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Baby to be questions

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  • s@sha
    s@sha Posts: 589 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    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.

    I'm expecting my first, so it's all a bit confusing to me as well, but yes, I think when the head is 'engaged' it means it's dropped down low into the pelvic cavity ready to be born.

    By 'how many weeks labour' do you you mean how many weeks does a pregnancy last?..40 is the official number, though of course babies are never that predictable & people often give birth several weeks before or after the 40th week of pregnancy.

    'Labour' is the actual giving birth..and I'm sure glad that doesn't last for weeks!
  • kit
    kit Posts: 1,678 Forumite
    Hi

    I am 34 weeks and 5 days pregnant (ish!) with my first child. She has been 'head down' since 32 weeks and became engaged this week. It is 'normal' for a first child to engage early.

    I would not worry too much about what your midwife has told you re change of dates. I was a size 10 / 8 stone small person before pregnancy. I have grown to a HUGE size, have put on 4 stone and a lot of people have commented that my dates must be wrong. I spoke to my midwife about this, this week, and she said that it is impossible to say without a growth scan as every woman is different. If you are really concerned, ask her to refer you for the scan.

    Good luck!
    2012 wins approx £11,000 including 5k to spend on a holiday :j
  • Poppy9
    Poppy9 Posts: 18,833 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I was told at my 30 week scan that my baby weighed 6.5lb and as they double in weight over the next 10 weeks she would be at least 13lb. 3 other midwives also told me to expect a 12-13lb baby because of my measurements and stomach size. I asked my consultant and he told me rubbish. They were all getting confused because I was carrying a lot of water around the baby. He said she would be 8-9lb boy. Well she wa 9lb at 42 weeks (head had been engaging and disengaging since 32 weeks). Just an aside I got revenge on a midwife who told me my waters couldn't have broke because I was in the bath at the time. I stood up after she had used her dipstick to confirm they had and a huge torrent of water appeared all over her feet :) (Well I had told her that the bath water level raised a few inches hee hee).
    :) ~Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.~:)
  • jellyhead
    jellyhead Posts: 21,555 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    i was told at a 37 week scan (can't remember why i had it, to check for growth i think - i had the first 2 scans as normal but then they panicked and said the baby wasn't growing so i had 3 more scans after that) that the baby weighed 8 pounds at that time, so would be around 8.5 when born, he was born 3 weeks later weighing only 6 lbs, they said they guess the weight by the size of baby and my baby had a large head lol! even so, the scans were more accurate than the size of my womb, it was always small but that didn't mean i wasn't as many weeks pregnant as i thought as the baby was okay when born at 39 weeks.

    this time around the woman doing my scan said it doesn't matter how small my womb size is, as long as it follows a curve on the chart. although i've only met fantastic midwives, i'd say they can't really tell as much as a scan can, and that if you've been scanned you'll know how many weeks pg you are :-)
    52% tight
  • Moose_2
    Moose_2 Posts: 88 Forumite
    I was very big when pregnant, I measured 40cm at 35 weeks. She weighed in at a very healthy 9lbs 5.5ozs, measuring 57cm 8 days after my due date(41weeks and 1 day of being pregnant) after I was told I wasn't having a big baby! Babies come in all sizes, as long as they are healthy, that is all that matters!
    :p Im not much good at saving money but Im a good cook
  • anitha
    anitha Posts: 189 Forumite
    Hello everybody,

    I have been reading this thread with interest. It warms me to see so many people contribute to help put first time parents minds at rest. I am not sure that you all realise just how much that means....just in case you don't - it means the world. It helps so much to hear different experiences and gives you that little bit more of peace of mind. Thank you.

    Although I am only 10 weeks tomorrow, by reading similar threads I have felt like I can embark on this experience with hands on experience through my colleagues on this forum.

    I have had a few scares as I am not yet out of the fragile stage and have been spotting. The doctor has put me off from work for a week, although he did say that there was nothing they could do for my baby.

    Is there anybody out there with some wise words of comfort ??

    Thank you.
    A
  • ceegee
    ceegee Posts: 856 Forumite
    anitha....the same thing happened to my sister with her first baby. My sister did as she was told and put her feet up. She went on to give birth to a healthy daughter who was a whole bundle of mischief and is now the proud young Mum of 2 daughters of her own. Please try not to worry, although it is easier said than done, I know!
    :snow_grin"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow........":snow_grin
  • ceegee
    ceegee Posts: 856 Forumite
    Having babies is such a wonderful and special thing!
    :snow_grin"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow........":snow_grin
  • kit
    kit Posts: 1,678 Forumite
    Sorry to hear you are having problems early on. Try to think positive - I know thats hard to do.

    I am currently 35 weeks pregnant. I had heavy spotting from 6 to 11 weeks. I had scans at week 6, 7 and 8 and had an emergency visit to the hospital at 8 weeks but they could find nothing wrong. Spotting stopped at 11 weeks and we still don't know what caused it.

    I hope everything works out ok with you and the baby. Put your feet up and relax.
    2012 wins approx £11,000 including 5k to spend on a holiday :j
  • nearlyrich
    nearlyrich Posts: 13,698 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Hung up my suit!
    anitha wrote:

    I have had a few scares as I am not yet out of the fragile stage and have been spotting. The doctor has put me off from work for a week, although he did say that there was nothing they could do for my baby.

    Is there anybody out there with some wise words of comfort ??

    Thank you.



    I had a week in hospital at 20 weeks with my first because of a threatened miscarriage and spent the rest of my pregnancy taking it easy just in case, all turned out well and I have a great 19 year old son who has always been pretty healthy. 18 months later with my daughter I went into labour at 30 weeks, I spent the rest of my pregnancy in hospital. My daughter was born full term & healthy. They were both delivered by Caesarian Section and they were pretty big babies, 8lb 11 and 7lb 13 respectively, hope your story is as happy:)
    Free impartial debt advice from: National Debtline or Stepchange[/CENTER]
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