Labour - that it doesn't matter how much reading and preparing you do, when push comes to pushing your hindbrain takes control and you can't remember all those things. Drill your birth support. Ask them what they will do when XYZ... tell them to ask if you want a drink every 10 minutes... basically, they're your walking brain. They do the higher thinking for you. So get them into the right brainspace! (DH was a bit crap at this, if you can't tell.)

New Baby - Just tell everyone else where to shove it. Your baby, your rules. You CANNOT over-breastfeed and it is NOT spoiling them to have a cuddle. Co-sleeping won't kill your baby and breastfeeding will not kill you. (What other advice did I have... oh yes, sleeping while baby sleeps in the first few weeks means you get bored of sleep for the only time of your parenting life.) You know your child best. If a visitor comes and you're in a salt bath and baby's asleep, even if they're midwives or the like, get your OH to tell them where to go. Just for half a bleeding hour! Also, it's OK not to be all "bond"y and "in love": if you're a more reserved person, as I am, it's very normal and a lot more rewarding to have the love slowly grow over time than it is for a rush of something you aren't sure about then... what? Not sure what happens with bonding, only that it didn't here!