One of the things you might want to start thinking about as you enter your third trimester is a birth plan. Although things can change depending on the circumstances of the birth itself—one of my friends actually gave birth to her third child in a borrowed SUV on the way to the hospital—or how you're feeling in that moment, having a map to start out with can only be a good thing and help you stay on course and not feel lost. There are many checklists available online that will provide preprinted birth plans, but it can be as simple as opening a document and writing down a few lines about your preferences. Here are some things to think about as you create your birth plan:

Who do you want in the birth room with you? Your partner or a labor partner is pretty much a given—things have changed since the days when I was born, and they forgot to notify my dad until three hours later. However, friends and family may be eager to participate. If you've given written instructions to the hospital staff beforehand about who to let in and who to politely turn away, it will make things less awkward in the moment.

Pain relief is the second major component of a birth plan. Your options range from hypnosis and acupressure to an epidural or other major anesthesia, and you can request that you not be offered pain relief unless you ask for it. The same goes for Pitocin, which speeds up your labor. Hospitals nowadays seem to try to make this appear a natural part of the birthing process, but they can't force it on you.

There are issues to be dealt with after the birth itself as well, most importantly, how the baby will be fed and where he or she will be kept. Even in the best hospitals, the nursery can be something of an assembly line, as I found out when they gave my daughter, who was supposed to be breastfed, exclusively sugar-water to pacify her. If these issues are crucial to you, consider hiring a doula to act as your advocate.

Trust this two time mom when I say that once your kids are here, especially the second one or afterwards, you're not going to have a lot of time to work on scrapbooks, baby books or baby albums. I decided to do a handwritten journal for my two, figuring it would be easier. Neither of them has been written in since 2003, although I keep them on my nightstand, every night thinking, "I'll update them tomorrow."

Why not start a pregnancy scrapbook? If you're totally swamped once he or she is here, at least your baby will have mementos from this special time in your life. It doesn't have to be one of those huge projects that make you feel guilty. You can find a simple predesigned scrapbook at a craft store that only requires you to put down pictures and stickers, or you can do it the old-fashioned way and use a plain photo album, making your own tags in your word processor. Substance, in this case, is preferable to style.

Items to include in the pregnancy scrapbook include sonogram photos, cards from your baby shower, e-mails announcing you're pregnant to faraway family and friends, printouts of baby names and photos of your baby bump from month to month. Be creative! Anything that has meaning to you goes, although the actual EPT pregnancy test probably won't fit in the pages of your book.

Try to keep things roughly chronological, which you can do by putting an item in the day you decide to use it. That keeps the whole thing from getting out of hand. Buy the book and do the first page the day you get home from the sonogram appointment, adding each item as you acquire them.

Finally, finish up with a page full of predictions for your baby from your friends and family. These are delightful to read later as your child grows up. Everyone predicted my first daughter would someday be an ace left-handed pitcher for the Yankees, and I still think she might achieve that goal, except for the left-handed part!

Setting up a nursery is one of the more fun tasks facing first time parents, but if you've never hung out with babies before, the variety of baby-themed products on the market can be overwhelming. Here's a short guide to what you really need and what you can do without, even if your nursery is just a corner of your one-bedroom apartment.

1. A Crib
Though we all have heard stories of older relatives who were surprise babies and slept in a drawer (or maybe it's just my weird family), a crib is an absolute essential. Whether you're buying a crib new, borrowing from a friend or purchasing from a consignment store -- safety features are essential.

When purchasing bedding for the crib, make sure to order extra-deep sheets. The safety factor makes the extra cost worthwhile. Non-deep sheets can slide off the bed and become a strangulation hazard.

2. A Changing Table
This can be a fancy model from a catalog, or it can be as simple as a changing pad placed on the floor with a basket next to it for changing essentials, like diapers, wipes and ointment. Wipe warmers are NOT essential, but a trash bin to put soiled diapers in is essential. In my experience Diaper Genies and the like are more trouble than they're worth and just end up smelling horrible. You're better off with a regular trash can with a tight fitting lid, but most times you're going to want to take the bag with the dirty diaper out immediately.

3. A Comfortable Chair
Gliders are excellent for this purpose, but any soft chair where you can snuggle with the baby will do. Whether you're nursing or bottle-feeding, you'll get up several times in the middle of the night in the beginning, and you need a place where it won't hurt if you fall asleep!

