4/5ths engaged? - Labour and birth

hayleys1

02/04/2007 at 09:28

hi at my last midwife appoinment the midwife said baby head 4/5ths engaged does anyone know what this means? i am 35 weeks+. thanks xx

hayley_l

02/04/2007 at 11:04

Hi dont think it means alotcoz my first baby head didnt engage till labour was established and he was 3 days early. nexr 2 engaged at 34 weeks and they were a week late. Now 38 weeks with no 4 and showing no signs of being engaged yet. Though did get excited at my last appt where midwife wrote 5/5 but then she explained this meant she could feel 5/5 of the head not that it was 5/5 engaged. Damn. Getting v impatient now and am sooo huge am waddling like a duck not attractive.

sassa984

02/04/2007 at 12:38

Hiya it means they can still feel 4/5ths of baby's head above the pelvis so still got a bit to go but i think they class it as engaged by 2-3 5ths. Its actually quite good that its already down there by 35wks mine didnt start moving down til 38wks. Sara x

hayleys1

02/04/2007 at 15:45

hi thanks for insight!
he babys head has been down for weks but like i say is now 4/5ths engaged so im hoping labour is sooner rather than later!!!!

2BMum

02/04/2007 at 16:02

Hi.. As midwives we must check the position and presentation of the baby in the pelvis. So this involves us feeling where the baby's head is located in the pelivs. So we basically feel how much of the baby's head we can find in the pelvis. This amount is measured in fifths which is according to an approximate measurement of the baby's head. Usually measure with our own fingers.

A measurement of 4/5ths engaged means that most of the baby's head has descended into the pelvis. You are most likely aware of this so called 'lightening'. You may feel that you can breathe more easily, on the other hand, it may be that you need to pass urine more often, as the baby's head rests on your bladder, or that walking is a little more difficult. Is this first pregnancy? Are you 36 weeks?
This often means that you are maybe close to the end. Amirah (midwife and mum to b)

sassa984

02/04/2007 at 17:30

Midwives must do things differently in different places then! My midwife told me that 4/5ths means most of the head is above the pelvis not below so i would check with your own midwife. x

clindquist1 Gold member

03/04/2007 at 05:08

Mine too!! They said this actually means it's 1/5th engaged and 4/5ths not engaged!! How confusing!

kaysc

03/04/2007 at 06:01

my midwife tells me the same as you lytechick and what ever 5'ths are dwn he can still come right back up again !(sorry)x my babys head was engaged (2/5ths)at 34 weeks i was so excited but im 39+4 wks now and last week his head was free again (so naughty)xx

SophiaCooper Platinum member

03/04/2007 at 06:07

Hi, im 36weeks and my babys head is still 5/5 engaged (free, my mw tells me) She also said that bubs can move loads before he comes out!! x

carlielaine1 Platinum member

03/04/2007 at 11:19

hi, it says in green notes pg 12"5/5 is free 4/5=sitting on pelvic brim, 3/5 lower but most still above,2/5 engaged, most below brim and 1/5 or 0/5 deeply engaged,in first time mothers this tends to happen in lst few weeks and in subsequent it may occur later or not until labour. hope this helps xx

carlielaine1 Platinum member

03/04/2007 at 11:21

2bmum, did you get muddled up? lol any tips on how to encourage baby to get his head down?? xx

2BMum

03/04/2007 at 14:31

sorry I ment the otherway around. O station or 0/5ths means the baby is fully engaged. 4/5ths is still quite far u. But should be around 35 weeks anyway. Sorry for the confusion. Wa salaam.. Whoos, I mean bye. Amirah xo

carlielaine1 Platinum member

03/04/2007 at 15:23

mum2b, do you speak another language by any chance ? lol i may seem a little dim sorry lol well done on your career by the way at 21, i had my first pregnancy at 17 so feel quite left behind sometimes as i chose to be stay at home mum, would like to do something in nr future though lol

hayleys1

03/04/2007 at 16:20

hi thanks for that i am 35 weeks + 5 and i have further MW app next tue so i am hoping the little blighter has moved further down!! i am feeling highly uncomfortable at the moment and gettin alot braxton hicks i honestly do not know how i can last 4 weeks!! let alone go overdue!!!

carlielaine1 Platinum member

04/04/2007 at 08:56

lol, im feling like that with 6 weeks til due date lol the period like pains are a right teaser lol

elaineb9

30/12/2011 at 13:23

Hi I'm 36.4 weeks and a visit with my mw yesterday. She said my babies head is engaged at 4/5 because she couldn't get any movement from it, so I'm taking it that she could only feel 1/5. I'm going with what she has said because I feel so much more pressure down there than I did before and plenty twinges to go with it

I also think my baby has dropped a bit more today as even more uncomfortable today. Mw also suggested I eat plenty to make sure I have plenty energy in reserve and I cant see why she would be telling me this if didnt think I was well on the home stretch so to speak. I guess it maybe does depend where you live as to how mw does meassurments but I'm happy to take what she has said as being correct, mainly because I feel it in my own body too. Good luck all and I'm hoping I dont have long to wait

porsha

29/04/2012 at 20:52

Bumble2012 Silver member

11/05/2012 at 18:38

I am 32+3 today and saw my Consultant who said i am 3/5. I assume by what others have written that I have a baby that's half descended?? But still plenty of room to pop out??

clairelou2 Silver member

05/06/2012 at 16:26

hi i am 32weeks pregnant with my first baby , i am getting abdominal pain but midwife says this is normal , ive had a check over and everythings fine , the baby is four fiths and his head is down , im feeling realli tired and have aches in my hip area , and have wot i would describe as mild period pains told midwfe but she said it was my uterus expanding could anybody tell me if i am right in thinking that my baby will be cumming sooner rather than earlier ,as i would like to be prepared thanx claire .

2nd time rwnd xx Silver member

07/06/2012 at 10:21