Jakana - can't answer your questions about the legalities of home-birth attendants by you, but as far as registering at the hospital goes - it's just in case you run into trouble in labour, so that no one has to go and fill out forms, etc, right before or after the birth. (and, as my midwife pointed out - if people ask where you are having this baby, and you don't want to tell them you are birthing at home, or think they will freak out, you can tell them the name of that hospital! ) I don't think it's the same as having formula in the house, just in case, but an extra safety net, sort of. Doesn't mean you're any more likely to transfer, but if you have to, they'll be ready for you.

Baby-love - I've heard that babies are more likely to follow their own mother's size at birth. Don't know if that's true for everyone, but it has been for us. My DH is 6'4", 280lb, (all muscle ) and I'm not really so small myself - (5'7" and I have no clue what weight right now - 190?) and my babies have been 6lb14oz, 7lb10oz, and 7lb8oz. I don't think it happens that often that a mother is really too small to push her baby out. And a lot of bigger babies are chubby, which contributes to their weight. It's not like their head and shoulders are that much bigger than smaller babies', they just have chubbier tummies. I was pretty worried about a c-section, too, with my first, since my mother had to have them, but all was well. No tearing, even! Don't stress about that right now. I'm sure you'll be fine.