Silly Questions That I Need the Answers To

I had just Nubain (narcotic pain medication) with my first and felt really loopy (almost passed out, could barely remember my son's delivery) and didn't like it. With my second I waited until transition and decided to have a half-dose of Nubain (had talked it over with my OB first). I was a little bit loopy, but it took the edge off the pain so that I had an intense but not terrible last few minutes of labor and delivery. I just really tried to be flexible going into both labors in that I committed only to playing it by ear. I think it helped that I had training in relaxation strategies that I used (breathing and meditation) and remembered that my body was built to do this. Good luck!

1. Yes - over the counter cleansers are fine.

2. Why would you be using toothpaste with MORE than the average amount of fluoride? Fluoride is somewhat controversial anyways - I would switch to a "normal toothpaste" unless it is medically necessary to have the extra fluoride.

3. Yes - your body will tell when you shouldn't anymore.

4. Write a detailed birthing plan. Even if you cannot have the water birth, you will be able to have alot of control over what does/doesn't happen during your delivery. Know, though, that if the doctor's feel that you or the baby are in danger, they will throw your plan right out the window. Alternatively, you could check out midwifes in the area to explore any other alternatives you don't know about yet.

5. I've never had an epidural (my choice). I had an intrathecal (sp) with my 3rd and a spinal block with my 1st. Both were good options for me. However, this is something that you should discuss with your doctor closer to your due date.

6. Yes, you can keep your cats. Toxoplasmosis can be gotten in various ways, not just from cats, including eating or handling undercooked meat and gardening. Just wash your hands good after handling your cats (especially if they are outdoor cats) and either use gloves when cleaning the cat box or have someone else do it.

7. However much weight you could lift before, without being uncomfortable, is what you can lift now. However, this could change if your doctor determines any pregnancy risks.

8. You can stand until the end of time if you like. However, the more pregnant you get, the more uncomfortable you are going to be. Let your doctor decide that later in your pregnancy. For right now, basically whatever you were doing activity-wise before is fine now.

9. Wait to tell them until you are between 16 - 20 weeks pregnant. You probably won't be showing until after that anyways.

Good luck.

wow,
that's a lot of questions. But I completely understand because I'm a first time mom with a 7 month old now. But I got to agree with Andrea. You should discuss this with your OBGYN.
I can probably help you a little bit.
While I was pregnant I worked at a veterinary clinic as a vet tech, so I had contact with almost all types of animals all the time. I told my manager first, then she helped me tell the others that I was expecting. But in my case is a little different because my husband and I had been planning this before, so they knew that some day now, I was going to tell them the news.
I rarely cleaned the cats littler box, and if I had to, I had to do it immediately (bcuz if it sits in the little for long hours, the chances of getting toxoplasmosis are higher) and put a mask on. I went to a toxoplasmosis test (blood test) and it turned out positive (which is good cuz it meant I was immnune to it). As I got bigger(belly wise), the amount of weight for me to lift was getting lower, up to 10 lbs when I was 9 months. I know you should'nt lift more than 30 lbs (with someone's help). I was on my feet running back and forth all the time, I've that is very healthy for the baby because you're active all the time, but when you need to sit and relax, you should. The only things is that you're feet are going to be tired as you get bigger. Talk to your manager about this.
I never dyed my hair, I just didn't want to risk it. Howver I did dye my hair when I was 6weeks pregnant (so that it would at least last a little longer), but my OBGYN told me that there was no harm in the baby if I dyed my hair, but the chemicals are so strong that I didnt want to risk it.
After 4 months, I couldn't sleep on my belly anymore. It was very uncomfortable and the doc told me that its better if I slept on my left side, because of the artery that runs on the right side of my body that can possibly blocked oxygen to the baby. And when this happens, you would wake up almost out of breath and dizzy, but will be ok.
I also didn't get an epi because of the side effects I;ve heard of and also because I wanted to experienced the real thing without any pain control. I hear that with the epi, you can't really feel when you're pushing and the contractions are a lot smoother. Which for me I wanted to know what it really felt like to give birth to my baby. My labor was 23 hours, but that is nothing compare to others that have had it for 48 hours. So they did it, why can't I.
The most important answer to your questions is to be positive, have good energy, go walking, listen to music, read, etc. If you are healthy (physically and mentally), your baby will be one too.
Good Luck and Congratulations

Whew! Take a deep breath! Being pregnant is not an illness, you can still do most of your regular activities.

