can you go into labour if you're only 3/5th engaged??

[EmmaM2]

Or do you have to wait until you are fully engaged and 'locked and loaded' so to speak?
I thought i was further engaged but having gone to the midwife today i am still only 3/5ths (so 2/5ths palpable)- the same as 2 weeks ago - grr. feeling so uncomfy already that i can't cope with the thought of him going lower.
Midwife said it can still happen any day but is it common to only engage fully once labour has started or do you have to wait for bubs to drop? Have so many symptoms of prelabour - constant braxton hicks all day and night, some v. strong that stop me walking until they pass, cramps, back ache, increased bm, nausea etc. i can't imagine getting through another potentially 4 1/2 weeks! Feel a little deflated.

To top it all off i think i have spotted the beginnings of my first stretch marks this morning.

 

[Lliena]

With a first baby I think they need to be engaged but with second babies they sometimes dont engage till actualy labour starts

 

[amy2boys]

When I had my DS1 he was high and 'free' (not engaged at all) at my midwife appt... labour started a few hours after and I had quite an easy and quick birth. You do not have to be engaged to go into labour, although it does help with 1st babies.
But as you are already 3/5 and only 37wks, I would say you are doing great!

 

[Pops]

Nope, they don't need to be engaged at all. Our Missy is 4/5ths engaged so is being helpful but the MW said that a lot of babies don't and then you spend the first part of your labour moving them down

xxx

 

[EmmaM2]

Thanks ladies, i felt sure he had gone down more in the last 2 weeks and was feeling quite deflated. I guess common sense tells me if engaging early doesn't predict early labour then engaging late wouldn't predict going overdue! I'm just not good at common sense when i'm feeling miserable
Your replies are greatly appreciated as ever. xx

 

[zolwis]

Actually, if the head is 3/5 engaged then that is classed as fully engaged, but for sure it doesn't have to be engaged at all for labour to start

 

[kmac625]

My baby isn't engaged at all...her head is just above my pelvis and has been for weeks, but she won't drop into it and her head is completely palpitable. The only concern is that my water break before labour starts and she isn't engaged as the cord could try to come out first. I am to page the mw immediately and lie on my left side until she gets here if that happens. Luckily, it is rare for that to happen.

 

[Sweetie]

You can go into labour without being engaged at all!

DD wasn't engaged at all. Was delivered via emergency section after a failed induction (she got stuck in the birth canal, was twisted a bit) I was induced because my waters had been leaking for 24hrs and I was showing sign's of infection

DS (most recent) wasn't engaged either. I went into spontaneous labour (no prior signs, doctor didn't expect me to "go" myself) He didn't engage until I was 8-9cm's!!!

 

[EmmaM2]

blimey - it constantly amazes me how little i actually know about this whole baby making business! Thanks x

 

[moggymay]

my first didnt engage til about 90 mins before he was born - he came at 35wks4days! My waters went a few days before the birth but he didnt engage and I didnt dilate til the 90 minute point despite the MW keeping having a look, this time bubs has been engaged since 33 weeks and he is still clinging on in there. I am officially more pregnant than I have ever been and now staring down the barrel of going overdue! Scan next Friday again in case they decide to start me off....Good luck with bubs

 

[cdj1]

Midwifery lingo is tricky but 3/5 engaged is actually engaged. 4/5 engaged is less so and so on. I know it doesnt make sense!