Maternity notes... UK, 5th palpable???

[loving_life]

Ladies,

Just wondering if you could tell me if in our maternity notes, they write in whether baby is head down or not?

I can decipher most of my notes but where it says presentation, my last 2 appointments they have written "ceph" (I am saying they as I had to switch midwives recently ) and next to that, the box says 5th palpable, they have written "free"

My guess is ceph means head down. What is this 5th palpable and what does "free" mean? I can only just read my new midwife's writing and in the comments bit she has written "No concerns today review 2/5th." My next appointment is on the 8th May though so what is she on about lol?

 

[Geegees]

I think free means not engaged at all.

 

[admiral765]

Yeah it means not engaged Hun, she can feel all of baby's head. It goes from 5/5 4/5 3/5 2/5 1/5 the further engaged your baby gets.
Maybe ring to check appts if you think 8th and she has written 2nd xx

 

[loving_life]

Oh... should she be engaged then? I'm almost 34 weeks.

 

[admiral765]

Not necessarily, some engage sooner but it doesn't mean labour is close either. Some babies don't engage until close to labour xx

 

[xx_Clare_xx]

Some babies don't engage until they're ready to come out.. There's no right or wrong time xx

 

[loving_life]

Thank you

My next appointment is definitely the 8th so maybe she will be a bit engaged then!
Does it feel any different when they start to engage or is it unnoticeable?

 

[crazylady5]

don't worry some don't engage until labour actually starts! you have a little while yet hun x

 

[mumj18]

I'm sure my notes say 1/5 today ... what does that mean? xx

 

[admiral765]

Have you ever got like shooting pains in your cervix. Sounds awful! Lol! Only way I can describe it is that it really feels that baby is trying to find its way out! They get more intense the closer to labour you are. I remember it well with my girl, my boy has started doing it for last couple of weeks! Xx

 

[loving_life]

I have actually felt sharp pains in my cervix, a couple times it has made me stop in my tracks and grab my foof lol (not in public of course). Maybe she is just punching it if she isn't engaged. I feel sharp pains everyday, but not loads. Only lasts a few seconds.

 

[admiral765]

Yay good sign hub, just burying down to engage. How exciting! And yes it hurts! Lol xx