Ren, could you get some recent books on labour, birth and parenting for your rellos to read? I was extremely fortunate in that my mum started reading a ton of magazines on pregnancy and parenting and was always saying "Things have changed so much!". She had four kids with no drugs, up in stirrups with my dad safely locked out of the room. Imagine that? How horrible for her and all women who had to endure that back then (the birth in a room full of strangers that is). She didn't ever offer unwanted comments or advice though, and didn't blink an eyelid when I begged for an epidural (which I did without) or when my sister did a year later. She understands that each woman, labour and birth is different and now that our babies are here, she is still happy to learn 'new' parenting techniques and fandaggled contraptions like my hug-a-bub.

Sorry, this has turned into a post about my mum.

It's hard when the people around you aren't supportive, especially when you're so excited.