feels like my baby has dropped « Back to Group Discussions

[thecountrymouse]

About four days ago I had a big change with my belly being much lower- it now couldn't be lower and feels completely different.  My ribs stopped hurting and I can breath more.  I also started getting jolts in my cervix.  I'm almost 35 weeks.  Seems early for this to happen.  Anybody else experiencing this?  -thecountrymouse

[KristaDJ]

It's normal for the baby to engage up to six weeks before birth

[mforeback]

Yep, this happened to me too. Also 35 weeks. Belly is lower, I can eat and breathe again, no more little feet in my ribs, less heartburn. On the other hand, waddling quite a bit now, and feeling a lot of pressure on the cervix. Sitting is uncomfortable, and my pubic bone is really sore! Feels like I've been kicked in the crotch, lol. I guess you trade one set of discomforts for another with dropping, right?

For any BTDT mamas, how soon after dropping did you start into labor?

[Monkey's Mum]

My bb dropped at about 33 1/2 weeks this time. I don't think he is really engaged though as I'm not getting the cervical punches much:) but he is definitely lower. I believe with my first he dropped at least a month before I went into labour. 

[KristaDJ]

It is usually 4-6 weeks before labor for FTM's, and with subsequent pregnancies it may not happen until labor starts. I know with my first it was several weeks before labor and was with my third as well. Even with the baby dropped and tons of braxton hicks I didn't dilate, efface or even ripen until well into the first stage of labor with any of my babies so you just never can tell. I'm almost 33wks with my fourth and my baby is still nice and high and spinning around all day long :-P  

[MidnightCommando]

With my first I dropped around her due date and had her one week later.  This baby is so different - she has never been 'high' and has been dropped and head in pelvis for over a month now.  She is very squirmy but has not changed positions for a month now.  Her head is still bopping on my cervix causing what I call crotch lightning.  He butt is just above my belly button and her arms and legs are all on my right side. 

kristaDJ  - I hope that 6 week rule is not accurate.  If so, it means I'm having baby very soon - and since we live in a rural area which won't even admit you pre-37 weeks it means a helicopter ride out of the mountains.  and the thought of riding in a helicopter terrifies me.  especially in labor!

Does anyone else have a baby that favors one side of your body?  I feel kicks on my extreme side, like straight down from my armpit. Which is odd to me.  DD1 was all about my ribs - I don't miss that at all!

[mforeback]

My baby has spent most of the pregnancy hanging out on my right side. Never the left. Guess she likes it better over there? :P Since dropping, I think she's vertical in there - straight up and down, not curved around to either side.

[MamaInTheDesert]

Originally Posted by MidnightCommando 

Does anyone else have a baby that favors one side of your body?  I feel kicks on my extreme side, like straight down from my armpit. Which is odd to me.  DD1 was all about my ribs - I don't miss that at all!

DD lived in my right ribs, so I hear you about not missing that at all. DS has been hanging out on the lower right side, like right above my hip bones. He gets all squirmy when I sit down and the belly flops over the hips. I guess the right side is just more cozy inside me.

I don't THINK he's dropped yet though. However, I am having a better time of breathing, and am getting lots and lots of more intense braxton-hicks contractions. Plus all those wonderful cervical twinges. LOL... crotch lightning is the perfect term for it MidnightCommando!

[PrincessSputnik]

Originally Posted by MidnightCommando 

With my first I dropped around her due date and had her one week later.  This baby is so different - she has never been 'high' and has been dropped and head in pelvis for over a month now.  She is very squirmy but has not changed positions for a month now.  Her head is still bopping on my cervix causing what I call crotch lightning.  He butt is just above my belly button and her arms and legs are all on my right side. 

Does anyone else have a baby that favors one side of your body?  I feel kicks on my extreme side, like straight down from my armpit. Which is odd to me.  DD1 was all about my ribs - I don't miss that at all!

I'm a little weirded out by the fact that mine hasn't shifted in well over a month (I'm 32 1/2 weeks), also head down, butt up, with active little arms and legs on my left side. I don't think it's too low though, so there's still some dropping to be had I think, and everyone says I look like I'm carrying high. Dunno.. I'm partly relieved that the head is down and seems to be staying put, but also wonder why there's not more spinning happening since there should still be room in there.. 

