A–Z Glossary

Pelvic pressure

A feeling of heaviness, fullness, or aching in the pubic or vaginal area caused by stretching ligaments and increasing fetal weight.

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Baby dropping lightening and what it means for labor timing

Baby dropping lightening and what it means for labor timing

What baby dropping means Baby dropping is the common term for engagement or descent of the presenting fetal part, usually the head in a vertex pregnancy, into the maternal pelvis. The medical term lightening reflects the way some people feel less pressure high in the abdomen once the uterus is no longer pressing as strongly […]

Common questions about labor signs

Common questions about labor signs

Are contractions the first reliable sign of labor? Contractions are often the sign people watch most closely, but they are not always the first or only clue. True labor contractions reflect coordinated uterine activity that gradually changes the cervix, usually causing effacement and dilation. They tend to become more regular, last longer, grow stronger, and […]

Second and third trimester symptoms explained

Second and third trimester symptoms explained

The big picture: why symptoms change after the first trimester By the second trimester, the placenta is well established, maternal blood volume continues to expand, and the uterus rises out of the pelvis. Hormonal changes, particularly progesterone-mediated smooth muscle relaxation, can slow gastrointestinal transit and relax the lower esophageal sphincter. Relaxin and other connective-tissue changes […]