Baby to be questions

nutter

I am not sure if this is the right place to ask this question, but everyone seems so helpful.

I have just got back from seeing the Midwife with my wife. They have told us that they think she may be 36 weeks, not the 33 we thought she was.

Does anyone know what size the tummy meaursements should be at 33 or 36 weeks.

Also she is now very worried as the Midwife said that the head is now engaged. Is this normal at 33 / 36 weeks.

Thanks for any help

Nutter

frizz_head

I always thought that the midwifes measurements, from the tip of the pelvic bone to the top of your uterus is meant to equal the number of weeks you are.

But, I am not a midwife, just have two kids.

Glad

tummy measurements can vary greatly from mum to mum

some mums can give birth with barely a noticable bump appearing,

please try not to worry, your midwife is a highly qualified practitioner with the equipment to give a pretty accurate estimate,

as to the head being engaged, she would not have sent you home if there had been anything to worry about,
when is your next appointment?

if you are worried though the person you need to speak to is your midwife, maybe she didn't realise that you didn't completely understand,
have you got her phone number?
if not then call the labour ward and explain your concerns, they will be happy to talk to you and answer your questions,

above all don't let it worry you and take care of yourselves

jellyhead

it is normal for the head to engage this early if it's your first baby, i've read that with a second baby it happens much later though. i'm certainly no expert but i'd guess that if the pregnancy is 3 weeks more advanced than first thought it would have been picked up on a scan, have you had scans? on my first scan i was told the baby was due ten days earlier than the due date. i'm not sure how much of an indicator the height of fundus is really. when i had my scan they printed out a chart for charting the height, based on my own height/weight/BMI etc. - do you have a chart? i'd guess that everyone's womb grows to a different size depending on the size of the baby? in my first pregnancy there was a big panic because it apparently hadn't grown at all over a 4 week period, everything was fine though, the baby was just smaller than average. i don't mean to sound disbelieving of your midwife but i just don't see how she can guess how developed the pregnancy is just from height of fundus and head engagement, unless there are any near-ready signs they can spot.

frizz_head

Sorry, Ive just re-read my posting and it comes across as being quite harsh - wasn't my intention. I was just trying to say how I remember things from when I was pregnant, and that as an indicator of growth, there is some correlation between no. of weeks and midwifes measurement. As Jelly mentioned above, if there was a concern, it would have been picked up on a scan. With my first child, I didn't show for ages, and remained several cms smaller than the number of weeks I was. At 28 weeks I was scanned as a precaution, and it was down to the fact that baby was in transverse position (across the stomach). Hence the measurement was small.

Particularly with a first pregnancy, you do hang off every word the midwife says, so it is easy to worry when a passing comment is taken literally. A girl I work with was told by her midwife that her baby had a large head. She worried herself sick right up until she gave birth to a perfect little boy many weeks later.

Good luck to the both of you.

Squidgy

You could try asking caterina (you'll usually find her on old style) I think she is a midwife?

LearningToSave.

im 33 weeks with my second child.
is it your first child?? if it is then yes they do tend to engage earlier,my daughter was head down from 28 weeks and engaged by 32 weeks.a second or susequent child does not normally engage until labour begins or very close to labour.
as for the measurements you should be the same as the number of weeks you are but they allow 2cm either way....so at 33 weeks you should measure between 31 and 35.if there is a difference of more than 2cm you are usually offered a growth scan to size the baby,were you offered this??
good luck with the pregnancy and please let us know what happens and what you have :-)

Becles

When I had my first baby, I was told at my 36 weeks appointment that his head was engaged. He arrived 4 days later!

It does vary from woman to woman, so she could still go another few weeks yet. However tell her not to go too far away from home - just in case!

Hope all goes well

nutter

Thank You to everyone who has replied, your advise was very helpful and has helped ease both mine and my wifes mind. This is our first baby and not really knowing what to expect can be a bit scary but as I should be 33 weeks at the moment and the measurements were 34 cm then I feel that this is the correct date and that im not 36 as she suggested. As to the head being engaged I wasnt sure that this happened this early but thanks to the people who have advised me that this is nothing to worry about.
Only another 7 weeks to go and then we will change from being a couple to a family, I cant wait.
Thanks Again

Nutter and Mrs Nutter

johannamse

nutter wrote:

Only another 7 weeks to go and then we will change from being a couple to a family, I cant wait.

Aaaahhhh...this made me cry...very sweet.

[Deleted User]

I've never had a baby. What does "head engaged" mean? Is it to do with getting ready to be born? How many weeks labour is usual? Thanks.