Your baby won't necessarily drop before labor begins — whether it's your first pregnancy or a subsequent one. If yours doesn't, don't worry. When (or even whether) baby drops has no impact on your labor. Plenty of moms sail through childbirth even if their baby didn't drop before labor began.

How do I know when my baby will drop?

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.

What week does baby normally drop?

During a first pregnancy, most babies tend to drop 2-4 weeks before labor begins, so around the 36-38 week mark. If it's not your first time on this mama-hood rollercoaster, your baby might not drop until you're already in labor.