The final few weeks ofpregnancybring excitement and many changes as your body prepares forlaborand delivery.
One of those important steps for your baby is when they move into position in your pelvis.
When your baby drops closer to the birth canal, it is called engaged.
Triocean / Getty images
Triocean / Getty images
What Is Engaged?
During those final few appointments before you deliver, your healthcare provider will monitor your babys position.
Routine ultrasounds and physical exams help them check how your baby is moving into position for labor.
Your healthcare provider may also refer to this as the station of the baby.
But even if your baby starts to drop while breech, they may still turn around before labor begins.
However, the timing of when the baby drops changes from person to person.
Even for the same person, their baby will likely engage at different times in each pregnancy.
The baby may start the process of engagement between two to four weeks before labor begins.
Many pregnant women deliver healthy babies without the head dropping before labor starts.
Signs
It wont always be easy to tell when your baby is engaging.
You may, however, notice your baby dropping more if you are carrying high.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence to show an effective way to help your baby engage.
Some things are just out of your control.
If your baby hasnt engaged, you havent done anything wrong.
Talk with your healthcare provider about what activity is appropriate for you.
Summary
When your baby drops closer to the birth canal, it is called engaged.
They may move into position two to four weeks before labor.
Still, sometimes the baby wont drop into the engaged position until labor begins.
Unfortunately, you have little control over when this happens.
Its a process that happens naturally and gradually.
There is usually no reason to be concerned if your baby engages early or waits until right before delivery.
Talk with your healthcare provider about any concerns you have.
However, this length of time will differ between people.
In some cases, a baby might not engage until right before labor.
The fetal station is a term that describes the location of a baby’s presenting part in the pelvis.
Yes, constipation can be a sign of labor.
2014;127(1):6-9. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.04.008
MedlinePlus.Your baby in the birth canal.
