Understanding Baby Engagement at 34 Weeks: What You Need to Know

Question
Hi there,
during my exam at 34 weeks my midwife mentioned that the baby is 1/5 into the pelvis. She determined that by feeling the baby's head over my belly, it wasn't a vaginal exam. Now I got some confusing information and not sure if this "1/5 into the pelvis" is the same as "engaged" (-> Am I going into labour in a week or so?) Really, just confused around terminology.
Thanks in advance.
Julia.

Answer
The baby is not "engaged" until the head of the baby(the biparietal diameter) is  below the spines of the pelvic bone. When the midwife said 1/5 into the pelvis, that is not an accepted term but merely means that a small amount of the baby is in the pelvis.  In any case, whether you are engaged or not, it does not mean that you will go into labor earlier or later. It definitely does not indicate that you will go into labor in a week or so.  When you start to have contractions at the level of your belly button, every 5 minutes (from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction) and each contraction remains hard for at least 45 seconds to 1 minute, and this continues for a full hour, then you are considered to be in labor.  You should then be checked and, if your cervix is more than 3-4cm dilated, you will be admitted for delivery of the baby. Good Luck.