[NYreefNoob]

the sex part was told to us also by the doctor, and there is no set time after water break when she will have the baby, and as stated get as much as sleep as possible now. and buy what ever you always wanted cause after the baby is born you wont be able too

[daisy]

there are lots of things to bring on labor, not just sex, by the way - if you need to go that route. spicey food, lots of walking, and there are also some really gross-sounding stuff she could eat that might work, though I would NEVER try them (way too gross....)

but it seems to me that's not what you're asking.

labor is a lot like menstrual cramping. it can happen in the lower back, anywhere on the belly. it starts out not so bad and pretty infrequent, and when it's true labor, it will progress to the point where it's regular cramping that lasts for a few seconds to maybe 30 seconds and then goes away. When she begins to feel the cramping has some regularity to it, she should time her cramps (contractions). At this point, she needs to call her OB/GYN and let him or her know what's going on. When they are consistently 10 to 6 minutes apart and possibly but not necessarily quite painful, she needs to get herself to the hospital.


In terms of water breaking, as you've already read, it does not always happen, but if it does, they will make sure the baby is born within 24 hours or so, because w/o that water, the baby can't stay in the uterus safely for long. And yes, I think it will ruin the mattress. It's not like a gush of water usually, though - it's more like not realizing that you're peeing....

A due date is pretty arbitrary within two weeks plus or minus, by the way, so all of this could be happening tomorrow, or it could be December 1. You never know.

I have had two kids, just so you know. I had an epidural with the first, and no drugs at all with the second. I was scared to death with the first, and not scared at all with the second. I did not even experience any pain at all with the second until the last maybe half hour of labor. my waters never broke.

I strongly suggest you look up something called "hypno-birthing." it's basically a self-induced trance that works to totally remove the laboring mother from pain. I did not do it with my first child, and I think that the pain I felt made the labor three times longer and scarier and just plain awful. I was just so scared because of the pain. I was afraid of each next contraction. but with the second child, I removed the pain from the scenario (can't tell you how i did it - i was in a trance basically...) and it went so smoothly.

I learned the hypno-birthing stuff in the last weeks before the labor. I don't have the materials any more, but i bet you could google it and get it off the internet if you wanted to. There are probably also books out there on it - it was amazing, I'm telling you.

...but the best advice at all - make sure your health insurance is all in order and then...

SLEEP

best of luck!

[emps]

Quote: Originally Posted by Savager We didn't take any class, but we read alot about it. And yes we definately take epidural. I will leave the room while they inject the epidural to my wife though, but I have a fear of needle, I heard it's quite big.

You don't need to leave the room, they won't let you behind her while they do it for safety reasons. You should be in front of her holding her hand while they do it for support.

[Savager]

Thank you so much guys. And thank you Daisy, I show your writing to my wife and my wife felt much better now. I guess most of us has to go thru atleast once in our live. I hope we can go thru smoothly. I can't wait to hold my baby daughter, that's so exciting just thinking about it. I think I might cry, I do that alot, hehe.

[Chiefmcfuz]

When they handed me my daughter I cried. My son as well. Just be supportive of your wife. That's the most important thing and remember you have a few days to get whatever you need snuck into the house and into your tank before she will even notice

[Awibrandy]

Quote: Originally Posted by daisy labor is a lot like menstrual cramping. it can happen in the lower back, anywhere on the belly. it starts out not so bad and pretty infrequent, and when it's true labor, it will progress to the point where it's regular cramping that lasts for a few seconds to maybe 30 seconds and then goes away. When she begins to feel the cramping has some regularity to it, she should time her cramps (contractions). At this point, she needs to call her OB/GYN and let him or her know what's going on. When they are consistently 10 to 6 minutes apart and possibly but not necessarily quite painful, she needs to get herself to the hospital. In terms of water breaking, as you've already read, it does not always happen, but if it does, they will make sure the baby is born within 24 hours or so, because w/o that water, the baby can't stay in the uterus safely for long. And yes, I think it will ruin the mattress. It's not like a gush of water usually, though - it's more like not realizing that you're peeing.... A due date is pretty arbitrary within two weeks plus or minus, by the way, so all of this could be happening tomorrow, or it could be December 1. You never know. I have had two kids, just so you know. I had an epidural with the first, and no drugs at all with the second. I was scared to death with the first, and not scared at all with the second. I did not even experience any pain at all with the second until the last maybe half hour of labor. my waters never broke. I strongly suggest you look up something called "hypno-birthing." it's basically a self-induced trance that works to totally remove the laboring mother from pain. I did not do it with my first child, and I think that the pain I felt made the labor three times longer and scarier and just plain awful. I was just so scared because of the pain. I was afraid of each next contraction. but with the second child, I removed the pain from the scenario (can't tell you how i did it - i was in a trance basically...) and it went so smoothly. I learned the hypno-birthing stuff in the last weeks before the labor. I don't have the materials any more, but i bet you could google it and get it off the internet if you wanted to. There are probably also books out there on it - it was amazing, I'm telling you. ...but the best advice at all - make sure your health insurance is all in order and then... SLEEP best of luck!

Daisy has explained it very well! I had 4. With all of mine the labor pains began in my lower back. First time I didn't even know I was in labor until I told my neighbor I had a little pain in my back.lol
I also remember being very fearful with my first. I'll never forget the older lady on the bus that told me having a baby was like (gross) having a bowel movement when constipated.lol
My very best wishes to you both, may you have a wonderfully beautiful baby, and may all your fears be put to rest very soon. God Bless
CONGRATULATIONS
As you have all ready been told repeatedly here.

GET ALL THE SLEEP YOU CAN WHILE YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Savager]

BTW, my mother in law will stay with us for few months after we have our first baby. She lives in Texas but she is coming here this weekend. So I think I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night and take care the baby

I am not sure which on is worse, sleepless or living with mother in law. Well, I think living with mother in law is better than countless sleepless night.

[duke62]

watch the mother in law thing.when i had my first child i was 20.living at my inlaws.i was very close to my mother inlaw.afterv the baby was born she took over.telling me what to do.gave my son his first bath while i wasnt there.when i changed him for the first time she bumped me with her hips and told me she got it.we got into a bad fight over everything that stressed my wife and i to a point we almost broke up.not saying its going to happen to you but i will sit her down and get the ground rules out of the way so there is no tension.trust me it can happen

[Savager]

Quote: Originally Posted by duke62 watch the mother in law thing.when i had my first child i was 20.living at my inlaws.i was very close to my mother inlaw.afterv the baby was born she took over.telling me what to do.gave my son his first bath while i wasnt there.when i changed him for the first time she bumped me with her hips and told me she got it.we got into a bad fight over everything that stressed my wife and i to a point we almost broke up.not saying its going to happen to you but i will sit her down and get the ground rules out of the way so there is no tension.trust me it can happen

Thanks man. I hope it doesn't happened to me but you never know. Actually that isn't what I am worrying about. I am just worrying about my mom. She isn't happy about this whole situation. If my mom lives close by, I would rather give it to my mom than my inlaw since my mom has so much more experience on this department, she took care our brother and sister's babies. Plus, in our culture, guy hardly ever lives with his inlaw unless he can't support his own family financially. Anyway, I was talking to my mom on the phone yesterday, and I could tell she isn't too happy. She isn't saying it but I can tell.

[Phyl]

Quote: Originally Posted by vanceny You may want to do that for the car as well. Dont want to have to replace the car becuase of an odor you can't get rid of.

A good detailer can clean a car good as new. Thankfully. We still have the car that my first was born in.

Contractions don't have to hurt to work. Take any regular pattern seriously.