Baby dropped???

[LoveChild421]

This may seem like a stupid question to more experienced moms- but I am wondering how you know when the baby drops- do you just feel totally different one day or can it happen gradually? This babe has been a hangin low all along and even my midwives will comment on how low he is but no one has said he has "dropped" or anything and I don't feel any different (I'm 34 weeks now)- when do they usually drop for first time moms? What does it feel like?

[Goldiemom]

I am not due in March, but I can contribute an answer. With my 2 children it was different with both. My ds dropped sometime in the week before I had him. I couldn't really tell anything until the student that examined me at my last appt said, "Hey your baby's head is really low in your pelvis, you know that means that s/he has "dropped" and you will probably be having him soon." It was a fluke that I had him the next day, in my opinion, cause my dd dropped about 2 weeks before I had her. I could definately tell, because it got easier to breathe, but harder to sit down on the floor. If I sat on the floor or on some not soft surface it was really uncomfy and felt like I was sitting on her head... which in a way I kind of was.

I don't know if that helped at all, but that was my experience with it. I will just have to wait until Aug/Sept to find out what this baby does. Take care and best wishes for a fast and easy birth.

[AnneCordelia]

With my son I dropped around 35-36 weeks...and then went on to be 2 weeks past due before he was born. Unfortunately, it doesn't mean much as to when you'll deliver.

You may notice that you can breathe easier...or that the heartburn has soothed a bit when the baby drops. Your midwife could probably tell you...if the baby's head is settled nicely in your pelvis instead of floating above it, then you've dropped. They can also tell by your fundal measurements. For example: at 34 weeks, I measured 37cm. At 36 weeks, I measured 37cm. LOL! The baby dropped and so did my fundal measurement.

Also, just an interesting tidbit, it's much more common to drop with a first baby than a subsequent baby.

Emily

[eminer]

You might notice that you can feel the baby more when you are walking (feeling like you want to waddle), more pressure on your bladder, hiccups that feel like they are being projected down into your vagina, change in the shape of your belly.

[Kindermama]

Ellery dropped at 32 weeks. One night I had strong BH contractions thru the night. I thought I was in preterm labor. I woke up in the morning and when I saw my profile, I noticed that the top of my belly was a handwidth lower. My boobs were no longer resting on top of it! that's how I knew!!!

[aquarianmom]

Good question LoveChild, I have been wondering the same thing myself.

[mama23k]

I tend to carry low to start with. I'll have to agree with the handwidth between the boobs and belly, and the need to waddle when you walk. It's different for everybody and for every baby you have. All of mine were different.

[ladyelmo1]

Check out polihaupt's post on the "I'm Pregnant" board, for a rather funny description of a baby dropping.

I never really dropped with my dd.

-Melissa

[cholderby]

I never felt or looked any different, but the MW says he's dropped.

[Quindin]

Yap - it felt weird. No sign of labor either and I am still feeling like I am walking around with a basketball squeezed down there :LOL

[ladyelmo1]

Yap - it felt weird. No sign of labor either and I am still feeling like I am walking around with a basketball squeezed down there

:LOL

I think of you every time I stand in front of the kitchen sink lately! Still no dropping in my house, but I don't really expect it.

-Melissa

[crayon]

my baby has been engaged from about week 25- that means his/her head is way way down and not coming back up... I have always been low, but I can tell the baby is going even deeper, I can feel it when I walk now....

With my DD I never dropped- I stayed high until she was born! I think it is really on how the baby is, some babies like to be very low- like this one I have now Must be a boy- likes to be close to the goods :LOL and some just like to free float!

[CityGirl]

I've definitely dropped! A week ago I was measuring 35 cms, today I was 33. Midwife said the baby's head is beautifully and deeply engaged. And my nausea is GONE--miraculously, wonderfully gone. I haven't had a papaya enzyme in days. I feel really really good.