Tips for helping your baby drop – While there’s no scientific data that points to a proven way to get your baby to drop before labor, there is plenty of anecdotal advice that may help you feel more comfortable. Here’s what you can try:
Walking. Walking can relax the pelvic muscles and open the hips. That, plus an assist from gravity, may help the lightening process along. Squatting. If walking opens up the hips, imagine how much more so squatting will. Use a birthing ball to help you maintain the squatting position, or try gently rocking on it. Pelvic tilts. A rocking motion can also be achieved through, A great way to do them late in pregnancy is on your hands and knees. Gently tilt your pelvis forward while relaxing your lower back. Repeat a few times.
Your baby dropping down in the pelvic cavity is just one more sign that he’s gearing up for delivery day. Exciting times ahead!
What to Expect When You’re Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.WhatToExpect.com,, August 2021.WhatToExpect.com,, June 2021.WhatToExpect.com,, December 2021.Mayo Clinic,, December 2021.National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine,, February 2022.University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine,, October 2020.
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Is there a way to get baby to drop?
Download Article Download Article Babies begin to drop, also called “lightening,” toward the end of the third trimester, in the last few weeks of a pregnancy. However, some may not drop until a few hours before labor. Don’t worry if it is a couple weeks before your due date and your baby hasn’t dropped yet.
- 1 Choose a birthing ball for your height. When you sit on the ball, it is very important that you are able to place your feet flat on the floor. Your knees should be slightly lower than your hips when you sit on it as well. If your are 5 ft.8 in. (1.73 meters) or shorter, purchase a 65 centimetres (2.13 ft) ball.
- Make sure the ball can withstand 300 kilograms (660 lb) of pressure.
- The cost of a birthing ball can range from $20 to $50. Choose a high-quality ball to ensure you and your baby’s safety.
- 2 Bounce on a birthing ball. Sit on a birthing ball with your feet shoulder-width apart. Relax your arms at your side. Make sure your back is straight and your hips are higher than your knees. Slightly bounce on the ball at a comfortable pace for 10 minutes. Rest for 1 to 2 minutes. Bounce for another 10 minutes.
- If you do not have a birthing ball, an exercise ball will work as well.
- Do this while watching TV or listening to music.
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- 3 Move your hips in circles while sitting on the ball. Sit on your birthing ball with your feet hip-width apart. Place your hands on your hips. Start by moving your hips in a smooth, slow circular motion to the right. Do this for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, switch directions.
- Pretend as if you are hula-hooping, but without the hula-hoop.
- Make sure your hips are higher than your knees.
- 4 Lean forward over the birthing ball. Place your birthing ball in front of you and kneel in front of it. Spread your knees shoulder-width apart. Lean forward over the birthing ball, resting your head and chest on the ball. Also drape your arms around the ball.
- Place a towel under your knees for cushion and comfort.
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- 1 Walk for 10 to 30 minutes per day. Start by walking 10 minutes per day if you haven’t exercised at all throughout your pregnancy. If you have been exercising consistently, then walk for 20 to 30 minutes. Walk at a comfortable pace around your neighborhood, in the park, or on the beach.
- Walking opens the hips and relaxes the pelvis, which may induce your baby to drop.
- 2 Squat 5 to 10 times. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Stretch your arms out in front of you for balance. While keeping your back straight, gently squat to a comfortable level. Do 5 to 10 squats. If you haven’t been exercising consistently, start with 5 squats.
- Use a wall or a chair for balance if you need to.
- If you have a birthing ball, squat on your birthing ball for additional support.
- 3 Lift your pelvis. Lie on your back on top of a mat. Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor in a comfortable position. Place your arms by your sides with your palms flat on the floor for leverage. Then lift your pelvis up off of the floor and bring it back down. Do this 5 to 10 times. Rest. Then do another 5 to 10 pelvic lifts.
- If you haven’t been exercising consistently throughout your pregnancy, then start with 5 pelvic lifts.
- 4 Move around while at work. If your job requires you to sit for long periods of time, ask your boss if it is ok to take 10-minute breaks every hour or every other hour. If your boss gives you permission to do so, walk around the office or building for 10 minutes.
- If 10 minutes every hour gets in the way of your work responsibilities, stand up every so often by your desk instead.
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- 1 Sit with your back straight and your knees apart. Sitting with your back straight will tilt your pelvis forward. If you are at home, bend forward until your belly hangs down. Maintain this position for 5 to 10 minutes. This will focus the baby’s weight on your pelvis, which may induce it to drop.
