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Hello
Re: labor and birthing, one word: doula. I didn't have one and later wished I did.
Re: breastfeeding, I might give it longer than six weeks. For us, it took about three months before it was completely easy and automatic. The first week, in which Magnus screamed bloody murder every time I tried to feed him, and we ended up feeding him pumped milk via syringe, was particularly hellish. And I didn't even have cracked and bleeding nipples like my sister! Unless you have a serious problem (e.g. insufficient glandular tissue), breastfeeding is worth all the trouble in the long run. Even if you think you won't stick it out past, say, four months, some breastfeeding is better for baby than no breastfeeding.
Re: family coming to stay, it all depends on the family. I had a houseful (my mom, both inlaws plus my mil's mother), and didn't have to lift a finger. My mom cooked and cleaned, my mil and her mother unpacked all my boxes from moving four weeks before giving birth, and my fil rebuilt the front porch railing. They all got along great (our moms were friends since college, so there was no mil-mil tension), and were amazingly good-natured about being awakened every few hours every night (see feeding-as-torture, above).
Sleep now.
tm
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