What happens when the baby “drops”?
In the late stages of pregnancy, expectant mothers have to get creative when doing some of their daily tasks. Tying shoelaces and picking up things from the floor can be a challenge! Giving your partner an extra hand with the little things can be of great help.
Falling asleep at night can also be difficult at this time. One reason may be restless leg syndrome, a condition involving the incessant desire to move the feet and legs. Up to 30% of women in the third trimester of pregnancy face this problem [1], which can be quite annoying but poses no risk other than making it difficult for both of you to sleep. If it gets to be too much, the best option is to talk about it with a doctor [2].
You may have heard that as childbirth approaches, the baby’s head settles into the pelvis in preparation for birth, causing the belly to “drop”. Expectant mothers may not always feel when the baby shifts, but there are other signs. She may feel like going to the toilet more often because the baby’s head is pressing more into the bladder. On the other hand, she may experience a few welcome signs, like suddenly having more room to breathe and less heartburn [3].
Usually, labor isn’t far behind once the baby drops. However, it can be different for every woman. Some may notice the baby drops a few weeks before birth, others a few hours. And some don’t notice it until they are actually in labor [4]. If your partner believes the baby has dropped, she can call her doctor so they can check the baby’s position.