[MidnightCommando]

Originally Posted by PrincessSputnik 

I'm a little weirded out by the fact that mine hasn't shifted in well over a month (I'm 32 1/2 weeks), also head down, butt up, with active little arms and legs on my left side. I don't think it's too low though, so there's still some dropping to be had I think, and everyone says I look like I'm carrying high. Dunno.. I'm partly relieved that the head is down and seems to be staying put, but also wonder why there's not more spinning happening since there should still be room in there.. 

yes!  me too.  I will be asking about this at next week's appointment.  My guess is that they are really comfortable where they are at?  Or big babies that have run out of room?  Although my OB is estimating this baby on the same track as DD1 which was 7 lb, 13 oz at 41 weeks birth.  The most important thing is they are still active even though they aren't spinning. 

[KristaDJ]

Originally Posted by MidnightCommando 

With my first I dropped around her due date and had her one week later.  This baby is so different - she has never been 'high' and has been dropped and head in pelvis for over a month now.  She is very squirmy but has not changed positions for a month now.  Her head is still bopping on my cervix causing what I call crotch lightning.  He butt is just above my belly button and her arms and legs are all on my right side. 

kristaDJ  - I hope that 6 week rule is not accurate.  If so, it means I'm having baby very soon - and since we live in a rural area which won't even admit you pre-37 weeks it means a helicopter ride out of the mountains.  and the thought of riding in a helicopter terrifies me.  especially in labor!

Does anyone else have a baby that favors one side of your body?  I feel kicks on my extreme side, like straight down from my armpit. Which is odd to me.  DD1 was all about my ribs - I don't miss that at all!

It's not a rule and doesn't by any means say that women will give birth 6wks after the baby drops, it's just common in first time moms to drop 4-6wks before the birth. Lots of multiparas experience the baby dropping early on too though. 

[sraplayas]

Well, yesterday it felt like my little guy dropped b/c what I think is his back/bottom is about 2" lower than it was earlier in the day. He's still moving quite a bit and I feel alot of activity low in my pelvis. A few family/friends remarked noticing a change and also commented it looked like I would delivery early---I'm 33.6 weeks today. Also, my lower back almost felt like it was going out today which could be b/c he is lower but also change of position. This is my 3rd, and I really don't remember noticing my others dropping, I'm alot more aware this time around!

I'm trying to get all my "stuff" done in the next two weeks just in case, b/c it really feels like I'm going to give birth earlier this time--hopefully not before 37 weeks!

BTW--on this dropping theme, does anyone have any favorite poses/stretches for when baby gets lower? I've been doing cat/cow and pelvic inversions (?) and but always looking for more good stretches:)

[Nicole730]

Oh, you are giving me hope on being able to feel hungry again during this pregnancy!  I hope my little one drops by 35 weeks, I'm 32 weeks now. 

[alicewyf]

Mine has definitely dropped. I'll be 35 weeks on Friday. I almost want my OB to check my cervix next Tuesday at my appointment because it has been soooo pinchy and achy feeling since this past weekend. It's actually been keeping me up at night.

[kjourdan]

Mine has dropped too...I am 35w today.  Feeling heavier on my cervix, and my back is aching more.  

[eirual]

I'm starting to think mine's on its way down too. I woke up yesterday with it feeling much lower. ...my hips are also starting to kill while sleeping. I've got to have pillows between my legs to find any comfort.

[sraplayas]

MW said baby's still up high, just changed position but still anterior:) 34 weeks!

[KristaDJ]

My baby is still up high too. This is my fourth full term pg but I had three others that went into the second tri so I guess I just have a roomy womb :-P This kid still changes position all the time without me hardly noticing. 

[Lite]

First time mom here and baby has dropped at exactly 35 weeks!!  It's KILLING me to sleep right now.  My hips ache like crazy.  I've been sleeping on my left side with pillow between my legs from the beginning and this hasn't given me any relief lately.  And it's just so much more noticeable that belly is lower. 

[kjourdan]

Lite, my ability to get comfortable to sleep seriously downgraded this week (35 weeks).  I just can't get comfortable even in the positions that worked before!