all the opportunities I've had - to travel, work on exciting projects, see the world. I'd love to pack us all up in a camper van and just go round the world for six months.' At the moment Austin would be hard-pushed to fit a family holiday into his

EpiduralAn anaesthetic that numbs you from the waist down.Advantages:It gives you total pain relief and it can also be topped up.Disadvantages:You can't move about and you might not be able to feel when it's time to push.It helps to know

this is the time to child-proof your home. Crawl round on your hands and knees and look at where the dangers are. Typically, you're looking for cupboards he'll be able to open, pans he could pull down and power points he could push his fingers into. For more

.* Pushing - Do you want to push on demand or spontaneously when you feel the urge?* Partner to help cut the cord - Do you want him ‘up top' with you, or down where the action is when your baby comes out?* Baby delivered on to your stomach -  Do you want your

hot bath are both said to help induce labour. A brisk walk is said to help push your baby’s head against the cervix and promote labour, just make sure you don’t overdo it. Rest is just as important in the few days leading up to birth. Taking a warm

cool peppermint tea through a straw and never moaned even when I was pulling down on his chest hairs as well as his t-shirt. When I was next examined, Carron could see our son's head! After about 40 minutes I had an overwhelming urge to push, Karl got

baby, even wanting to use the changing mat to have her nappy changed. She also wants more attention and hugs - it's as if she feels she's being left out. ‘There are many times when Emily will just push Katie for no reason, or prevent her from doing

holes in my nightie!‘When the time came to push, Kevin was great. He gave me enough pressure to push against while yelling, "Push!" at the top of his voice. The midwives reckoned he was a natural!‘Kevin and I saw both of my labours as wonderful, private

bladder pushes your womb up to give a clearer picture. It is not possible to accurately determine the sex of your child at this stage, so if you want to know, you'll have to wait until your mid-term scan. This is a really special moment for both you

means you may not be able to push so well and if this happens you may need assistance to deliver your baby. ‘You're more likely to have a forceps delivery if you have an epidural,' says Jean. An epidural also increases the likelihood of having a ventouse