Baby Dropping Early: Causes, Outcomes, and What to Expect

Question
Hi my name is Tara.  I myself am not pregnant, but Milissa (36yrs) ;the lady Ive been babysitting for for three years is.  She has three kids already and is on number 4! Her due date is December 19 and today she told me that she was in the hospital because her baby had dropped, but they werent going to be having the baby today (today being October 08).  I was wondering what could have caused it possibly or what the different outcomes of it could be.  Thank you for your time.  
-Tara

Answer
If your friend is due on December 19, she is now 30 weeks pregnant and can "drop" at any time. This only means that the baby is situating itself in the pelvis and is positioning itself for delivery in around 10 weeks. Dropping will make your friend feel better and she will not have shortness of breath when climbing stairs or walking several blocks. In around 8 weeks she may start going into labor. She does not have to worry until she starts to have contractions at the level of her belly button that come every 6-8 minutes (from the baginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction) and each contraction lasts for at least 45 seconds. Dropping is normal.