LOT Engagement
- Baby’s head engages shortly before the due date with most first-time pregnancies
- Engagement may or may not happen before labor with some first and most experienced mothers
- Contractions are typically effective to engage baby in labor
- The head may feel low, making pressure twinges on your cervix and upper thigh
- Your provider can easily hear the heartbeat left and center
Attention: Most babies who are LOT in the third trimester but a very few may shift to the right side in the last couple of weeks. Explore body balancing to give baby room to swing to the left. Contractions will help as long as the muscles are supple and the pelvis is aligned (barring misalignment of the pelvis which a Chiropractor or Osteopath would address.)
Belly Mapping® tip: The left side of the abdomen is firmer, and baby kicks to the right side. The baby’s hand may be felt 1-2 times a day on the lower right but the feet kick to the right side several times a day. On ultrasound, baby’s shoulder is also on the left side of the center, the linea nigra.