Pregnancy guide > Labour and birth > Giving birth > Engagement

Engagement

Useful inormation on what is engagement, when does it happen and what to expect when your baby's head engages.

Engagement is when the foetus descends down into the pelvic cavity. This is also known as dropping or lightening. You may feel your baby gradually dropping and your lungs and stomach stretching out a bit. Walking may become increasingly uncomfortable and it may feel almost as if your baby is going to fall out. This usually occurs two to four weeks before delivery during a first pregnancy. In subsequent births engagement does not usually happen until labour begins.

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Hi, my wife who is 35 years of age is pregnant with our second child who is due to arrive on the 4/04/2010. We are getting worried as the baby has still not engaged. Doctors have told us that a 'c' section need to be done sould she pass the due date. She also went through a caessarian for our first child and she hopes to deliver our second via normal childbirth. Kindly advise....
by eason27	14th May 2010, 5:33pm

I was really pleased to hear that the pink wriggler's 3/5s engaged the other day. But when I looked back on previous notes I've been 3/5s since 35 weeks. Bummer. Guess I'm not as close as I thought! (38 wks)
by bellebird	26th May 2009, 12:35pm

hi there... i am on 38 weeks, during last check up (03/04/2009) my gynae was telling me that my baby's head facing down but yet to engaged. my edd would be 19/04/2009 im wondering any kind of movement will made my baby's head engaged??
by imhappy	9th Apr 2009, 9:20am

hi i m 32 weeks pregnant my baby kicks alot do i still have time to have my baby s head go down i cant walk properly nor even can sit for a long time not even for ten minutes
by shahaqamar	19th Feb 2009, 10:12am

I am in my 38th week and my baby has been engaged since I was 35wks so it just goes to show it does not always mean baby is coming sooner!!! I hope he does make an entrance soon thou!
by lizzyleek	16th Sep 2008, 8:43am

I am in my 42nd week of pregnancy, and my baby is not engaged at all, the obstetrician says i will need to have a c-section, if it hasn't engaged by Monday, any comments on this please?
by jojomofo	19th May 2008, 8:50am

I am in my 36.3 weeks and my doctor told be baby is too far for engagement what does it means.... and also she said she thinks that we have to go for elective c-section.. Please on the same thanks
by Sang	24th Apr 2008, 8:51am