Your Profile

About 2-3 weeks before labor begins, you may wake up one morning and notice that your baby, who once rode so high in your abdomen that he crowded your lungs and diaphragm (and made it tough to down a sandwich without suffering a heartburn hangover), has dropped in preparation for birth. Usually called "engagement" or "lightening," this downward shift in your baby's position is the result of your uterus thinning and stretching enough to allow your baby to move deeper into your pelvic area. This doesn't always happen before labor, especially in women who have had children before. But when it does, the difference in your profile can be dramatic enough for other people to notice.

The good news about engagement is that you can breathe more easily. The bad news is that you'll have to urinate even more frequently than before because the baby's head is pressing harder against your bladder. You may also experience a low-back ache and constipation as a result of your little one being poised to make his appearance. Take heart. You haven't far to go.

Originally published in You & Your Baby: Pregnancy.

All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.