Blog Posts by Being Pregnant

1.The kicks.

2. The hair.

3. The cleavage.

4. The ultrasounds.

5. The glow.

6. The attention.

7. Early boarding.

8. Those special parking spaces at Babies R Us.

Related: 5 Answers to Pregnancy-Related Questions that Really Annoy My Wife

9. Someone cares enough to closely examine your urine on a regular basis.

10. You are always doing something, even when you're not doing anything at all

11. You're now a part of the cycle of life.

12. And yet, it really is all about you.

In 2007, Dr. Stephan Schepergerdes of Eugene, Oregon performed the standard procedure of a vasectomy on Scott Bassinger who soon after brought in a semen sample to make sure he was sterile. Yup, Dr. Schpergerdes' staff said. Some 19 months later, though, Donnita had a little pink line staring back at her from a pregnancy test that said otherwise. (Looks like he sat on a package of these frozen peas for nothing! See picture left.)

According to Outpatient Surgery, Dr. Schepergerdes allegedly noted in his records that he had difficulty dissecting Mr. Bassinger's tubes during the procedure, a message never conveyed to the Bassingers. The suit also alleges that Mr. Bassinger's semen sample showed sperm "too numerous to count," even though the couple was told that he was now sterile.

Related: Near fatal mix up: Pharmacy gives abortion pill to pregnant woman instead of antibiotic

Here's how the $650,000 lawsuit breaks down:

• $35,000 to cover medical expenses related to the

"Mother of modern midwifery," Ina May Gaskin dropped some knowledge on a posse of nurses, educators and doulas last night in New York City and I was lucky enough to be there. The local NYC birthing community doesn't get together enough- it's hard when you're attending all-nighter births- so it's a real treat to mingle with these ladies. They give off some strong-dare I say empowering?- vibes. It was awesome.

Ina May talked for a little bit and fielded lots of great questions. Here are the highlights:

1. If you induce a woman before she's ready it's like trying to harvest apples in July. "The fruit won't be as sweet."

Related: Labor can go backwards, kissing can prevent tearing and other insights from Ina May Gaskin [VIDEO]

2. She's obsessed with the awesome video of the Bali elephant birthing and resuscitating her baby all on her own. "She didn't take an infant elephant resuscitation class," Ina May noted.

It was a quarter after ten. Caroline was already out like a light though I was anything but, tossing and turning by the dim glow of the TV. Not even ESPN could lull me to sleep, my mind racing with a mix of anxiety and guilt. I was anxious because I wasn't really excited about doing it alone. That certainly hadn't been the plan. But four hours earlier, my friend had unexpectedly bailed on me. And it was too late to turn back.

The guilt was because I didn't feel good about leaving her, a thought that accompanied me as I shuffled my bare feet across the cold hardwood planks to the kitchen and checked the list again. Yep. Four different telephone numbers and as much detail as I could possibly provide. I crawled back into bed and held her tighter than normal. Not too tight, of course. Not at 20 weeks.

Related: We should get epidurals AFTER birth, too?!

My tossing and turning would continue, and at four in the morning, she stirred for the first time all night. "Do you have to go?" she asked while tracing a line on my hand with her index finger that stopped on my wedding band.

For more risks, side effects and facts about epidurals, visit Babble.

MORE ON BABBLE:

Why Moms Should Absolutely Have Control Over Epidurals

Should You Worry About the Rising Deaths from Epidural Complications?

C-Sections: Are They Sending Maternity Mortality Rates Soaring?

When it comes to talking about birth there can be so much divisiveness: home VS hospital, epidural VS natural, etc. Though these polarized debates can cement an opinion for some, they are confusing as hell to many others. The truth is, most women would be very content with the best of all possible worlds.

As a wise friend once asked, Why can't we get the freshly baked bread AND the epidural?

I think it's a great idea to take what you can get from both the hospital and the hippies, and cobble together the kind of birthing support that's just right for you.

On that note, I'd like to throw out some ways home birth practices* can help in a hospital birth setting.

I'm not one to stereotype, really-and yes, I know racist/sexist/ageist/etc people say that all the time. Like many New Yorkers, I interact with such a broad swath of people on a daily basis that, practically speaking, it would be a taxing endeavor. Socially speaking, I have always felt strongly that individuals should be treated as such, no matter skin color, sex, gender, culture, religion or age (did I miss one?).

In my last pregnancy, however, I found there to be some universal truths about who is willing to give up his or her seat on the subway to a pregnant woman and who is not-and I'm going to guess that gender of who won't give up a seat, at least, won't surprise you.

Related: Is She Pregnant or Just Fat? How You Can Tell the Difference

Let's start with those who in my experience always give up a seat:

Miranda Kerr, who gave birth to a nearly 10 pound baby just two months ago, wowed the crowds when she hit the runway for Balenciaga in Paris this week. She looks fabulous and, according to one observer, as if she'd never given birth.

Kerr has been vocal about her enthusiasm for non-medicated birth and breastfeeding, though she hasn't claimed these are the reasons for her quick turnaround.

Related: Why Helena Bonham Carter Worships the Epidural