If they give you the pitocin, get the epidural. I didn't want the epidural but after a while, the pain left me no choice. They gave me another drug before the epidural and all it did was calm the contractions - prolong labor for a what seemed an eternity. Depending on how much they give you, Pit, as others have said here, can be very very uncomfortable. DD was 10lbs and wouldn't stay turned. There was talk of a C-section but she eventually decided it was time to say Hi. The trend is to walk a lot even with pit and contractions going at the same time. That will help, but it can be rough too. I've never heard of any fetal distress from the pit but you and the baby will be monitored. Unless you have a strong coach, I wouldn't try the pit without the epidural or some other paid meds. You will wear yourself out - and you want to have all of your strength to hold that beautiful bundle of joy!! Congratulations and best wishes. Babies are such a joy, and bring you so much fun and love. gneegirl

laticauda(OK - zone 7) I think I read somewhere that to make a room have clean air (not just cleaner air) it takes like 15-20 6-inch potted plants. For one room. If plants can make a room clean (not just cleaner) why United States Enviromental Protection Agency does not write about it at all? Residential Air Cleaners (Second Edition): A Summary of Available Information Sourse: http://www.epa.gov/iedweb00/pubs/residair.html#Will-Air-Cleaning-Reduce-Health-Effects Quote: "Some air cleaners may produce new, potentially toxic pollutants or may re-disperse old ones". It's interesting to know can live plant produce new, potentially toxic pollutatns or re-disperse ones? For example, Sansevieria or SPider Plant.

I am checking into this as well. It seems some UPS, some Fed Ex stores have this. You bring the stuff, it goes into a locked container which is picked up regularly and shredded offsite. In our area I think it is Iron Mountain who shreds it. The price seems to be as best I can determine, 79 cents a pound. My dh called one place that will charge $150 to shred on location. We do live in a development, but there is minimal sense of community- but we are tossing around the idea of mentioning it to neighbors and seeing if people are interested. That could really work,and would be a lot more convenient than putting 2 boxes in the car when we got around to it. Again though, we do need to go through the boxes to make sure that there is nothing we need...........

Okay then - prepare to be bombarded. ;)