- Practice this position 5 to 7 times a week to induce your baby to drop.
- 2 Make sure your hips are higher than your knees while sitting. If your knees are higher than your hips, your pelvis will tilt backward. If your chair at work or home is causing your knees to rise higher than your hips, then sit on a cushion to lift up your hips.
- 3 Avoid reclining on couches and chairs. Reclining on couches and chairs can also cause your pelvis to tilt backward. Instead, sit on a birthing or fitness ball with your feet apart and your back straight. This will open up your pelvis.
- Ask your manager or boss at work if you can bring your birthing ball to sit on while you work at your desk.
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- 1 Observe a lower belly. Look at your belly in the mirror. If it looks lower than usual, then this a sign that your baby has dropped. Additionally, an increased distance between your belly and breasts is a sign that your belly has shifted to a lower position.
- If you cannot tell, ask your partner or a family member if your belly looks lower.
- 2 Feel a release of pressure from your stomach and lungs. Once your baby drops, there will be less pressure on your lungs and stomach. If you notice that it is easier to breathe and to take deep breaths, then your baby has dropped. Additionally, if you can eat more food during meals, or your heartburn symptoms have reduced, these are signs that your baby has dropped.
- 3 Notice increased pressure on your pelvis. Once your baby shifts into your pelvis, you will feel more pressure on this area. Because of the increased pressure, you may find it hard to stand for extended periods of time, or to walk at a normal pace and stride. You may also need to urinate more frequently because of the increased pressure on your bladder.
- 4 Close your legs. Sit in a chair and try closing your legs. If you cannot close your legs, this is another sign that your baby has dropped into your pelvis.
- 5 Visit your doctor or midwife to assess your progress. Your doctor or midwife will be able to measure your progress more precisely. Talk to them about the different strategies you are using to induce your baby to drop. If your progress is coming along, great. If not, they may recommend other strategies for you to use to induce your baby to drop.
- Once your baby has dropped, contact your doctor or midwife immediately, especially if it is accompanied with contraction pains.
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Ultimately, the baby “dropping” is determined by several factors. These may include the size of the baby, the shape of your pelvis, the position of the baby in the uterus, the amount of room the baby has to move, the position of the placenta, and if you are expecting twins or multiples.
Advertisement Article Summary X The easiest thing to do to get your baby to drop is to walk 10-30 minutes every day, since walking opens your hips and relaxes your pelvis. You can also do 5-10 squats, keeping your arms in front of you or holding a chair for balance if you need to.
- If you have a birthing ball, bounce on it for 20 minutes, resting for 1-2 minutes at the 10-minute mark.
- You may also get your baby to drop by sitting on the ball and moving your hips in circles, going in alternate directions for 20 minutes at a time.
- Try to keep your back straight and your hips higher than your knees to maximize the effectiveness of these exercises.
For information from our Registered Nurse reviewer on how to tell when your baby has dropped, read on! Did this summary help you? Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 123,573 times.
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How does it feel when baby drops?
2. You might feel a lot more pressure. – Once your baby drops, you might notice a lot of increased pressure in your pelvis. This may be a time when you develop a significant pregnancy “waddle” as you adjust. This is probably the same feeling as walking around with what feels like a bowling ball between your legs.
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Does baby drop suddenly or gradually?
What It Feels Like – The word “drop” is kind of misleading: It suggests a sudden downward movement, but in fact a baby dropping typically is a gradual process. It’s unlikely you’ll feel your baby drop, but you will notice any or all of various signs that it has happened. These include:
Easier breathing : When a baby moves downward, it creates more room for the lungs to expand, so you may notice that you can breathe more freely. Pressure on your pelvis : When the baby drops, his head will rest more heavily on top of the cervix and will take up more space in the lower part of the birth canal. It may feel as if there’s a bowling bowl between your legs and even cause you to walk oddly. The need to pee more often : The pressure of the baby’s head in the pelvis can affect the bladder, causing you to feel as if you need to urinate a lot. The ability to eat more at one sitting : While high up in your uterus your baby crowded your stomach, so you may have noticed that you felt full pretty quickly. When your baby drops there will be more room for your stomach to fill up with food. Less heartburn : Pressure on the stomach also causes a common symptom in pregnancy—heartburn. Minus the pressure, you may notice you’re less likely to get heartburn (if that’s been an issue for you). Pelvic pain : This is caused by pressure on a lot of ligaments in the pelvis. Increased discharge : The weight of the baby on the cervix may cause more mucus to be expelled from the vagina. This is sometimes experienced as a gob of discharge called the mucus plug. Your belly hangs lower : It’s often very easy to tell if a baby has dropped: Besides visibly looking as if you’re carrying lower, you may notice that there’s more space between your breasts and the top of your abdomen. More Braxton-Hicks contractions : These may be stimulated by the pressure of the baby’s head on the cervix. Increased pain in the pelvis : This simply is due to the shift in pressure on ligaments and nerves in the lower pelvis.