4. A Baby Monitor
When my second daughter was born, she had the lungs of an opera singer, and my house was compact and vertical so you could hear a voice from any room in it. Even still, the baby monitor came in handy for when I was outside getting groceries out of the car or down in the basement doing laundry. This is something you can borrow from a friend as long as it's in working order.

The rules for a healthy pregnancy have changed a lot over the years. I discussed this with a friend who's old enough to be my mother once, and she said that during her pregnancy her doctor's advice was diet pills to keep her weight down and a cocktail every night so she remained calm! (In case you're worried she only had one child and that one turned out to be fine, thank goodness.)

These days the rules can pretty much be summed up with the word "No." No drinking and no smoking are obvious, but books like "What To Expect When You're Expecting" will have you believe it's not okay to ingest anything but wheatgrass toast. If you can handle that, fine, but some of us have health issues that need to be managed even during pregnancy. Here's a quick guide to how to deal with them.

This is going to sound obvious, but call your doctor to check before taking any over-the-counter medication (if he or she isn't available, and you need to know right away, a local pharmacist is a good resource.) There are things some of us take without thinking twice, like cold medicine or pain relievers, which could be dangerous to the baby. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine, but aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil) aren't. Antihistamines (Benadryl) are okay but decongestants (Sudafed) aren't, and the jury's still out on cough suppressants. And don't forget to check with your doctor again after the baby is born if you're nursing. There's a difference in what's absorbed by the baby before she's born, and what's excreted in breast milk, so don't assume anything.

With prescription medication, don't forget to inform your other doctors of the pregnancy. For example, if you're taking antidepressants, Paxil isn't good for the baby but Prozac is okay Work with both doctors to find the right replacement.

Finally, be careful with medication substitutes like herbs, dietary supplements and teas. Some of these products are VERY dangerous to fetuses, even to the point of inducing miscarriages, so it's best to check with your doctor before taking any such thing.

Tomorrow is my firstborn's 10th birthday! In honor of our happy memories, the topic of this post is how to recognize you're in labor the first time around! Believe it or not, it's not always immediately apparent, especially if you've never been through it, but there are some clues that it's on its way. This post is in honor of the birthday girl, Miranda.

The Nesting Instinct
Books like "What to Expect" describe the nesting instinct as an overwhelming urge to clean your house, paint the walls, etc. That's true, but it can manifest itself in different ways if cleaning and painting aren't in your vocabulary. Basically it's a burst of sudden energy at the very end of pregnancy that gets channeled into preparing for the baby in some way.

I am a huge shopper. The afternoon I went into labor, my husband was with a coworker who has five kids. Over the phone I told my husband I hadn't found the right bassinet for the baby but had driven to five separate counties looking for it and planned on visiting three more. After I hung up, he conferred with the experienced dad, who correctly told him, "Go home early, you'll be at the hospital by midnight."

Minor Back Pains or "Gas"
Labor doesn't start as immediate excruciating pain (and even when it gets excruciating, you have periods of rest in between). The night of my labor, I had a very minor, dull backache - not really even distinguishable from the usual pregnancy backache. (With my second daughter, I had what I thought was gas.) It wasn't even noticeable enough to alarm me, but I lay down on the floor while watching TV to relieve some pain. When my husband asked me what I was doing, I said, "I have a small backache and it's nothing more than a nuisance but it comes and goes." It was only when he made me time my "backaches" that I realized they were exactly six minutes apart. He made me call the doctor, who said, "Mother to be, come on down!"

Being pregnant doesn't mean you have to stop exercising. In fact, exercising can actually make you feel more comfortable during pregnancy and help you bounce back more easily after the baby is born. Here are some ways exercise can make pregnancy easier and some recommendations on the right kind of exercise to do during pregnancy:

• Exercise releases endorphins that can help improve your mood when other hormones are making things difficult.
• Exercise can keep you flexible, preventing injuries caused by clumsiness as your body changes.
• Exercise can improve posture and relieve backaches by strengthening muscles, making them more capable of supporting your increased mass.
• A fit body makes labor and delivery easier.
• Exercise helps you sleep better at night.

