driven and for him to now want to leave it after being told it can bring on labour, well thats a huuuuuuge turn around.

I know it can take weeks and things could change, but i dont want to do anything that can bring on labour and the sex thing is something i dont know what to do about? ( poor OH lol)

Would you be being more cautious now too? If i was 37 weeks i wouldnt change anything, but i dont want him coming for 3 week yet! I've done a lot of walking lately and have been quite busy so maybe that's why he is nearly fully in position. i dunno.

Any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Sorry for waffling and hope you're all well

xxx

 

[JayeD]

4/5 engaged means that LO is barely engaged at all. If LO was 2/5 engaged, which means his head is almost right down there and fully engaged, I'd be a little more cautious.

But don't worry about LO being engaged at all. People go into labour without being engaged at all, or they are fully engaged.

My LO was engaged at 28 weeks and he still hasn't made his appearance.

 

[hayzeb]

4/5 engaged means that LO is barely engaged at all. If LO was 2/5 engaged, which means his head is almost right down there and fully engaged, I'd be a little more cautious.

But don't worry about LO being engaged at all. People go into labour without being engaged at all, or they are fully engaged.

My LO was engaged at 28 weeks and he still hasn't made his appearance.

Everything Jayed said is right hun, you have nothing to worry about. My LO is fully engaged but I'm still waiting and it looks like I'm headinto overdue land xx

 

[Youngling]

Did she mean it is 4/5 engaged or 4/5palp?
xx

 

[Louise3512uk]

I get really confused about this because engaged and palpable are opposites...... I questioned my midwife when she wrote 4/5 in my notes at my 34 wk appointment but she said that means she can still feel 4/5 of the baby's head outside of my pelvis ... so 4/5 palpable equals 1/5 engaged.... do you know if yours was 4/5 engaged or 4/5 palpable?

 

[LouLou78]

Yes, 4/5 engaged is deeply engaged but if the midwife meant 4/5 palpable then 4/5ths of the head is still palpable outside the brim and therefore not engaged really.

 

[kate1984]

I have been fully engaged since 32 weeks hun! and im still pregnant lol. Also me and DF are having sex every other day as I have a sweep booked at 37+4 and so want to make the most of his cervix softening semen lol so i wouldnt worry, have some sexy time and enjoy it xxx

 

[rainbows_x]

I was 3/5 engaged at at 32 weeks & from 34 weeks been 2/5 engaged.
I wasn't told to be extra carefull, though I did go into labour at 32 weeks - nothing to do with how much she was engaged though.
x

 

[new mrs G]

Hi ladies. Thanks for your replies!

OK......it says 4/5 palpable on my notes so i now realise thats 1/5 engaged! oopsy daisy lol. Why they have to use such complex language il never know!
I have heard you can go overdue no matter how engaged baby is so even if i was fully engaged, itd prob be my luck that id go over!

Thanks for your advice everyone. I feel more relaxed now and havnt stopped doing housework all day, like crazily so! Checking medicine use by dates and allsorts that i havnt done in 2yrs since being here! Maybe its nesting lol

xxx