Monkey - you've set me off. Just made DH go to the shop for burger, buns, skinny chips and salad! I really want gherkins too. And ginger beer.
I'll try and answer your questions, hermione:
Raspberry leaf tea is supposed to make your contractions stronger. You're supposed to have it from 32/34 weeks to build it up in your system ready to go. Problem is, you'd never know what your contractions would be like without it, so nobody knows whether or not it works.
As above with perineal massage. It's all worth a try!
You may not leak milk before baby comes, but you'll definitely leak after! I used disposable pads to start with because reusable ones didn't cut it.
Braxton hicks are a tightening feeling across the bottom of your bump, like everything's gone rigid. It shouldn't hurt, and it should last a few seconds. Not everyone feels them - I didn't first time. What you describe sounds like trapped wind!
No, it's not terrible if you don't give a stuff about work any more!When I worked in an office I couldn't have cared less about work pretty much from the second I found out I was pregnant! Get signed off, it'd be lush. Also - and people told me this but did I listen? Did I feck - this is your LAST CHANCE TO REST! I think wistfully about being able to stay in bed reading after DH goes to work, and pottering about - I now have two active children to look after (and one is sick at the moment).