1) yes, you can use regular face cleansing products, unless they are prescription. Even then, most face care products are topical and shouldn't pose a problem

2) Any toothpaste is fine unless you swallow it, or it's a special toothpaste that you can only get from a doc.

3) You can dye your hair with any product, just make sure to do it in a well ventilated area. I would use the kitchen sink as opposed to the bathroom.

4) you can sleep on your tummy for right now. The baby is so tiny that you're not going to squish it. When it becomes uncomfortable, stop doing it.

5) If you can't have a water birth at your hospital, or a home birth, then chances are you're going to have to have a regular hospital birth. A lot of hospitals offer the option of laboring in a tub. You may be able to get a midwife and birth in a birthing place rather than a hospital. Call your insurance to make sure.

6) Women have been having babies naturally for thousands of years. If they did it, so can you! Get a good birth coach. Try to find a doula. If you want a natural birth, don't let others talk you out of it. Every medicine has its side effects. Talk to your doctor and do some research to find what will work best for you.

7) It's fine to play with your cats.

8) Normal every day lifting is fine. As you progress, lifting will become increasingly uncomfortable. Just listen to your body.

9) I was a cashier up until the day before my first daughter was born. It will get more uncomfortable as the pregnancy progresses. When I hit my 8th month, my boss let me have a stool to sit on since standing was terribly uncomfortable. It's not bad for the baby, just uncomfortable for mom. In fact, both my girls liked it better when I stood. They had more room to twist and flip around. :D

10) Only you can decide what is an appropriate way to tell people you are expecting.

Congratulations on your new pregnancy! My best advice is to relax and listen to your body. Don't worry too much and enjoy every single moment.

I don't want to sound like I'm belittling your concerns, truly. But you really, really, really need to take a big breath, and realize you don't have cancer, you're pregnant. Lots and lots and lot of us have done this and the babies came out just fine.

Please realize that now and forever as a mom, you can do everything right and something will turn out wrong. Or you can do everything wrong and something will turn out just right. There's only so much you can control.

The one thing I do know is: the less stressed you are, the happier the child will be. Use your common sense and be fruitful :)

V. - I apologize if I'm repeating anything, but right now I don't have the time to read all the replies. I do agree with the poster right below me, Lisa O. about writing down your questions and presenting them to your doctor at your next appt, which should be in about 2 weeks(?).

The one question I will give my 2 cents on is labor. Yes, Lisa is right that you don't know what you will be able to handle. But - your family and friends also don't know - DO NOT let them put thoughts into your head that you are weak and incapable of birthing a baby. Ultimately, this is the primary purpose that God made us for - was to populate our species. And MANY generations before us birthed babies without an epidural or other drug induced pain management. If they could do it - so can YOU! I found the book "Birthing From Within" by Pan England and Rob Horowitz to be extremely helpful in realizing what my body was made to do, and way to cope. Get it out of your head right now that you are not able to do a non drug birth. No one knows until you get there. Yes, be open about the possibility of needing something, but there are many natural things you can do and use.

So you can only birth at one hospital? Write a letter to the administration, just asking what the possibility might be of renting a tub for you. Be a pioneer! Also, hire a doula. And write a birth plan, don't use a general fill in the blank from the hospital, it's a good way to start, but they don't cover a lot of things. My 2nd baby's BP started out with "I am only in the hospital because my insurance refuses to cover a home birth" and "it will be my decision if and when to start western medicine for pain. If any staff suggests that I 'take something to take the edge off' you will be asked to be removed from my care".

Sorry this is so long! Oh, also there is a book by a German woman. Her name is Heni Goer. The title escapes me, but it goes through the pros and cons of many birth aspects - natural, c-section, epidural, morphine, birthing on your back (BAD), not eating during labor, etc...
Again, my apologies for this being so long! Good luck - YOU CAN BIRTH A BABY WITHOUT W. M. INTERVENTION!!!!!

Hi V.,

Most of these questions should be up to you and your doctor, but for some of them I will give some advice that helped me! I used to only sleep on my stomach and I did so while I was pregnant until I couldn't anymore and my daughter is fine. I used an epidural (because I have no pain tolerance) and there were no side effects for my daughter or myself...they are much safer than they used to be because they are super common!! As far as lifting things, if you have to strain to lift it, it is probably too much and you should ask for help if possible (then again I was 35 weeks prego and I was moving heavy baby furniture by myself with no problems). I was a cocktail server and worked 8 hour shifts with a half hour break until i was 35.5 weeks; it is definitely tiring but control pantyhose saved my life!!! It helps keep your legs from swelling and fluids from building up. If your cashier job is stationary maybe ask your boss if you can have a tall stool to sit on as it gets further into your pregnancy...hopefully he will be accommodating. I also dyed and highlighted my hair 3 or 4 times while i was pregnant and washed my face with a multitude of products.

