Babydustplease....I'll be giving birth to my first soonish enough, and in terms of best preparing myself I firstly read all the birth stories on BB, read up all of the threads in labor and birth, and best of all, read 'New Active Birth' by Janet B.....it is such an encouraging book for us preggies to read.....so much so that I'm looking forward to labor and birth without any fear (that might come in a few weeks time though!). This may sound naive, but as they say, 'knowledge is power' and the more positive you are about your bodies capabilities, the better off you are.....
You can also find solace in the fact that I should be giving birth seven weeks ahead of you, and if I can do it then you can too!

ps: Kelly, I love that walnut/toilet seat thing!