Exercise during pregnancy is generally forbidden for women who have vaginal bleeding, early contractions, high blood pressure or other complications. Otherwise, most pregnant women will feel comfortable doing any exercise that is not high-impact. Examples of exercises that are comfortable and safe during pregnancy include swimming, walking, biking and yoga. Women that are already very fit, such as runners, may be able to continue their regular exercise programs with certain modifications, as long as they don't overdo it.

Before you start a new exercise program, check with your OBG-GYN. Once he or she has given you the go ahead, try to schedule exercise regularly. Exercising half an hour, four days a week is a good start if you've been relatively inactive beforehand. Wear loose-fitting, cool clothes - overheating is dangerous to the baby - and a supportive bra. Comfortable sneakers with good support are essential. Your feet may swell during pregnancy, so consider ordering or buying a half size larger.

Drink plenty of water before, during and after exercise to keep your body cool and hydrated. If the exercise ever causes pain or discomfort that's out of the ordinary, stop working out and immediately call your doctor. But in most cases, you should be fine. By the time the baby comes he or she will have a mom that can set a good example with healthy habits!

Being pregnant doesn't mean you have to stay home for nine months with your feet up on the couch. If you're an executive experiencing her first pregnancy, you won't want to call off the annual sales meeting in Mazatlan due to morning sickness, and if you're a stay-at-home mom with number three on the way, numbers one and two aren't going to want to see Disney World over Columbus Day weekend any less. With a few precautions, though, travel during pregnancy can be both safe and comfortable.

The easiest time to travel during pregnancy, like the easiest time to do most things during pregnancy, is the second trimester, when you are feeling great, but travel can occur during the other trimesters as well. (I took a long car trip during the first trimester of my second pregnancy while suffering from horrendous morning sickness and unexplained bleeding. It was doctor-approved and the micro-brewed ginger ale I picked up in South Carolina helped with the nausea, while the sight-seeing helped distract me from the worry.) Of course, air travel for women in their third trimester is not recommended unless it's absolutely necessary, but other than that, you can pretty much do as you please.

When travelling by car, bus, plane or train, limit the amount of travel time to six hours at a time and be sure to take walks or stretch periodically to keep your circulation stimulated. Travelling by sea is not recommended due to the potential for seasickness and the fact that anti-nausea medications may not be approved for use during pregnancy.

International travel is acceptable as well if your OB/GYN okays it, but be sure to make sure you're immunized properly before going and carry a copy of your health records with you in case of emergency. The potential for diarrhea in a foreign country is the worst concern for pregnant women; drinking bottled water, canned juices or soft drinks, avoiding raw fruits and vegetables, and making sure all dairy products are pasteurized will go a long way towards alleviating that concern.

Finally, dress comfortably in loose clothing made of natural fibers, wear comfortable shoes, and carry snack foods with you in order to keep your energy up and your nausea down.

comfortable shoes,

Eating right during each trimester
can go a long way towards making pregnancy easier. For one thing it can
help prevent the problem my best friend had when her husband and son
had to eat takeout for dinner every night for four months because she
couldn't stomach the smell of food. Each trimester has its own needs,
but if you follow a few helpful tips you can ensure that your family
doesn't have to survive on Wendy's, your baby grows properly, and you
don't need to wear elastic waistbands for a year or three after you have the baby.

Eating Right During The First Trimester
Morning
sickness is the biggest enemy during the first trimester. For both my
mother-in-law and me, the mere thought of chicken sent us into a head
spin that was the first sign that we were pregnant (another sign is
foods you normally love suddenly tasting very, very off). There are a
few easy ways to combat morning sickness, though: carry around bland
foods like crackers that will help settle your stomach when it does
occur; indulge in snacks made from real ginger, like gingerbread,
gingersnaps, ginger beer (non-alcoholic but stronger tasting than
ginger ale), or candied ginger, which have serious anti-nausea
properties; and take good pre-natal vitamins so if your diet isn't so
great during this difficult time, the baby will still get the goodies
she or he needs.