Again everything is up to you and your doctor, and he/she will probably tell you what studies say and let you decide what you would like to do. Just remember there are plenty of people who used to smoke, do drugs, and drink alcohol through their entire pregnancies and plenty of healthy babies were born...if you live a healthy and happy life your baby will too :)

i diddo star all the wy down. the only thing I am going to add is yes on the epidural I had one both ways I didn't notice the side effects on my baby but I had head aches for about 3 months. Keep the weight under 10 lbs. Unless for example you were a wight lifter then they will tell you to maintain what you were doing before but dont add any weight. I stood for 8 hrs when I was preg with my first. I have cats and I played with mine relax don't make it harder than it is.

Just have to agree with the previous poster that "Some people respond well to epidurals, others not so well... But its one of those things that you won't know if you'll regret it until its over..." I ended up being one that did not respond that well. Sure it took away the pain, but I also felt barely conscious during the labor, I couldn't feel anything to push, so it was very frustrating!! As painful as labor may be, I hope to try it naturally with #2. #1 ended up delivering via emergency c-section, and I still wonder if she would have come out on her own could I actually have felt it & really been able to push ;-( Good luck & Congrats!!

I agree with other in that you should take a breath you are just pregnant. As far as the delivery. I have always wanted a water birth but could never have one, my first two I delivered without an epidural and did just fine, my second even had shoulder dystocia. I am due to deliver my third here in a month or so and I plan on using the shower I guess the hospital I will be delivering at has jet showers. Will be interesting. But just remember the really, really painful part doesn't last forever. Just moments if you think about your life as a whole and so worth going natural. But If by chance you have to get an epidural you should try to remember that it could be what is best for you and the baby because in the end the goal is a happy, healthy baby and mommy!

My first pregnancy I was a stock girl until 8.5 months along, lifting heavy boxes up and down a ladder on my feet for a good 9 hour day. You will be able to know when you have done to much or are not feeling good and need to rest.

Oh and Best of all Congratulations!!

This is in response to being strong enough to have a natural birth. I was not a physically strong person and avoided pain and usually fainted at the sight of blood. I had two natural births, no drugs at all. My husband and I attended sessions at the hospital to learn what to expect and how to breath during labor and childbirth. You must think positive, and if you have to use drugs then that is ok too. Every person and every labor and childbirth is different. Good luck and have faith in yourself.

You should ask your health care provider these questions. He/She can answer them in the correct context for you since they know your health history.

Everyone seems to be doing an awesome job and anwsering your questions but here a little more advice. My OBGYN told me to wait until I got into my second trimester to dye my hair and not to use permenant. Do what you did before you were pregnant. I was lifting 75lbs frequently and when I became preganant I continued lifting that until I was about 5 months along and it seemed my belly got in the way! If you did it before pregnancy you should have no prolem doing it now. As far as natural birth goes YOU need to have the mind set if you want it or not. I went into labor thinking Let's give it my all if I end up caving then so be it. I spoke to my OBGYN and decided against the epidural and wanted nebain(sp?) instead, In the end I had a natural birth so the worrying was for nothing. You can go and read 100 books and most of them are going to contridict themselves. One humor book that I loved was the Jenny Macarthy books! You should check them out. You are going to just fine I promise Being pregnant and becoming a mother is going to give you strength you never knew you had :)

I can address the cat issue since I've been pregnant and always had cats. If your cats don't go outside, your chance of getting toxoplasmosis (from the trichinella parasite) are almost nil. Your cat has to ingest infected raw meat and pass that through its body and you have to have its feces (with the parasite) on your hands and accidentally ingest it. If your cats are indoor cats, you have no problem. If they go outside, then yes, you need to be careful about handling their litter boxes and them. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling them. You can also get this parasite from raw meat. Ground hamburger is a great place to get it. My doctor told me it's much more likely a place to get it than from indoor cats. Just practice good hygiene!

