Em2010 ? you?re welcome 
if that?s all that?s important to you then there?s no reason to put more on there.
Sheldonella ? you can?t leave the cord to finish pulsating after you?ve had the injection (you can do a mix of both if you wish but they need to know as it usually goes in as you?re pushing), it speeds up the closing of the cervix so it can cause retained placenta if it?s not clear quick enough. It?s supposed to stop PPH (postpartum haemorrhage) but studies have found that the difference between how much you lose with it and without it aren?t that much different, it just stops quicker.
StormyBrid ?at this stage pains in your bump are likely to be growing pain/ round ligament pain, although some people (without IU) do start them early on. I don?t know if I properly know what they feel like; it?s an uncomfortable tightening in your bump, shouldn?t really be painful, not regular and should stop if you chance what you?re doing. I can imagine my daughter falling in regularly and she?d have to hold onto the seat which can?t be very hygienic, especially if I?m not there to make sure she?s washed her hands properly. Children gain an understanding of their bodies and will want to start going to the potty, potty training is using that to get them out of nappies and into pants.
He doesn?t have to be anywhere near the business end to be there or see what happens, as a Doula I?m not normally watching what?s going on and would make a point not to. There?s usually a sheet over your legs so if he?s up there he?s not going to see much. I?ve been there in place of the father though, some men can?t handle the thought and it?s better for the birth if that sort of negative energy isn?t there because the mum will pick up on it and it will affect the labour. I can?t see why they wouldn?t allow you to bring a guitar in, might help to keep things calm if he?s playing. There?s a beautiful video of a homebirth where the dad is playing and mum is singing, apparently she had two contractions during the video.
That?s the point I was getting at with my birth plan outline, it?s not about a script but about what your definite points are. No one would turn down a section at the risk of their baby, so it would be foolish to say that you will have a natural birth at all costs, no one can say how they will handle the pain so all you can say is you?ll start low and build up, maybe that you want to avoid drugs that cross the placenta. Too many people do go in with a plan that says ?I?m going to have an all-natural birth to the sound of whale song, use aromatherapy oils, no pain relief?? when it comes to it they can?t stand the sound of whale song, their favourite oils make them sick, they can?t handle the pain and it all ends in an instrumental birth/ section.
Zoeymlucas - sounds like my first two! It?s why I want to VBAC again, I?m glad I get the option to. I really feel for you, it?s the outcome I?d hate most and it?s one of my two options, natural birth or GA.
Sundaesundae ? they?re changing because they?re becoming baby targets! The colour changes so that baby can see the difference same with the size, it helps baby see them.
EthelredOnAGoodDay ? the two main factors in having retained placenta are prematurity and the injection, so if you?re term then have a physiological third stage, get the baby to the breast as quickly as possible and it shouldn?t happen again. If after 30 minutes the placenta hasn?t been delivered they can use traction and a good cough helps.
Rainbowbabyhope ? I had a similar thing with my angel-baby, no one told me I was in labour, no one told me much at all, I was bewildered as to why the paramedic gave me G&A because it?s contraindicated in pregnancy. I remember getting cross with Mum because I said ?When?s it going to stop?? and she said ?I don?t know, how often are they coming?? I told her to stop asking stupid questions! In my head that?s what you say to labouring women and I didn?t know I was. I agree with you about the conspiracy. There are a couple of factors at play, firstly that we tend to talk more about the bad things than the good and secondly, those who have had a good experience don?t tend to talk about it through guilt.
GummiberryJuice ? I do get the thinking but teeth aren?t supposed to be pulled out!
JoJoBella84 ? you can bring it out at the start when you get taken to the delivery room and are still functioning, give it to the MW looking after you. You can show it to your CMW when you see her late on so she can give you feedback on it. I?ve expanded the list on Facebook (the wonders of being able to edit posts!) what you?ve written is good, there?s a few other things you can think about like 3rd stage, Vit K, skin to skin etc, things that aren?t necessarily a case of how well the birth is going.
ThreeForTea ? thank you Allow is a bad word really, there?s very little they can really say no to as it?s your body, your choice. The reason for your section will affect how happy they are with different options, if it was just about that baby then you?ll get away with a lot easier than if it was a problem with you or if you?ve got a special scar. A lot of it is about pushing and being assertive, if one person gives you the wrong answer, ask another (particularly an SoM)
Lannyshrops ?I know that shooting pain, it?s like everything firing up and getting ready to work, it?s a little similar to let down.
HermioneBoo - placenta is much easier to deliver, it?s softer and the cervix is already open. You will get contractions after the baby is born but they?re nothing like birth ones and it should come out in one push - I coughed mine out!
theTramp ? all I?ll say is be open minded, you may actually enjoy it (look up ?Amber?s Birth? on YouTube?) I know it doesn?t sound possible but it?s one of those things that you can?t get until you go through. You don?t need drugs early on, often paracetamol is enough to take the edge off the early days, as you go through you can decide how bad it feels and what you want to do. It?s not like soapland where it goes ?Oh my water?s have broken, ARGH, push? it builds up gradually. G&A really is miracle stuff, doesn?t stop it hurting but boy do you not care! There?s also other things to think about as I?ve said above.