QuestionHello, I am now 37 weeks pregnant with my second child. My first was born at 37 weeks and a couple days and weighed 6lbs, 8 oz. This one is due March 8th and on January 7th I had an anatomy ultra sound at which I was told he weighed 3lbs, 8oz. What is the likelihood that this one will be much bigger than my first? Also, I recal "dropping" with my first, I remember how the appearance of my stomach changed and that my first was born just 2 weeks later. In look at my stomach now it seems like I'm dropping slowly whereas it seemed to be all at once with the first. Also, I've been having pretty consistant contractions (very mild, the same way they were when I went into labor with the first) for the last 20 hours, about 18-20 minutes apart lasting for about 30 seconds, they haven't gotten harder or more frequent and the baby is still moving around a bit (just small movements), but my stomach seems lower this morning than it did last night. However, I never bothered to ask what happens when one "drops" in a pregnancy and what is physically going on with everything inside and if there is a direct corilation of time once one has completely "dropped". Can you shed some light on this for me?
AnswerThe baby "drops" once the head of the baby enters the birth canal. You immediately feel more comfortable when walking stairs or for long periods of time. However, even if the baby drops, it does not mean that you will start labor sooner or later. If this is your second pregnancy, we consider you to start labor when you start to have regular contractions at the level of your belly button, every 6 sminutes (from the beginning of the contraction to the beginning of the next contraction) and each contraction should last for, at least, 45 seconds. If that continues for a full hour, you are in labor. Until then, just be patient. It does not matter if your "drop" or not.