Also about working -- I have two employees who are young and pregnant and acting like they can't do much walking anymore (they're waitresses) because of being pregnant. I walked about a mile every day (round trip to and from work and the train) five days a week up until 3 days before I delivered. If you keep active it will help with your energy level and you'll feel better -- that is if there are no complications. Enjoy your pregnancy and don't treat it like a disease!

I labored in water with our 2nd. It was GREAT! I was planning on delivering in water too but that didn't work for me...... SO, ask if you can LABOR in water! I was so much more comfortable the 2nd time around in the water. With our first, the labor was horrible. They pretty much kept me on my back strapped in bed to a monitor....... Sucked. And after doing that for over 12 hours and pushing for another 3, I still ended up with a c-section. By that time, I was BEGGING for relief from the pain! I had NO medication at all for our 2nd delivery.

I"m 14 weeks and my doc said to lift NO MORE THEN 25 pounds.

As long as you are comfortable standing, you should be okay. IF it starts bothering you, then you probably need to request a stool or something to sit on when you have no customers. You will MORE THAN LIKELY need a doctors note for that but if you come with one, work should let you have one.

I would wait to tell work till you are at least 12 to 14 weeks along.

Yes you can sleep on your tummy during the first trimeter. After that, it's best to sleep on your left side.

I use a toothpaste from the organic section of the store with NO flouride. (Personal preference after doing research on what flouride is.....) Nature's Gate is the brand, It's really good.

Skip the hair dye for now. You are only pregnant for a short time. After the baby is born, you can dye your hair.

I'm assuming your due in October? because I'm 10 weeks & 6 days today with my third!!!!! Congratulations, I'm sure you are super excited. Just let pregnancy flow naturally - your questions are great and i recommend you as well as other to buy "What to Expect when your Expecting" It's my favorite book and the only book that goes into great detail without boring you. here are some of my answers to your questions.

1. I spoke to my doctor about this very same thing and he said I can use anything except Retin-A. I would stick to the more natural products though. I'm not familiar with the Neutrogena that you are using, but I just bought their new acne pads, and used it last night and I can already tell a difference. You also want to use a cream with SPF in it your skin is more sensitive to sun now. And I use Dove non-scented bar to clean my face.

2. Use the same toothpaste you are using. eventually you might notice some sensitivity in your teeth you can then switch to sensodyne.

3. I would not recommend dying your hair because the chemicals go into your pores of your scalp - highlight if you wish. But becareful using bleached products because your hormones can have an affect on that.

4. I'm still sleeping on my tummy but I'm starting to turn over because this is my third, I'm already showing and it's getting uncomfortable. But try to avoid lying on your back and later on, on your right side.

5. Both my pregnancies were C-Section because the first one was huge. But I watch TLC baby...something and have seen water births on there and I wish I could do the same. I would check out Hospitals and birthing facilities in your area for that. My Sister-in-law did not have an epidural for her two births and she did outstanding. So I would recommend you to do research on how to control pain or pain management during birth.

6. Since you have house cats, you have probably already had Taxoplasmosis, which to you was the flu. However, do not change the litter box, this is created in their feces and sometimes in their urine. but it's most commonly found in outdoor cats. But for precaution have someone else change the litter. Also, just a word of advice. cats are very nosey they like to see what's going on. To teach them to stay out of the crib or playpen or craddle, fill them with balloons - when the cats jump in there it will startle them not get in there again. I've heard of stories of cats not being very nice. I won't get into detail because it's scary. But please do that with them. It works wonders.

7. Buy comfortable shoes and a back belt and when you get bigger even if your comfortable buy the tummy belt for pregnant woman.

8. How to tell your boss..... i would continue to wait until your 12 weeks - but be as professional as possible about it. I don't know anything else to tell you because i work with my parents, so they were the first to know.

Good luck and I hope everyone's questions have helped you and ease your mind.
Oh also, be sure to always stay hydrated drink plenty of milk and take your vitamins.

I forgot to answer the weight thing, that is something you should discuss with your OBGYN - I have two boys and one of them is 18 months and he weighs close to 30 pounds - but because he's a natural weight limit to me because I'm used to it, it's okay. But this is your first ask your doctor about that.

you should write down your questions and ask your dr at the next visit.

I always chuckle when people say they want a water birtth or a natural birht.. or whatever.. you really dont know until you show up a teh hosptial and experience labor. you may really want that epidural.

remember no one gets an award for being brave during labor.. pain managment is not a sin. I had 2 kids with an epidural and I highly recommend them.. it takes the pain away so you can enjoy the experience.. Labor hurts..

