Baby's head down way low but not dilated. Mean anything??

[ashleyg]

So...does it mean anything if baby is super low but you're not dilated yet? Had my 36 week appointment today and during my cervical check, my dr said that baby's head is super low & RIGHT there (which I figured because of the extra hip pain and pressure) but I'm still closed 😩 I keep getting random contractions off and on but obviously they're not doing anything other than making me uncomfortable lol

 

[wannabemomy37]

That's how it all started for me, prob around 36 weeks he got engaged too...apparently means nothing cuz I'm still very pregnant!

Unfortunately the cramping gets worse as days go on, at least for me

 

[ashleyg]

So what exactly does it mean when they say baby is "engaged"? Dr. basically said he could feel babys head as soon as he started to check me. He said he's VERY low but I didn't ask if that mean he's actually engaged...so I have no idea

 

[wannabemomy37]

It means baby is in your pelvis and "ready to go". There are different levels of being engaged/how far they are, but I'm not sure about that tbh.
I'm told he's definitely engaged but no mention of how far, etc.
I think 0 station means engaged, then 1,2,3 or 3,2,1 levels is where I get confused, sorry.

There's visuals online, I'm sure!

 

[ashleyg]

Yeah my dr didn't say 'engaged' or anything like that. I just assumed he was because of how I've been feeling but I really have no clue

 

[wannabemomy37]

I've heard that in 2nd+ pregnancies babies can engage and then pop back higher more so than FTMs for some reason too so might mean nothing right now?

 

[campn]

Some babies are this low for weeks, so it doesn't always mean something, but I bet it will get you dialted here very soon!

 

[Unexpected212]

The heads been really engaged for me since my 36 week appointment, still waiting! But plenty of time yet

 

[ashleyg]

Well I hope something happens! Lol. But by the everyone commenting it doesn't sound very promising

 

[LaPinska]

yea it doesnt mean diddly. i dont even know why they say anything at appointments anymore. my doctor doesn't. i think they record it in the hospital when you come in for induction or are in labor already. i will try to explain it as best as i can.

there is the term engagement which refers to how low in your pelvis the baby is. if the baby is 1/5ths engaged it means a 4th of the baby's head is still above the pubic bone. 3/5ths means a 3rd is below and a 2nd can still be felt above, 5/5th engaged means the entire head cannot be felt because its below pubic bone. At this point i believe until the baby is at 5/5ths, they can disengage. It's more likely in subsequent pregnancies because we are roomier after already having a baby in there and there is more room for them to maneuver. Then there is the term "station" which refers to how close the baby is to the cervix. There is -5,-4,-3,-2,-1 and 0 station. 0 means baby is sitting right against the cervix. Then once they start to pass through, it's +1,+2,+3 and so on.

I hope all that makes sense!! lol. Pretty sure my daughter is sitting at 4/5ths or nearly 5/5ths and 0 station now, because not only can i feel her through the vaginal wall with my hand but whenever she moves her head it feels like she is inside my vagina and trying to come out my butt hole. Its such a weird feeling. I'm about a week ahead of you, OP