What triggers Labour?
Definition of Labor – Labor is a series of continuous, progressive contractions of the uterus that help the cervix dilate and efface (thin out). This lets the fetus move through the birth canal. Labor usually starts two weeks before or after the estimated date of delivery. However, the exact trigger for the onset of labor is unknown.
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How long does it take for baby to drop?
Overview – At the end of the third trimester, the baby settles, or drops lower, into the mother’s pelvis. This is known as dropping or lightening. Dropping is not a good predictor of when labor will begin. In first-time mothers, dropping usually occurs 2 to 4 weeks before delivery, but it can happen earlier.
In women who have already had children, the baby may not drop until labor begins. You may or may not notice a change in the shape of your abdomen after dropping. You may notice that your breathing becomes easier and heartburn occurs less frequently after dropping occurs. But the increased pressure on your bladder after dropping occurs may make you have the urge to urinate more often.
Usually the baby’s head is the first (presenting) part to enter the pelvis, but the feet or a shoulder can present first. Station During the last month, your doctor will estimate how far the baby’s head has moved down into (engaged) the pelvis. This is measured in “stations.” A baby is at –3 station when the head is above the pelvis and at 0 station when the head is at the bottom of the pelvis (fully engaged).
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Do you feel smaller when baby drops?
Although your bump “dropping” or descending into your pelvis isn’t a predictor of when labour will start, it is a sure sign that your body’s getting ready. Your midwife will talk about your baby or your baby’s head engaging or being engaged to describe the same thing.
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How can I make my baby move down my cervix?
– Sorry to be the bearer of bad news here, but some babies are just plain stubborn. You can dance around your living room after eating five-alarm chili and chugging glasses of OJ, and they’re still not going to dislodge their cute little baby buttocks from under your third rib.
practicing supported squatting against a walltilting your pelvis forward while sitting (sit on a pillow and cross your legs in front of you)positioning yourself on your hands and knees (think table pose) and rocking gently back and forthsitting on a birthing ball and rotating your hipssleeping on the side you want baby to move toward (because, gravity)
Can squatting help baby drop?
Squats are one of the most popular and effective exercises for building lower body strength. There are many different variations of squats. They can be done with no equipment. You can also use dumbbells, kettlebells, or resistance bands. Pregnant women may choose to incorporate squats into their weekly exercise routine.
Squats can offer many benefits for both you and your baby-to-be during pregnancy, labor, and after delivery. Squatting during labor and delivery may help open your pelvis, assisting in baby’s descent. This is why squats are an important exercise to practice during pregnancy. Try these five different squat variations throughout your pregnancy.
If you have knee, hip, or low back pain during these movements, stop and talk to a doctor, physical therapist, or personal trainer. They can help ensure that you’re OK to perform the movement and that you are performing it correctly.
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How do you know if your water is going to break?
How long after your water breaks do you go into labor? – For most people (up to about 90%), labor starts before their water breaks. If you’re having contractions, you’re already in labor. These contractions usually intensify once your water has broken.
Pee is usually dark yellow and has a distinct odor. Amniotic fluid is mostly clear or light yellow (although it can be tinged brown or red) and odorless. You can’t stop amniotic fluid. If your water breaks, you won’t be able to “hold it” like you can with pee. Amniotic fluid continues to leak (sometimes with a contraction) where urine doesn’t. In most cases, your bladder empties and doesn’t fill up again that quickly. There’s usually more amniotic fluid than pee. At 36 weeks of pregnancy, you can have up to 4 cups of amniotic fluid (it goes down as your baby’s due date gets closer). The human bladder can only hold 2 cups of pee.
What positions help you dilate?
From slow dancing to lunging, try experimenting with any of these labour positions to find what works for you. 