Why can't you home birth?

I did a home birth with my second, and let me just say, it made labor a true breeze. Water birth is amazing. I was able to labor in a tub with my first labor, but I couldn't deliver in it, so I was only in the tub for a short while. With the home birth, I was in the tub off and on for 5 hours and it truly made labor enjoyable.

The only question I have any input for right now is about water birth and natural vs medicated labor. First, I just watched this movie callled "The Business of Being Born" it talks a lot about the effects of medical intervention on mom and baby. It also shows some water births. I found it on netflix online, streaming. Some of the main points I remember is that our natin has the 2nd highest infant mortality rate in the developed world and it looks like some of that could be due to the high rate of medical interventions and medications in birth. Pitocin simulates the hormone oxytocin which is what creates the intense mothering instinct when baby is born (and pitocin doesn't have the same mothering instinct effect) so when
one is induced with pitocin or has an elective c section the mothering instint and bonding is inhibited. There is much more but this is what comes to mind. Anyways - I would argue you are probably strong enough to give birth naturally even without a water birth! If you are able to find a birthing center in your area they usually do water births. If not, I just remember that all of the 6 billion people on earth were born via women like you and me, most without intervention and throughout history women for the most part did fine without medical interventions and medications. For the occassional high risk birth the medical community is useful and can save lives but for all the rest of us they do little to empower women to have a good birth experience and coach us through the natural process of birth. A midwife (who generally are experienced medical professionals trrained to coach and empower the woman to give birth and only use interventions when medically necessitated or requested by the woman, and serving us at birth centers homes and hospitals alike, instead of pushing intervention on us
like many doctors do) or a doula are better options. I have a very low pain toleance generally but birth was fine; it's different than other pain in that it has a purpose. So, watch that movie and believe in yourself, ask God for strength and have a great empowering birth experience!

Updated

Try this site minnesotamidwives.net per my previous response.

Congratulations!
Bless your heart. You do have a lot of questions and that is a GOOD thing.

Get a "What to expect when expecting" book, it will be a good guide.
Yes, it is safe to use creams on your face, yes it is safe to use your fluoridated toothpaste, yes, if you are comfortable on your tummy right now do it.. Soon be prepared to not feel comfortable.. You will know..

Check with your hair dresser about hair dyes, there are many that are just fine.

I do not suggest you change the litter box any more. It is the cat waste you are trying to avoid, but the cats themselves are fine.

I worked retail all the way till the day I gave birth with no problems, I even was a market for 2 weeks prior to the 3 days back when I went into labor. I wore good shoes and at the time we wore panty hose Ugh, so I wore support hose. You may want to look into a back support for a while.

You can lift whatever you normally lift, but try to limit yourself to 10 lbs or less.

I suggest you wait till you are 12 weeks pregnant, just in case... I am sure there will not be any problems.. Also I will give you a heads up, we NEVER told another soul what names we were considering.. I just knew I did not want to hear comments for 6 months about the names we were considering..

Did you ever suffer from really bad cramps with your periods? That is exactly what labor feels like. I had always suffered with terrible, terrible cramps.. During my labor I was ready to ask for pain meds the moment I could not take it anymore.. Low and behold it finally got to be where i said "Ok, I think I would like to discuss an epidural" and guess what, it was time to push!.. Surprised the heck out of me.. Remember nobody ever died of the pain of child birth, so keep an open mind.

They placed me in a shower 2 different times and it was heavenly with the back pain so there are options out there..

A lot of questions but I will try...
yes it is safe to use cleansing products, toothpaste is fine, usually hair will not dye when you are pregnant so you'll be wasting money on that, sleep on your tummy until it hurts if you like but it's best to sleep on you left side, take lamaze class it really helps (if you do it right you can have a painless labor), play with your cats (enjoy not having to clean the litter box), whatever weight you are used to, as long as you are used to the standing the baby will be fine but your ankles will swell, just tell them they might be more supportive than you think. hope this helps.

I have had three kids and i'll tell you my opinion and what MY doctor has said but you should ask these all to YOUR doctor. Never let anyone else opinion matter!

