What is Lightening in the context of pregnancy?

Lightening refers to the process in which the baby moves down into the pelvis in preparation for labor. This occurs as the baby settles into the lower part of the uterus, which can happen anywhere from a few weeks to a few hours before labor begins, especially for first-time mothers.

When lightening occurs, it can relieve some pressure on the mother's diaphragm, making breathing easier, while increasing pressure on the bladder, leading to more frequent urination. This positional change is a clear indicator that the body is preparing for delivery, making it an important concept to understand in the context of pregnancy.

The other options do not accurately represent what lightening entails. For instance, a decrease in the baby's size or a sudden weight gain does not align with the meaning of lightening, which specifically deals with the baby's position. Similarly, while an increase in fetal movement can occur at various times during pregnancy, it is not directly related to the term lightening.