>>>>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.
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>>>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....
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>>Congrats Mike!
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>>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.
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>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 (the epidural like my best friend got when she gave birth) to anyone about to have a baby :o)

Same here, and that's only second hand. It isn't a macho contest and there is no reason to go through that much pain. The danger to the baby is almost nil.