38 weeks pregnant, what is this?

Question

I am 38 weeks pregnant and had a doctors appointment yesterday. After a few tests and stuff she warned me that it was going to be a big baby. I am 3/5 engaged and my cervix is softening. What does that mean? And if the baby is big, will it come early or stay in and be massive? sorry I forget to ask all this at my appointments

Answer 1

I'm not sure about the 3/5 engaged...is that a fraction, or are you at station 3 of 5? Engaged means the position of the baby's head...so it would seem the baby is getting ready, and has lowered his/herself into the birthing canal. Have you started to dialate at all? The cervix is softening, and that is a good sign...it must soften to efface...you want 100 percent effacement, and dilated to 10 for delivery...
At this point in your pregnancy, you are considered full term...so there is no "early" for you...just before the due date early I suppose.
If this is your first child, I am sure the words "big baby" are of concern...however that is all relative. What does the doctor mean by "big" more than 7 pounds? more than 8? My first 3 children were all around the 9 pound mark... perhaps that would be considered big to most folks.
You are probably going to be see the doctor every week very soon, so just take note of the questions you have, and try to enjoy the last couple weeks...that baby will be here soon! :o)

Answer 2

I don't understand her term 3/5 engaged. If you picture your pelvis, it goes by stations. I believe it goes from -4 to +5 station. -4 is when the baby is 4cm above your pelvic inlet, -3 is 3 cm above, etc. 0 is when you are engaged. At +1 baby is on his way out and +5 is finally the birth. Each measurement is by cm. She is probably meaning that you are not quite engaged, but almost there. When you are fully engaged (at station 0), the baby's head is locked into your pelvic inlet and can no longer move out and turn breech on you or anything. Your cervix softening is a good sign. The cervix needs to soften and ripen first before you go into labour. There is mixed evidence as to whether or not the baby will get any bigger. Some websites say that the baby does not grow as much anymore after week 38, some say, they continue to grow but not as much. What kind of tests did they do to determine size of baby? Even if you had an ultrasound done now to determine size, it is VERY inaccurate. My cousin was told she was going to have a 10 pounder following an ultrasound, and the baby turned out to be 7 pounds. And your question re: will the baby come early or late depending on size. Size of the baby has no determination on when you will deliver. Hope this helps to clarify a few things. I am 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant...and just waiting for babe to come out as well! Good luck with everything!

Answer 3

the cervix is like a long tube that needs to get shorter and soften to the point where it can dialate. Some times you hear engaged and sometimes its called stations. I would say that the baby is more than halfway in your pelvic cavity and ready to deliver- you will need to be 5/5 in order for the head to come out. Being soft is a good thing too since that means that your body is preparing for your cervix to dialate. The size of the baby will not determine when you go into labor unles the doctor feels the baby is too big for your body and they might schedule a c-section instead of the trauma of delivering through the pelvic cavity. You might want to ask the doctor what they normally do in the case of a large baby. Its all based on how big your hips spread and your body shape. Keep in mind that the baby's head will collapse into a cone to get past the bones in your hips. I would not worry.

Answer 4

With the cervix softening, that means it will begin thinning and dilating. That could take a day or could take two weeks, depending on your body and your baby.
As far as the measurements and being a big baby, that could mean a more painful delivery so to speak because you may need extra stretching in your girly parts, or an episitomy to get the baby out. Worst case scenario, the baby won't be small enough to go between your pelvic bones and you would require a C-section. My doctor measured my baby during my first pregnancy and estimated a 9lb baby so she planned to induce 7 days before my due date. My baby came on her own 8 days early and weighed 7#, 11oz. Odds are she would have been close to 9# if she would have been on her due date. Unfortunately, just because a baby is measuring big doesn't mean its going to come early or on time necessarily. It just means you could have a little more difficulty during labor, or your body may adjust just fine and have no problems. Good luck in either event.

Answer 5

If your cervix is softened and your 3/5 engaged that means that your body is preparing for labor and the baby is almost in position. You will probably go into labor within the next week. I have known many very small women who had no problem delivering large babies so you should be fine. Good luck and best wishes.

Answer 6

The engaged part means that the babys head is in the pelvis getting ready for birth. The cervix has to thin all the way out in order for the baby to come through. If you are worried about the baby being to big you might ask about them inducing labor a week or two early if possible.

Answer 7

Sounds like your doctor should plan an induction unless she feels like you can handle it. Never heard of the term 3/5 engaged, but engaged means the head is in your pelvis and the baby is no longer floating freely around. Your cervix is softening means that it is preparing to open for labor. Your cervix has to shorten and open to deliver your baby.

Answer 8

We'll when your cervix starts to soften and get ripe, it just means that the baby will be coming soon. The bigger a baby is, has nothing to do with time periods before the baby comes. Seems like the baby could be coming very soon, just prepare yourself. Oh, and don't be afraid to ask for drugs. :) be strong, brave and good luck and God Bless.

Answer 9

Could be any day....congrats! By the way, I only had pain meds with my SMALLEST child. I didn't have meds or epidural with my 9 pounder. I really believe that it has way more to do with position and how long you've been in labor, etc. than just the size. I'm telling you - my smallest one was the worst. You will be just fine! And just tell yourself "it won't last forever....be over soon..." Focus on the positive. :) Good luck!

Answer 10

That's just the medical terns stating that your body is getting ready to deliver the baby.....soon. Just because its a "big" baby doesn't mean that it's not ready to come out. I had all "big" babies (my smallest of the 4 was 7lbs 14oz) and every one was different. My biggest baby, my daughter, 8lbs10oz, was delivered in 14 minutes and was the easiest one to deliver!
Good luck and congrats!