dropping

[counterGOPI]

how do you know when you dropped? do you really feel it? i dont think ive dropped at all yet and im at 37 1/2 weeks!
<3,
nicole

[trijosie-mama]

I've noticed a funny pressure and almost bruised feeling on my pelvic bone. I suppose it's similar to a night of very rough BDing. This just started happening last week, I'll be 39wks tomorrow. The dr said the babies head is very low, nice vague detail, lower than last week at any rate. I've also started to notice more pressure in my lower back, it's different than the back pain that I have had through out the pregnancy.

My stomach doesn't seemed to have shifted much though, my pants sit lower and feel like they are going to fall off sometimes, but I can't tell by looking at myself the way some women can.

[mamabeth]

Both times I've looked and felt like I've "dropped," but neither time has the head been engaged in my pelvis! Crazy huh? I don't think it means too much at least in my case. I went to 42 weeks with my dd, carrying WAY low for about 6 weeks.

So I wouldn't worry about it if you haven't dropped yet! Doesn't mean you won't start labor soon.

[sbm1001]

Also, alot of babies don't engage until labor in subsequent pg's. I've never dropped until labor with any of my pg's....just one of those signs that don't really tell you too much.

Shannon

[mom2threenurslings]

People often say that I've "dropped" but I'm just carrying low. Even when my babies "drop" they don't engage so I guess it doesn't make much of a difference for me! My second ds "dropped" at 36 weeks (by the looks of my belly) but his head didn't engage in my pelvis until about 15 minutes before he was born! He was born with a perfectly round head.

Moonbaby is still pretty high and I'm 39w1d.

[Galatea]

I never dropped with ds1 and I haven't this time either. I don't think it means anything in terms of labor. People say that if the baby drops, you will know b/c you will feel the bowling ball/head falling out between your legs.

[Shell_Ell]

I dropped around 34 weeks. Baby went from floating to -2 in a matter of a week.

To me, it literally felt like he could fall out of my vagina. :LOL It's a feeling I can't express into words. Just an insane amount of pressure. He's so low now there are times when I feel like he's literally coming out.

[counterGOPI]

ok so.... i will DEF know when shes in my pelvis? ill feel her for sure? and my dropping doesnt really show when i ll go into labor? i denied the cervix check last week b/c i felt i didnt need it b/c i havent dropped at all...
<3,
nicole

[Palmetto210]

Exactly. This is my first pg, and I thought I had dropped about 36wks, when I began to feel insane pressure as our little one squirmed its head. At my 38 wk appt, the babe was still at a -2 station and my mw said I had not yet dropped.

Sometime in my mid 40th wk, I got up from a chair and realized there was more room between my bra line and my belly. I mean, I could place a book on the top of my belly; whereas before, just wearing a bra was painful b/c everything was all squished. When my DH arrvied home that night, he commented that I had offically dropped. He even said, "whoa"! My hunger didn't change really, but I did notice that after that point, I could eat a regular sized meal and breathe really deeply for the first time in months. Also, I finally started "waddling". I still cannot walk straight!

I wish all this has meant my babe was here, but despite over two wks of prodromal labor, having my membranes swept on Thursday, and losing my show over the last 3 days, I am still pg. Oh, well. Perhaps my red curry lunch and long morning walk will kick things into gear.

Hang in there

[counterGOPI]

thank you thank you!! i know we'll be hearing your birth story very soon and i cant wait!!
<3,
nicole

[BennyPai]

I don't think dropping is necessarily a sign of labor. Your body and baby are unique. I dropped with my last baby weeks before labor (and YES it felt like "My bottom was going to drop out"). I also had my cervix checked more than enough times. That process was aggravating and I was also dilated to 2 and a half cm for around a month, so it was useless in determining how close I was...

My baby finally dropped over this past week. EDD 9/10 (cycle) or 9/16 (u/s) I don't know about my cervix this time, as I have avoided the uncomfortable process of having it checked.
To a great extent, in my experience, my body takes me on the labor ride when and how it chooses. I can only follow the lead. :LOL

[marieangela]

Count me in as one whose babies don't drop until the last minute. Both of my boys were born with perfect little round heads.