Lightening in Pregnancy: When Does Baby Drop and What Comes Next?

I remember waking up one morning at 39 weeks pregnant feeling very different. The weight in my pregnant belly felt lower, I was able to take deeper breaths and I could feel myself waddling with each step. If you’re noticing this shift (or hoping you’re about to), it has a name—lightening in pregnancy.

“Lightening is a term to describe baby moving down in the pelvis, getting into a position closer to delivery,” explains Tania Lopez, CNM, a certified nurse-midwife at Pediatrix Medical Group in Texas. “Some will describe it as baby has ‘dropped.’”

Lightening is a huge milestone as you approach labor—and you may be feeling excited, nervous or a little of both. So exactly when does baby drop—and what does it feel like? Read on to get the facts, straight from experts.

Key Takeaways

• Lightening in pregnancy (often called baby “dropping”) happens when baby moves down into your pelvis to get into position for delivery.
• When does baby drop? Baby usually drops toward the end of the third trimester.
• Signs of baby dropping include easier breathing, more frequent bathroom trips, increased pelvic pressure, a lower-looking bump and a waddly walk—though every pregnancy’s different.
• How long after baby drops does labor start? There’s no specific timeline, but baby dropping does mean you’re in the home stretch. Lightening in pregnancy can come weeks, days or even hours before delivery.

What Is Lightening in Pregnancy?

Toward the end of the third trimester, baby begins to travel from your uterus downward toward your pelvis to prepare for birth. This process of moving into an optimal position is referred to as lightening in pregnancy or baby dropping.

“It happens as a result of softening to the lower segment of the uterus,” explains Skyler Jacobs, CNM, a certified nurse-midwife with Modern Obstetrics and Gynecology of North Atlanta in Georgia. Basically, the cervix decreases in length, and baby “drops” lower.

So why is it called lightening in pregnancy? Simply put, when baby moves down, Mom begins to feel lighter—at least in the upper part of her abdomen. Less pressure is applied to the ribs and diaphragm, making it easier to breathe. (And, yes, this is a sign that baby’s coming relatively soon!)

When Does Baby Drop?

Babies often drop about two to four weeks before labor—or between 36 and 40 weeks. But the timing varies widely. “Lightening can happen a few weeks or even just a few hours before going into labor,” says Dr. Sanaz Ghazal, MD, FACOG, a board-certified ob-gyn and reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist in Orange County, California. “It’s different for every person.”

There’s also often a difference between first pregnancies and subsequent ones when it comes to timing. “First-time moms usually experience lightening weeks before the onset of labor,” says Dr. Cynthia Rios, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at Houston Methodist Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates in Texas. “However, for patients who’ve had babies before, the descent usually happens during labor or right at the onset of labor.” For me, I dropped a week before I gave birth to my second baby.

Signs of Baby Dropping

It’s not always obvious, but nurse-midwife Jacobs says there are a few noticeable signs baby has dropped you can look for to decide if lightening in pregnancy has occurred. These include:

• Widened hips
• Increase in discharge; potential loss of mucus plug
• Your belly sits lower
• Lower belly button placement
• Waddled walking
• Sudden relief from heartburn
• Having to pee more often
• Feeling more intense pelvic pressure
• Experiencing lower back or sciatica pain, which is a nerve pain that typically occurs in the hips and can travel down the legs
• The ability to breathe easier
• A change in fundal height at your next doctor’s appointment (your belly might measure a bit smaller)

You might experience all of these signs, some of them or none at all. No two pregnancies are alike. After dropping, I definitely felt like I could breathe easier. But with that came more trips to the bathroom and horrible back and pelvic pain. (It was all worth it in the end though!)

Beyond what you can spot in the mirror and feel, your provider can confirm that lightening has happened based on baby’s fetal station, or the measurement of where baby’s head sits as it descends into the pelvis. Nurse-midwife Lopez says that if lightening hasn’t happened yet, you might hear your provider describe baby as “still high,” “still floating” or “ballotable” (which just means baby’s head still moves easily above the pelvis when touched).

How Do You Feel When Baby Drops?

The physical sensations of lightening in pregnancy can sometimes be more noticeable than the visual cues. One thing you may find is the ability to breathe more easily and comfortably. “As baby drops lower in the pelvis, there’s less pressure on the diaphragm and lungs, which can make it feel easier to breathe,” says Dr. Ghazal. You may even find yourself being able to eat more than earlier in the third trimester.

But while you’ll feel lighter on the top, you might start noticing a heaviness in your pelvic region, as baby is now engaged and prepping for labor. (Personally, I felt like I was holding a bowling ball in my pelvis after my son dropped!)

And those zings of pain or shooting sensations you might experience down your hip and leg? They’re not in your head. By this point in pregnancy, your body has been pumping out a hormone called relaxin, which loosens up the ligaments and joints in your pelvis to make more room for baby. As baby settles lower, all that added mobility can mean nerves get pulled, stretched or compressed in new ways. “This sensation is due to the fetal head compressing the nerves of the pelvis,” Dr. Rios explains.

What Does It Look Like When Baby Drops?

If baby’s dropped, your bump might look a little lower than normal. “This can be especially noticeable when standing at a side angle,” says Jacobs. That said, you may remain oblivious to this change, while a friend or loved one immediately notices your pregnant belly drop.