Is it safe for me to use face cleansing products like the neutrogena wave? Yes

Is it safe for me to use toothpaste containing more than the average amount of fluoride? Yes

Is there any hair dye that is safe for me to use, or should I just stay away from it all? All

Is it safe for me to sleep on my tummy while I still can? Yea

I really want to have a water birth but the only hospital I can deliver at doesn't offer that as an option. Home birth isn't an option either. Is their anything else I can try to make my dream come true? Not that I can think of. Maybe a birthing center that is natural and if you can't stand it you can go to the hospital. I heard alot of people did that.

If I can't have a water birth I don't think that I will be strong enough to have a natural birth (And everyone in my family, as well as all my friends, seem to agree with me on that), but I don't want to have an epidural because I heard that there are side effects for the baby. Will I regret having an epidural? WIth my first I had an Epi and it worked great just couldn't pee on my own and my feet were asleep forever. Baby nursed right away and had no effects, Second was born too fast for one and it was fine I think, Third the Epi failed and I still handled it! All it did was put my left foot completly to sleep AFTER the birth! LMAO
What are the side effects for an epidural or other pain managing medication? Depends on all of them, I know they will give you demoral and it makes me euphoric and I still feel the pain but I"m too doped up to care. I know they do others but you'd have to ask your doctor what your hospital offers aside for epi's and ask your doctor.

I have 2 house cats and I know that I shouldn't clean their litter box, but is it still safe to hold them and play with them? Sure... they say if you've had your cat for very long more than likely you already have that bug in your brain that you aren't suppose to do the cat boxes because of more than likely but I still don't do their cat boxes. But I don't stop playing, holding and such.

How much weight is too much for me to lift? I was told no more than 20 pounds but I heard that varies by the doctor.

I'm a cashier and sometimes I have to stand for 8 hours with only 2 15 minute breaks. Is that safe for the baby? Yeah but it will suck for your feet and give you edema something fierce. I'd wear support socks or hose.

How do I tell my boss and co workers that I'm expecting? Whenever you feel comfortable. Remember they can't fire you for it. There are laws in place to prevent it. Just make sure you dot your I and cross your T's so there is no reason to fire you for anything else!

So good luck and STILL ask your doctor all these questions. All doctors have different opinions. My doctor always says be mindful of everything till you are 9 weeks along. That is when most "problems" happen to the fetus.

You had many great answers already, for the ones I read.

I will not answer to each question because others did it much better already and some are better to be answered by the doctor.

Regarding the labor, even if the hospital doesn't do "water birth" they may be able to provide a bath tub for the labor. For both my babies, when the labor began to be too difficult, I entered a bathtub before asking for an epidural and ended up with no epidural at all. The bath really helps in relaxing and lower the pain of the contractions.
I would advise to take birth preparation class and if you can afford it, have a doula (I didn't, but my husband and midwives did a great job).
Don't get into a strict mindset about your labor and delivery now. You cannot know (and even less your friends or family) how easy or difficult it will be for you. 2 labors are very different, even for the same woman. Nobody in my family - me included - expected that I could give birth without epidural. My mindset was : I will try to do it. If it's too hard, then I will ask for some pain killers.
Stay positive. As others have said below, if you think you can't make it without epidural, then you won't make it without.
And remember that you are not sick/ill, just pregnant, a very normal stage of a woman's life.

Congratulations and best wishes.

Are you letting the face cleanser soak into your face or are you washing it off pretty quickly? Ask your dr about the product (take it with you to your check up) You may find that you don't need it once the hormones kick in...

Also ask about the floride toothpaste... But as long as your not swallowing it I wouldn't think it would be an issue...

Avoid the hair dye... Pregnancy hormones do crazy stuff and your hair may not react the same to it... (odd colors or color not staying...)

Yes, it is safe to sleep on your belly until you no longer can. :-) Enjoy it while you can! You will miss it when it feels like your laying on a rock. :-)

Most hospitals will not let you actually have the baby in water... BUT many do have tubs that you can be in during the laboring periods... (I LOVE the tub!!!! Used it for my 2nd and 3rd and am planning on it for my 4th in a few weeks..). But they will want you out before baby arrives. It really does help!!!

