Patient's question:
Hello doctor, I'm 38 weeks pregnant and haven't engaged yet. What should I do? What are the chances of a natural birth?Doctor's answer:
If it's the first pregnancy, most women enter the pelvis before 38 weeks. For second pregnancies, it's usually during birth. However, there are individual differences. If you're in the first pregnancy and experience this, consider cephalopelvic disproportion. It's recommended to check at the hospital. Generally, when the biparietal diameter of the fetal head enters the pelvic inlet plane and the lowest point of the fetal skull is close to or reaches the level of the ischial spines, some primiparas may engage 1-2 weeks before the due date, while multiparas may engage when contractions begin. So, if your baby is not too large and the biparietal diameter is no more than 9.5 cm, it can usually engage and deliver vaginally. Maintain good prenatal care and have regular prenatal check-ups.