How Long After Baby Drops Does Labor Start?

If baby has dropped, you’re in the home stretch—but that could mean hours, days or weeks. It’s a common misconception that baby dropping is linked to the direct onset of labor. “Lightening doesn’t necessarily mean that someone’s going into labor immediately,” notes Dr. Ghazal.

And remember, if you’re expecting baby No. 2 or beyond, the timing of lightening might be different than in your first pregnancy. “For women who’ve given birth before, lightening may not occur until later on in the pregnancy—just days before the onset of labor or in the process of true labor,” notes nurse-midwife Jacobs. Medical experts believe that this is because the pelvic floor muscles have already been stretched from a previous pregnancy and birth—so they don’t need time to “warm up” for labor.

How to Help Baby to Drop: Exercises to Try

If you’re experiencing a healthy pregnancy and at least 36 weeks along, Jacobs says it’s generally safe to start encouraging the lightening process. But if you don’t plan on having a vaginal delivery or are considered high-risk, trying to get baby to drop early could cause complications.

Before taking matters into your own hands, ask your provider if you and baby are ready to engage in lightening exercises. If you get the green light, there are a few ways you can try to move things along. The main goal is to engage the head of baby into your pelvis. Below, Jacobs shares tips and movements to encourage baby dropping:

• Widened deep squats. This stretch helps open the top part of the pelvis. These can be done throughout the day and held up to 10 seconds at a time. Just be sure to stretch well before squatting.

• Yoga ball rocking. Using a yoga ball, gently rock your hips from front to back and in circles to help open the top part of the pelvis. Ensure your knees are lower than the level of your hips with legs slightly angled out to each side.

• Abdominal lifts and pelvic tucks. This exercise can provide both comfort for the over-stretched abdominal muscles and help engage baby’s head into the pelvis. Start by embracing the bottom part of your belly with both arms. Next, lift the belly while simultaneously “tucking” your pelvis up toward the sky. This exercise is easiest done up against a wall.

• The figure-4 stretch. This hip-opening exercise ensures the muscles of the pelvic floor are flexible and fluid to allow baby to engage in the pelvis. Sit down in a chair and cross your right leg over your left thigh, placing the outside of your right shin just above your left knee. Lean forward over your thighs for a good stretch. Repeat with the other leg.

When to Reach Out to Your Provider

Lightening is a totally normal part of late pregnancy, but there are still a few situations that warrant a call to your provider.

Reach out if you start feeling like baby has dropped earlier than expected. Some moms experience lightening as early as 30 to 32 weeks, and early dropping can occasionally be a sign of preterm labor.

Also flag any meaningful shifts in how much or how often baby’s moving. Even after lightening, baby should still be plenty active.

Real Moms on Lightening in Pregnancy

We asked real moms about their experiences with baby dropping—including when it happened and when labor started. Here’s what they had to say.

Amy J., mom of two in Utah

“I didn’t feel like baby dropped until I was actually in labor at the hospital. However, I did feel my son lower into my pelvis when labor got intense, which was felt by my midwife too. One hour later, I gave birth.”

Lisa K., mom of one in Illinois

“At my 40-week appointment, my doctor told me my daughter had dropped and I was going to have her soon. It made sense because I felt more pressure in my pelvis than normal. At 41 weeks, I went into labor and met my baby girl!”

Amber G., mom of three in Washington

“I didn’t feel baby drop at all with my first two pregnancies, but on my third it was noticeable—I swear my bump visually got lower on my body! My mother-in-law told me she noticed it too! I had my daughter five days later.”

strongishmom, The Bump community forum member

“I think baby has dropped for me! Within the last week, I’ve been able to eat more at a time, which to me is the biggest indicator that he isn’t all the way up by my stomach anymore. At the same time, my pelvic floor is heavier and I’ve had to slow down a lot. I’m still out of breath often but it’s way easier to take full breaths.”

Real moms answer: How long after baby dropped did labor start?

According to our reader poll, most moms (38 percent) said baby dropped sometime after 36 weeks, but before labor—which is par for the course. About a quarter (26 percent) said lightening happened right before labor, which is common with second-time moms and beyond. Another quarter (24 percent) experienced baby dropping between 34 and 36 weeks, and 13 percent said baby dropped before 34 weeks.

To Sum It Up

When baby does drop, you may recognize it—or you may not. But lightening in pregnancy is definitely a sign that labor’s coming soon—whether it’s a few weeks, days or imminently. In any case, baby is doing exactly what they’re supposed to do: getting into position for the big event. Rest assured that baby will come soon enough—try to relax, know what to anticipate and prepare yourself as best as you can.

How We Developed This Article

Lightening in pregnancy is one of those experiences that varies widely among moms-to-be—it might happen a few weeks before baby comes, or right before labor. To answer questions related to when baby may drop and if labor will start, we reached out to two ob-gyns and two certified nurse-midwives. We also spoke with real moms, including an editor at The Bump.

After editing, this article was vetted through fact-check and reviewed by our ob-gyn medical adviser. Learn more about how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process.

About the author: Dani Wolfe is a writer and marketing studio owner who’s passionate about pregnancy, parenting and holistic health. As a mom of two, she had two very different experiences with lightening in pregnancy—so she knows how to go with the flow when it comes to waiting for baby to arrive.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.