What is the point in knowing how engaged baby is?

[Munchkin30]

Hey ladies,
My mw has been checking where baby's head is for weeks. Last week it was 4/5ths engaged and this week 3/5ths. I get what that means but why do they bother checking? It doesn't seem to have any bearing on how quickly baby will cone cos some ladies sit at 2 or 1/5ths for weeks and no baby and some go into labour not engaged at all?
Just wondering x

 

[K2785]

Um I'm not overly sure but sometimes can't they tell if it doesn't drop down that the babies head may be too big for the pelvis but I'm not sure lol cos some babies don't drop until your in labour...
I just find it exciting when they say how many fifths you are lol xxx

 

[Blah11]

there is no point. you can go into labour if your baby is free mine was still only 2/5 engaged whilst i was in established labour.

 

[Munchkin30]

Um I'm not overly sure but sometimes can't they tell if it doesn't drop down that the babies head may be too big for the pelvis but I'm not sure lol cos some babies don't drop until your in labour...
I just find it exciting when they say how many fifths you are lol xxx

Yes i LOVE having a 'score'!!

 

[lilly100]

i was checked yesterday and she has put on my notes 3/5ths engaged - does that mean 3/5ths are in my pelvis or 3/5ths are out??

 

[Munchkin30]

3/5ths are out, as in she can still feel 3/5ths of the head x

 

[Blah11]

3/5 palpable and 3/5 engaged arent the same. palpable means how much of their head they can feel, engaged means how much is in your pelvis. So 2/3 palpable is the same as 3/5 engaged.

 

[Munchkin30]

Ooh interesting! So i'm 3/5ths palpable and 2/5ths engaged.

Or is it the other way round??

 

[K2785]

It's confusing ain't it lol xx

 

[lilly100]

It's confusing ain't it lol xx

lol, yes it is, im having to have regular check ups before my induction next week so was at the hospital on sunday where they wrote 1/5th then yesterday they wrote 3/5ths, it will be interesting to see what my midwife says today as i am going for another check

 

[chezziepie]

My midwife told me baby is 100% engaged no head above pelvis at all but wrote 3/5 in my notes as thats where i should be she makes no sense.

 

[diamondgem27]

My baby is head down at 30 weeks is that normal or should i be worried about going into early labour? Don't think its engaged though? Is that different? I don't understand it x x

 

[K2785]

Hiya my baby was head down at 28 week check so don't worry it won't mean early labour. I had my appointment Monday and am bow 32 weeks and baby is 2/5 engaged but I have somewhere that baby can disengage xxx

 

[JZW]

My baby is head down at 30 weeks is that normal or should i be worried about going into early labour? Don't think its engaged though? Is that different? I don't understand it x x

It's two different things, head down is just direction of baby, I.e not breech, doesn't necessarily mean she is engaged

 

[Munchkin30]

Hmm. Nice to know we're all confused!!

 

[AngelBunny]

i don't think it does make a difference. but my LO has just started to engage (he's 1/5 engaged or 4/5 palpable) and i find it really exciting!! i'm not sure why they do it either as some babies don't engage til labor starts & some go in & out a few times hmm