Ah study and babies....totally doable...but afterwards oh so lovely not having to do it hahaha. i did my PhD fulltime and had my first two amongst it all. in many ways it worked out ok as you can choose your hours pretty much with a PhD, but it also sucked as i was so darn tired all the time that my traditional work time (at night) just wasnt there. i was too tired to read anything but bad teenage vampire novels hahaha.

Meow: hhmmm i do suspect that maybe the hep a was there for some time. you guys did have that rough trot with that cold and may have been part of it? It seems to be so similar in effect on birth planning to the GBS....if you know about it it can impact on your plans, whereas if you are just aware that it could be there then you are attentive to all signs and symptoms. Now that you know, i just hope that it passes soon and that you are merely on the tail end of the virus

Smoke J: oopha. that is really worrying that your H is still not really stepping up. Does birth/babies in general seem to freak him out? is he maybe fearful of the changes that are comign with the arrival of a new human being? I know that my DH can be a bit of a moron once bubs is here as he still has some freak out about the whole new baby thing (i had a shocking time with PTSD after DD1 that left some emotional scars on him i think).
on a more practical level: do you have anyone that could drop the drawers off? Are you able to speak to his mum about the spring? it does suck though that he is not taking part in this wonderful, special journey. ultimately his loss, but still, you want and need that support from your closest.

Sounds like you and baby are certainly getting close to birthing! i would think that filling up hot with hose would be best while pots of water boil on the stove.

Tegam: hhmm top three....

1. birth pool

2. Birth affirmations

3. Calendula tincture (for all things grazes/stitches/swollen nethers. i would put some on my pads and it would help heal and relieve the area.

but then again, i would also have to add Arnica. I had it in two types of dosages: a 200cH for immediate post birth (single dose) and then a much milder dose that could be repeated as needed in the following days).