Fetal head engagement

The entry of the fetal head into the pelvis is the first step in the process of childbirth for pregnant women. The fetus enters the calf at about 36 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, the pregnant mother can feel her lower abdomen falling. At this time, the expectant mother should prepare to go to the hospital for delivery. The fetal head entering the calf is also called the fetal head docking. What does the fetal head docking mean? How long will it take to give birth after the fetal head enters the calf?

What does fetal head position docking mean?

Fetal head alignment is also called fetal head engagement. Fetal head alignment is the necessary process for natural vaginal delivery of the fetus. Fetal head alignment refers to the biparietal diameter of the fetal head reaching the plane of the mother's pelvic channel. The lowest value of the fetal head skull is close to or reaches the mid-pelvic plane of the mother's pelvis, which is the level of the ischial spine. It is called alignment or engagement. The time when the fetal head presentation usually occurs is different for each person. Some pregnant women will experience the fetal head presentation in the pelvis from 32-34 weeks, while for others it will occur later. Generally, the fetal head presentation in the pelvis for first-time mothers is relatively early, while the fetal head presentation in first-time mothers usually occurs just before the announcement of labor. There is no big relationship between the early, middle and late position of the fetal head into the pelvis, but if the fetal head is still high and cannot be put into the pelvis before or after the announcement of labor, it is necessary to consider the cephalopelvic disproportion, the fetus is too large or there is an abnormality in the pregnant mother's pelvis.

How long does it take for the baby to be born after the head enters the calf?

How long it will take to give birth after the fetal head enters the pelvis, just like the time the fetal head enters the pelvis, varies from person to person. Pregnant women who are pregnant for the first time can usually give birth 2-3 weeks after the fetal head enters the pelvis, while pregnant women who have given birth before will start giving birth soon after the fetal head enters the pelvis. However, the relationship between calving and delivery time is not clear, and different pregnant women may have the same situation.

When pregnancy begins, the baby in the belly has already quietly prepared for birth. Some pregnant women enter the calf at more than 32 weeks of pregnancy, and they have to wait for a while before giving birth. Therefore, early engagement of the pelvis does not necessarily mean early delivery. Engagement of the pelvis only indicates that the baby's fetal position and head shape are in line with the pelvis. Some pregnant women do not enter the pelvis when giving birth, but the baby enters the pelvis while giving birth. In addition, some pregnant women enter the pelvis shallowly, but the baby floats up again within the next day.