Don't sell yourself short! If you go into labor thinking that you'll never be able to do it without pain meds then you will not be able to do it without pain meds. See if the hospital offers tubs to labor in... Use it, and go from there... With mine, by the time they wanted me out of the tub I was so focused inward that the pain wasn't a big thing... Yeah... It hurt, but your body does the work. Just concentrait on breathing and try to visualize the baby moving down and the air going into your now roomier lungs. :-)

I had an epidural with my first and decided NEVER again!!!! She was 8lbs 3 oz and because I couldn't feel my legs, or the urge to push I was a very innefectual pusher... My middle 2 ( 9 lbs 7 oz and 10 lbs) were the ones I was in the tub for most of the labor and the labors were much shorter (hot water relaxes you, will speed up true labor, slow down false labor, and makes things flexible down there. )
Some people respond well to epidurals, others not so well... But its one of those things that you won't know if you'll regret it until its over. ...
They do have other types of meds that are safe during labor and take the edge off for a few hours...

Yes, it is still safe to play with the kittys.... Unless they have a habit of going to the bathroom on you. :-)

How much do you generally lift now? Try to avoid HEAVY weights... DOn't try lifting a fridge or sofa... But women have been having healthy babys for thousands of years while doing farm work, hauling water, and lugging around their toddlers... The more you cater to the " I am a helpless pregnant woman " mind set the harder your labor and delivery will seem... (You'll be out of shape and your body will FEEL everything) If you have a high risk pregnancy the dr will give you limits... Other wise picking up a 20 lb turkey to scan it shouldn't stress you out.

My sister worked as a cashier until the day she was induced (2 weeks over due). It is safe for the baby... As you get bigger you will want to make sure to put your feet up when you don't need to be on your feet, wear support hose, and they do have belly support bands that help the pull on your back... Also you may find that your bosses may let you use a stool while not actively scanning once you hit the last few months...

I would be selective about whom you tell until you are past 12 weeks... Just in case. But yes... Tell your boss so that they are in the know, coworkers your not buds with will hear it fast enough thru the grape vine. :-)

Good luck! Drink lots of water and don't worry to much....

Regarding water birth...

Most hospitals have tubs, even if they won't deliver a water birth. I delivered in super-hippie Washington State, in a very pro-home-birth hospital, and they wouldn't do a water birth, because it involved sticking arms in bloody, fecal water. That said, I still labored in the tub for much of my labor. I'm not sure why friends/family are so discouraging about natural childbirth--I had long, hard labors, but I deal well with pain. I have other friends who had relatively easy, medication free labors, but only because they were easy labors--you have no idea how yours will be! You sound as though you'd be interested in natural childbirth; perhaps finding friends/medical folks who are more supportive of the idea would help?

Get the book What to Expect When You Are Expecting. It covers a lot of this. I am not going to read everyone's answers, so I am sure mine will be the same as some and disagree with some. But I will only answer the ones I know anything about for sure. And as far as "for sure" goes- my answers are based on 2 yr old info, so things change all the time. Another thing you need to do is tape a running list of questions on your fridge or wherver to bring in to each dr appt. It goes much faster if you can just go down the list. This is a good habit to get into for going to the pediatricians office too.

Some beauty products are not safe to use in pregnancy based on their warning labels, so you can double check those with your doctor. Specifically the kind that have acne medication in them. Topical is actually a more efficient way to deliver chemicals into your body than orally, so anything that goes on your skin can be dangerous. Most things are just fine though.

Sleep on that tummy as long as you can, you will miss it when you can't. As for when it is time to stop- when your body says it is too uncomfortable to do so.

Play with your cats all you want while you still can. And yes, avoid the litter box, but if you have to do it, it is probably fine. If your cats had toxoplasmosis you would probably have already been exposed and built up immunities. Don't get any new cats while you are pregnant, but the ones you have (especially if they are indoor only) are probably fine. If you do need to clean the litter box, I read something about using gloves and a mask. But I was just thrilled to have an excuse to get out of that yucky job! :)

You can do whatever you used to do as far as standing. There will be a time where it isn't comfortable for you though, you will probably start swelling standing there without moving. Most places will allow a stool or something for pregnant cashiers when you get to that point. I waited tables my whole pregnancy, until about 8 1/2 mos. Then I hosted- standing for hours. I felt great until I had to start standing still. Wear comfy supportive shoes. Put one foot up on something, then alternate to the other. All that is about your comfort though. For a healthy pregnancy with no other issues, standing won't hurt baby.

You tell your boss and coworkers when you are ready. I waited until 14 weeks because I've had a miscarriage and didn't want to have to go through telling people that something had happened. You will probably want to tell them before you start showing, so that they don't get upset at you for not telling them (as far as bosses go). If you need any special concessions made, you will most likely have to tell them why. And just go in and tell them. It's exciting and everyone loves a pregnant girl!

Congratulations!