Does how engaged baby is have anything to do when labour should start?

[haylie_bbz]

I had my midwife appointment today and was told im 1/5th engaged but i am only 32 weeks. Is there anything to suggest that labour may happen early? Thanks in advance

 

[Twinmum87]

Not really. Some babies will not engage until labour is already under way, some a few weeks before, some even longer. My boy was already fully engaged the first time they checked so no clue how long prior to that he had already begun to engage and it was another 6 weeks before I went into labour. His head was very squished!

 

[Christi85]

First babies tend to engage earlier, but I wouldn't worry. That's no indication that you'll be going into labor early. There are women whose babies engage even earlier than yours and still make it to term. My baby was half engaged at my 35 week check up, then fully engaged at 38 weeks, and I ended up going into labor at 40+1. For a baby that's only 1/5th engaged, you probably comfortably have a few weeks ahead. Good luck!

 

[NDH]

Nope no indication of when labour will start. My first was engaged for 6 or 7 weeks, and my second was also engaged for a while too.
But some babies don't engage until after labour has started.

 

[Misscalais]

My 1st was engaged by 32 weeks and he was born the night before due date. He had squashed ears though lol my Gp was very surprised i didn't go earlier but its really no indication. 2nd and 3rd babies didn't engage until labour and they were over by 5 and 8 days.

 

[MindUtopia]

Not really. Apart from something like an infection or waters breaking prematurely or some other pregnancy complication, what triggers labour to begin is the maturation of baby's lungs. Baby sends a chemical signal out to mum across the placenta once they lungs are mature and this triggers your body to start making labour hormones, like oxytocin. Now there are certainly pregnancy complications that can cause labour to start early without the lungs properly maturing, but being down in the pelvis alone shouldn't do it. My daughter never engaged before I went into labour as far as I know and I had her at 37 weeks.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

No connection between the two

 

[jstarr]

No, it's different for everyone you really can't tell when it will happen

 

[laura109]

my daughter engaged at 36 or 37 weeks and i was induced ten days overdue... so not necessarily xx

 

[MrsC10]

My LO didn't engaged until labour started. No connection at all. It's just a waiting game I'm afraid.

 

[princess2406]

No unfortunately, my ds was engaged 2/5 from about 36weeks and I gave birth at 41+1. He actually didn't fully engage until I was in established labour.

 

[tallybee]

As far as I can gather there's no relation lol. Really frustrating I know. This LO has moved in and out of engagement for weeks and weeks, I have been able to feel the difference.