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did it when they gave birth, and decide for yourself what is the right choice for you. Also have a call list ready of who you want to be contacted after the birth. You can always have a friend call on your behalf. It is a nice way of letting people know that your baby has entered the world.
A few things that help . . .
    Chances are you won’t be able to eat anything once you’re laboring away in the hospital. Most likely, you won’t be hungry anyway. But I was really, really thirsty, and for me the best thing was Popsicles. Sweet, cold, and refreshing. Just perfect. Demi gave me the most amazing leg massage, which was awesome. When you’re having contractions, your whole body tenses up, and all those muscles can get incredibly tight and sore, so if you have someone you feel really comfortable with massaging you, it can be helpful. Most of all, don’t be afraid to ask for what you need.
Just one more thing that no one else seems to want to tell you . . .
    So there you are, getting ready to have your baby, and you are pushing like crazy. Pushing, pushing, and then right there on the table, you may just go poop. Now, this doesn’t happen to everyone, but it does happen to many women, and it is nothing to be embarrassed about. No book or class ever mentioned this to me, and that is why I feel it is my duty to share it with you. It was one of my very close friends who finally filled me in as I stared at her in disbelief. I got myself so worked up about it that I actually did something a little crazy. Yes, I gave myself an enema right before I went into labor, something that is totally not medically recommended. So, take it from me, your sometimes too-honest friend Soleil: It might happen, and don’t worry about it! It is totally normal and nothing to be ashamed of. And if you are supporting someone who is giving birth and she goes number two . . . be supportive and, most important, be nice.
If you’re not the one having the baby . . .
    Let’s face it, the one having the baby is the one who’s getting all the attention (at least until the baby’s born, and then it’s the baby’s turn). Your job is to help the pregnant mom bring that baby into the world while keeping your relationship intact! So here’s my advice: Long before you get to the hospital, make a list of the things that your partner loves and finds comforting. And most important: Listen to her. Is she cold or hot? Are her lips parched? Offer to get her some lip balm, crushed ice, or a Popsicle. Help her keep her hair out of her face, and ask if she would like the lights softened. You know your partner best. Just remember that labor is different from any other experience you’ve had (especially if this is your first baby), so be prepared to be flexible and supportive, and if she is having a tough birth, don’t take it personally if she starts yelling profanities at you!

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    Granny Panties
    Question of the day: What was the one thing that no one told you about having a baby that you had to find out for yourself?
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“I think one of the most important things we figured out is that ‘going by the book’ doesn’t work for everyone. Sometimes you have to find your own path and make decisions based on what’s best for your family.”
    â€”JoyfulTxGal
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“No one ever told me I would need to put Vaseline on my son for a month following his circumcision or that the skin could reattach! Ouch!! No one ever told me when to first bring my child to a dentist. No one told me that breastfeeding would be the most challenging and rewarding experience proving to myself that if I put my mind to anything and not give up that I could do it (with a little help from fenugreek, phytolacca, and hepar sulphur). Finally no one ever told me that having babies would be the hardest, scariest, self-sacrificing, yet most amazing thing ever. You will get through it!”
    â€”Erin
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“We are on our