>>>>>When we left the hospital with her I had the oddest feeling. Tricia said she felt the same thing. They're going to let us just walk out of here with this baby? We don't know how to take care of a baby! But we found out we did.
>>>>
>>>>I think if/when we have a girl, I am going to absolutely melt. I am kind of hoping for a boy first, because I view being a father to a boy different than a girl, and I think I would rather have the boy first. I really don't care though. I just want a happy and healthy baby. We have been to the doctor a few times and gotten all the information about all the tests and birth defects and stuff like that, and that is the first time I came down from cloud nine. We heard the heartbeat on Monday and that was the first actual concrete proof that there was something in there. It was unreal. Twins run on both sides of her family....
>>>
>>>Congrats Mike!
>>>
>>>I don't recall whether I too wished for a boy first, but it indeed happened and now my two daughters could always easily say they have a big brother. :)
>>>But it comes as it comes and even the number of kids can't be exactly planned. I presume your wife will give birth in a hospital. In the Netherlands most babies are born at home. The first one wasn't, the other two were. People should prefer 'at home' and without an injection (how's that called in English?). But I realize that this is not always the best option.
>>
>>I had my daughter in the hospital but without any pain meds. I believed it would be best for my daughter. It was a very long and painful night. I highly recommend pain meds to anyone about to have a baby :o)
>
>As I said, I realize it's not always the best option. But there is this scientific study I red in a magazine recently that suggests that the body produces certain hormones to lower the pain and that these hormones play a role in the process of bonding.

I guess my body withheld those hormones until the very last moment before birth. :o)

The bonding process is absolutely amazing though. I remember the terror of being a new mom when we first came home and feeding my daughter late one of the first nights and thinking that I would do anything at all to protect her. Absolutely anything. From the moment of birth on, nothing is as important in life as taking care of and protecting the child.