Alish: I don't know about the first two but I hired a TENS machine for my labour with DD and it was really really helpful for me. I had a very long early stage labour: laboured at home for 24hours with contractions every 5minutes for a lot of it and only dilated about 2cm. I used the TENS machine once the contractions got more painful (after about 8hours) and after they broke my waters right through until the birth (four hours later). Just at the end I needed a bit more help and used the gas and those two things were both really helpful in getting me through labour (and some heat packs and massage from DH and my other support person). I'd like to get a TENS machine again this time but i've changed hospitals so need to find out where to hire.

AFM: Went to the OB on Friday. Baby growing nicely but Dr confirmed what I suspected: head down but lying on an angle. (I've been feeling lots of pushing sensations against my left hip bone when baby kicks up the top of my tummy. I suspected i was being head butted down there and I was right). I asked if that was a problem- I figured baby is not far off where s/he's meant to be and would just adjust a little in labour! Dr said: "um, it is if you want a natural birth! But don't worry, there's still time for baby to settle into the right position". Pretty uncomfortable a lot of the time now: lots of pressure on one hip through the day (baby head butts!) and strong stretching sensations: I can see the baby pushing it's little bottom or back up creating this wierd tummy mountain!

Question: trying to decide whether to organise a 2nd support person this time round. My friend who supported us last time has a young baby now and not sure if i'll ask her again. I thought about getting a doula or private midwife but don't know how to go about it and maybe i've left it too late anyhow... anyone know of one? Used one? Maybe i'll ask my OB if he's seen any good ones...