After a baby drops, labor can start anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks later. The timing varies widely among individuals. First-time moms often experience their babies dropping 2 to 4 weeks before delivery, but some may go into labor within hours after the baby drops. Subsequent pregnancies might see the baby dropping closer to when labor actually begins. Some babies even drop during labor itself, especially if it's not the first pregnancy. Overall, dropping is a sign that labor is nearing, but it does not precisely predict how soon labor will start.