Eating Right During The Second Trimester
The
second trimester is the golden age of pregnancy. This is when you glow
and everyone loves you. There are only two real concerns during the
second trimester. Gestational diabetes sometimes shows up now, so go
for all the tests your doctor recommends and eat whole grains rather
than sugar or refined starches. Also, allergies can be exacerbated
during the second trimester as the body tries to protect the growing baby,
so be extra vigilant about any foods that normally give you trouble,
and if you react to a known allergen food that you've never had trouble
with before (shellfish, peanuts and dairy are common culprits), avoid
it for the rest of the pregnancy.

Eating Right During The Third Trimester
Problems
during the third trimester include loss of appetite (due to your organs
getting crowded by the kid), constipation and heartburn. To combat loss
of appetite, eat 6 small meals a day 4 hours apart rather than larger
meals three times a day. Include lots of fiber and avoid spicy foods,
even if it's 3 days beyond your due date and the old wives tell you
they'll induce labor.
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Dressing well during pregnancy is a lot easier now than it was when I had my first child 10 years ago. The options are so numerous at different price points that it's easy to be stylish and comfortable without spending a fortune, and with careful planning you can find clothes that you can actually modify and continue to wear once you've had the baby.

Maternity clothes aren't really needed during the first trimester, although in your excitement about the baby you're likely to want to run out and buy them the moment the little line appears on the stick. Wait a while, really, because by the third trimester you'll be sick of the sight of them, and by the second kid you won't be willing to put maternity pants on until you're ready to pack your bags for the hospital.

Here are a few tips to make dressing during pregnancy easier:
During the first trimester, you almost certainly can get away with wearing regular clothes in styles that accommodate changes to your figure, such as the Empire-waist blouses that are so popular right now. Your breasts will be larger than usual due to hormones, so purchase a well-made supportive bra. A nursing bra is a good investment even this early, as it will be one of the few items you'll be able to continue to use for months or even years after the baby is born.

Feet will swell over the course of the pregnancy too, so if you buy shoes at this time, go for a half-size larger.

The second trimester is when maternity clothes become appropriate. Dresses are a great option for work, although some upscale lines such do also make maternity suits. For casual wear, tops and maternity pants are probably the easiest choice. Maternity pants come in two basic styles: elastic-waist, which expand to fit your belly, and under-the-belly waists, which just hang below the baby bump. Try both kinds on to see which is more comfortable for you, but remember that how you feel the first week of the second trimester compared to the end of the pregnancy may be very different.

Liz Lange has also come up with a line called The Fourth Trimester that is intended for transitional wear after the baby is born, although most of us are resigned to the fact that you may need to keep wearing maternity clothes for a couple of months postpartum. Just make sure you're not still doing it when the "baby" turns six!

One of the things that's most unfair about pregnancy is how hard it is
to sleep. You're supposed to be getting your rest and saving up your
energy for having a newborn on your hands, but hormones give you weird
dreams and make you feel nauseated, too hot, or too cold. The doctors
and the What To Expect When You're Expecting book make you feel that
the only safe way to sleep is on your side, your chest is tender,
you're getting pounded by feet from the inside out, and more often than
not, you're in pain from sciatica or some other nerve that's not used
to being pinched. Here are a few suggestions to make sleeping easier during pregnancy:

1. A Body Pillow

Body pillows are long cylindrical pillows that you can wrap your limbs
around like a sleeping partner, but they're lighter so your arms don't
fall asleep, and they don't wriggle and squirm. They help take pressure
off of overtaxed nerves and can really make the difference between a
good night's sleep and misery. You can get a utilitarian version at any
store that sells maternity clothes, or Ralph Lauren makes a decorator
version for more upscale new moms.

2. Recliners

If you have access to a recliner, sleeping partially reclined -- feet
up, back just slightly back -- can be the most comfortable position for
women in their third trimester. If not, get someone to take you for a
long car ride and duplicate it as best as possible for a long nap.

3. A Supportive Bra

Don't underestimate the pain that a tender chest can cause you during
pregnancy. A good supportive bra will help immeasurably with this
problem. There are many styles you can find that are adaptable as
nursing bras after you have the baby.

4. Comfortable Maternity Clothes

Temperature control during pregnancy is difficult due to hormonal
changes. The best way to handle the roller coaster of being hot and
cold is with layers. Get a long-sleeved tee shirt and put it over a
camisole. If you wake up hot in the middle of the night, it's easier to
go back to sleep if you just have to pull a light layer off in the dark
than doing a full change.