I know I haven't been much of a contributor, but I've been reading a lot and you have all been extremely helpful, and I love that I've gotten to know each of you from the side lines. Anyone care to help me calm my silly butt down, haha

This is our second child. With my 4 yr old, everything was planned due to a heart issue I developed during pregnancy. I didn't have a choice, and had to have an epidural. I was induced, and a day later she arrived. I tried to BF, but I feel like I gave up a little too soon, and maybe my heart medication didn't allow for my milk to come in enough...
So here we are, 4 weeks from delivery. No plans! I would love to try a natural birth and can't wait to try to BF....however...I haven't done any natural birth research/classes/ etc. In two weeks my daughter goes off to pre-school and I'm thinking, as long as LO stays put, I'll do my crash course of natural birth.
Any advice? Any suggestions? Anyone else going natural? I'd love to hear everyone's plans.
Re: I am so unprepared....and freaking out :)
BF is so hard and every single lady on there can commiserate. You got this momma.
Married 2013
Kiddo #1: Sept 2015
BFP: 1/19, EDD: 9/30
"I'm having fruit salad for dinner. Well, it's mostly just grapes, actually. Ok all grapes. Fermented grapes. Fine, I'm having wine for dinner."
DS2: EDD- 09.08.17
Good luck!!
TTC #1 January 2009
January 2010 SA results: Count 16 million, Motility 40%, Morphology 2%
January 2010- Surprise BFP! DS born 10/1/2010
January 2013 TTC #2
September 2013 Repeat SA: Count= 1.7 million, Motility= 24%, Morphology= 2%
November 6th 1st Appointment with RE: diagnosed with severe MFI
Testing to try to determine a cause & possible treatment for MFI
CD 3 blood work for me. RE does not want to repeat my HSG/lap at this point,
but may want to before moving forward with any fertility treatments.
After seeing the uro, DH is currently taking lots of supplements and clomid to try to boost his count. We will have a repeat SA in February to see if it works.
Follow up SA numbers are: Count= 4 million, Motility= 40%, Morphology= 1%
Uro wants us to have another follow up SA 5/9 to see if we see further improvement than we are back to the RE to make a game plan.
SA 5/9/2014 Count: 12 Million, Motility: 60%, and Morphology 2%. We will be doing iui #1 in late June
IUI #1 6/28 clomid + ovidrel, post wash count 3 million total sperm= BFN
IUI # 2 7/21 clomid+ ovidrel. post wash count 900,000 total sperm= BFN
IVF planned for early November- cancelled due to cyst
December IVF #1- 22 eggs, 20 mature,16 fertilized
12/9 Transferred 1 4AA Blast, 6 frosties
*****Everyone is welcome******
My advice to you is to find a breathing technique you like and practise everyday. Controlled breathing isn't as easy as it sounds. Also write the instructions down for the big day lol. Also have a thorough birth plan and copies to give out, because you won't be able to make rational decisions. For example in mine I said if I ask for pain relief, distract me for 30mins then ask me again if I really need it.
Labor was the most painful thing I had ever experienced, but after the first 30mins your body takes over and you just go with it. You lose track of time and your surroundings. The actual pushing isn't like it is in the movies with women screaming in pain. For me it was the least painful part, and technically you don't even push. Your body just does it automatically and it kinda makes you grunt/scream and you can't control it and then it's done. I started crying when I had to push out placenta, that's not automatic and I was so exhausted, but it was out in 3 pushes. Well, that's my story... I guess it could be different for others?