When a baby drops, its head moves into the pelvis more deeply in preparation for labor. The third trimester of pregnancy is typically when it occurs.
Baby dropping, which is often referred to as “lightening,” is an indication that the baby is almost ready to be born.
When the baby is about to drop, it may turn so that its head is facing down and the back of it is facing the front of the tummy. Following that, the infant can fall into the pelvis.
During this stage, the baby is referred to as engaged by medical professionals. It is now ready to give birth, so to speak.
What does it feel like when a baby drops
Some women may experience the dropping of the baby as a swift, observable movement.
Some people might not even realize it is happening.
After the baby has dropped, some women may feel lighter in the abdomen. This may be due to extra space in her middle being created by the baby’s lower pelvic position.
The term “baby dropping” also goes by the name “lightening” because of the sensation of added abdominal space.
Some people might think the phrase “lightening” is unsuitable.
When a baby is delivered, some women experience the sensation of holding a bowling ball between their legs.
The experience of having a baby drops varies from woman to woman.
When does baby dropping happen?
Every woman experiences it at a different time. There isn’t a specific day or week that women should anticipate having their baby.
Baby dropping can occur soon before or shortly after the beginning of labor for some women.
It might take place for other ladies a few weeks prior to the start of labor.
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For women who have already given birth, the baby dropping may occur closer to the start of labor.
This is because their pelvis may take less time to respond to the procedure because their body has already experienced labor.
First-time mothers may discover that the baby drops a few days or weeks before giving birth.
This may be the case because before labor can start, their pelvic muscles need to adapt to the birthing position.
Baby drop signs!
Here are the following signs that will show that your baby has dropped.
1. need to urinate frequently
The baby’s head could put pressure on the bladder as it sits lower in the pelvis causing one to experience frequent urination as a result.
2. lower stomach
When the baby drops, a woman’s pregnancy bump could appear to be sitting in the lower part of the stomach.
3. Pain from pelvic pressure
The pressure in this region may rise as the baby enters the pelvis causing a lady to experience walking and waddling as a result of this.
4. Pelvic pain
Some women may experience brief bursts of [mfn]pelvic pain[/mfn] when the baby drops.
The baby’s head, perhaps rubbing against pelvic ligaments, is usually responsible for this.
5. breathe more easily
Once the baby has dropped, the diaphragm is no longer under as much pressure thus breathing might be easier as a result.
6. Hemorrhoids
Following the baby’s descent, its head can strain on the rectus and pelvic nerves. Hemorrhoids could develop due to this pressure.
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7. more discharge
The strain on the cervix rises when the baby drops. As a result, it starts to lose the mucus plug that remained at the top of the cervix throughout the entire pregnancy which helps to prevent bacteria from getting inside the uterus.
The mucus plug may leave the vagina after the baby has dropped as a jelly or yolk-like discharge.
8. backache
The lower back muscles may experience increased stress as a result of child dropping. The result could be back ache.
9. feeling more hungry
There may be less pressure on the stomach when the baby drops.
This could enhance hunger while easing heartburn.
Activities that promote baby dropping:
A woman can try the following activities to urge the baby to descend if her due date is quickly approaching and the baby has not yet dropped.
These consist of:
- Walking
- being seated on a birthing ball
- squatting
- body tilts
All of these exercises aid in stretching the pelvic muscles and opening the hips.
The baby may descend into the pelvis as a result of this.
Baby fetal station:
Each fetal station is characterized in terms of negative or positive integers that represent the baby’s location in the delivery canal.
A baby is said to be in the womb when he or she is at a specific fetal station, which is a measurement of where he or she is in reference to specific parts of the pelvis.
Traveling from +1 to +2 signifies moving by around a centimeter, since the difference between the numbers is equal to centimeters.
The standard fetal station scale used by doctors and midwives has 11 distinct positions.
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These are the first five:
-5 station:
The infant can move around freely and can even flip from heads-up to heads-down and vice versa while still within the womb.
-3 station:
The baby has positioned itself in a heads-down position, with the top of the head just above the pelvic bone, typically between weeks 32 and 36 (although it can occur as late as soon as labor is starting).
0 station:
The infant has lowered to the point when the head is in contact with the pelvis.
The baby is considered to have fallen and become fully engaged at this time.
+3 station:
This is when the baby’s head first starts to emerge through the delivery canal.
+5 station:
The baby’s head is visible since it is crowning.
You can’t predict when this will happen, but if this is your first pregnancy, lightening probably will happen two to four weeks before you go into labor.
This happens at station 0, when a baby’s head is fully engaged in the pelvis.
Take away
Remember that although the sensation of the baby dropping can be weird and may cause some new, uncomfortable side effects, this is just your body preparing for labor.
Call your doctor right away, though, if you are worried about the pain or discomfort, encounter any bleeding, or have any cramping.
Very soon, you’ll be holding your newborn in your arms.
Congratulations mom!