All too often our image of labour is of a woman in bed. Here are some better ideas from doula and childbirth educator Jennifer Elliott. Different positions in labour can make you a little more comfortable, encourage your baby to move into a better position for birth and even help your labour to progress. Experiment with different positions, as you move through labour, to find the ones where your body feels and works the best.1. Try being upright One of your biggest allies is gravity. When you are upright—standing, sitting or kneeling—the weight of your baby presses on the cervix, encouraging it to open. An upright position may also help get your baby into the best position for birth. The one position a labouring woman should not adopt is lying flat on her back, because the weight of the baby puts pressure on a major artery, restricting blood flow to the baby. Prevent this by putting a small pillow or wedge under one side of your back so you’re lying slightly to the side.2. Lying down on your side Your partner can rub your back to help you relax. You may even drift off to sleep, at least between contractions. Rest until you need to be up to meet the intensity. Also try: rocking in a chair or glider.3. Standing and leaning forward Some women lean into a wall. Others choose a desk, or place an exercise ball on a kitchen counter or other high surface. Bend your knees. If using a ball, lean your head, arms and upper chest into the ball. Rock from side to side during the contraction. Between contractions, walk to encourage your labour to progress.4. Kneeling with knees wide apart, and leaning forward Sit back on your ankles and let your belly sink down between your knees. Stack up a bunch of pillows so you can lean your chest and head into them.5. Slow dancing Put your arms around his neck, and lean your head into his chest or shoulder. Your partner puts his arms around your lower back and locks his fingers so that you feel secure. You may find it even more comfortable to drop your arms over his so they dangle limply. Rock from side to side together. Add slow dance music if desired.6. Sitting on the ball This allows you to take the weight off your legs and relax your lower back. You can rock side to side, forward and back, or all the way round. Your partner may sit behind you so that you can lean back into him between contractions, or you may want to lean forward against a bed or other furniture. Also try: sitting cross-legged, on bed or floor.7. On knees with upper body leaning forward Lean against the raised back of the hospital bed, over the ball placed on a couch, or against your partner while he stands at the side of the bed. Back labour means the woman feels intense discomfort in her lower back during labour. It is usually caused by the posterior position of the baby — head down but with the back of the head pressing against the mom’s tailbone instead of facing the front of her body. Relief comes when the baby rotates, and rotation is encouraged by the mom leaning forward. She may also encourage the baby to turn by opening her hips.8. On knees leaning over ball, or on hands and knees An exercise ball allows you to put the weight of your upper body on the ball instead of your hands. The ball also encourages movement, rocking forward into cat stretches or side to side. You can also do these same movements on your hands and knees. These movements open the pelvis to allow the baby to rotate into an anterior position. Also try: sitting backwards on a chair or toilet seat, leaning into a pillow.9. The Double Hip Squeeze Your partner presses into your buttocks with the palms of his hands. His fingers point to your spine while his elbows point out as he places his palms on the gluteal muscles (the “meatiest” part of the buttocks) and presses toward your spine during contractions. Aaah! Also try: direct pressure, hot or cold compresses.10. Side lying with upper knee bent It’s OK to lie down in labour. Lie down on one side, with your lower leg straight, and bend your upper knee as much as possible. Rest it on a pillow. This is another position to open your pelvis and encourage your baby to rotate and descend. It’s a nice resting position for anyone, not just those experiencing back labour.11. Lunge Stand facing forward with one foot on a stool or chair. Rotate your standing foot to the side to open your knee. Lunge during or between contractions, or both. Try one foot up, then the other, and stick with the one that gives the most relief. This position often works wonders late in labour when dilation has slowed. It makes space for the baby to get into a good position for the final descent. Read more: When to cut your baby’s umbilical cord> How to cope during the transition phase of labour> 4 tips to manage labour and delivery fears>
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What triggers cervix dilation?
As the baby’s head drops down into the pelvis, it pushes against the cervix. This causes the cervix to relax and thin out, or efface. During pregnancy, your cervix has been closed and protected by a plug of mucus. When the cervix effaces, the mucus plug comes loose and passes out of the vagina.
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How soon after baby drops does labor start?
Dropping usually occurs about 2 to 4 weeks before labor. However, it is not a good way to predict when labor will happen.
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Is 32 weeks too early for baby to drop?
Your baby at 32 weeks – By about 32 weeks, the baby is usually lying with their head pointing downwards, ready for birth. This is known as cephalic presentation. If your baby is not lying head down at this stage, it’s not a cause for concern – there’s still time for them to turn.
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