1. Did you have a birth plan? my first child, thought about it but didn't follow through. The American way are too detail. As long as I made it clear to my midwife at the time & husband as to what to do incase of emergency, i thought i didn't need it. I ended up having an Emergency C-section due to pre-Eclampsia. Alhamdulilah all went well afterwards. My 2nd boy-normal VBAC (scheduled induction), no issues & very well pregnancy. My little gal same, VBAC -induction. The last 2 were term & a day/two post term. I could have waited for a natural birth but NOPE 2. Did u visit an ob-gyn, a midwife or a doula? Why? Didn't use a Doula, i think in the states, it costs an Arm & a leg. Besides I work in healthcare & didn't need much help. I had a lovely African American OB/GYN who was just like a sista (for my last two pregnancies). 3. Did u have a scheduled Caesarian? Yes, only my first son. VBAC the last 2. (read above) 4. Pro epidural or anti? PRO-EPi. lol. My first child-C section, the recovery was like going through REHAB. Boy do we take our abdominal muscles for granted. It was tough but was fine in few weeks. My last two kids, used Epidural. My labors (the last 2 kids) were short (8hrs, Epidural for the last 3.5hrs; 3rd birth=6hrs, 30mins for Epi..my doc was even suprised but given my progression..its wasn't really). Alhamdulillah. 5. Take classes before the birth? 1st birth, w/hubby lol. Maskiin i dragged him & he was fine by it. But didn't for the last two. 6. Nurse and for how long? 1st-9mons 2nd -8mons 3rd-6mons + formula. But prepd food at home, no ready made. I don't think i will be where I am today, doing what I am doing & pursuing my dreams w/3 kids if it weren't for the support i have at home (ofcourse w/me committed to a goal). ALhamdulilah & I thank Allah s.w. for giving me a caring/loving & supportive husband. ***follow your instincts but as well listen to some of the advises & do as you feel fit's your family. Ultimately we our own foremost advocates for our own health, so the more you know the better

^^^^salaam Nin-Y & the rest of the boys. Girls mac mac IJUMAA NJEMA (Good Friday to all) Che, all the best bro. If you can't get sanjabiil (as Jacpher suggested) drag your butt to the nearest organic store & buy Juice (citrus preferrably) w/ Echinacea. & put on the humidifier @ night or leave the HOT shower running while you are w/in & stay there for some minutes (30min if you can) to ease the congestion. N'ways-Allaha ku caafiyo ***I saw this SALT&PEPPER (HOT) somali guy-ManshaAllah anaaba isku xishoode & couldn't afford to say HI even..just smiled & some are complaining of lack of...

Apophis, simply-U give, I take that's how it is & if you aint ready for that..Don't think of flirting w/any somali girls Somaliphilsopher..like we aint EXOTIC enough

Alpha Blondy;934571 wrote: .......419 scam ex-convict nigerian akhi who found god. ...... :D lol@Juxa..I too is too old for this SH!T (been dying to use this word sometimes....aarrrrrgggghhhh..then breaths...don't do it). Cambuulo iyo Bun-bro..gabdho mansha-allah wey buxaan. As sensei & other said..take time to heal & you'll find your true one IA. Don't let the past judge the future, be cautious but don't let it hang over your head otherwise you won't move on, its life. IA all the best.

just met this lovely lady on campus..engineering student pre-civil war (SOMALIA)..now she's one of the cleaning crew. This mothers, women i tell ya really suffered & sacrificed a lot & yet haven't lost their quality. N'ways Mrs A..Insha-Allah we will regain our status someday-tawakal calllah! Malika, so CL is back home eh..what a cynical lady indeed....sensible i meant gabadh caqli badan..& I am here husslin' for who NGonge, i can't imagine you rhyming to Heavy D & Salt N P, or did you mimic his physique(heave D that is ) Juxa...mac mac beelo & the rest!

**going for 2nd big mug of caffeine***or else....i have to save the little of my sanity ...leo ni leo

^^^^ :D :D like totally like yeah

In the words of Alpha Blondy...how do we know you aren't one of those "knowledge-endowed uppity pseudo-intellectuals" ? mise inaad hadaba qaan gaadhe

yeah where is that lovely gal CL... I am sure she's in your sides. Igu salaan Malkia if you cross paths. Flirt ???? I don't know what you are talking about Malika badaa maba gaarin mandhay

NGONGE..don't enter my ocean waryaa Malika indeed. Che needs his mojo back ! & a makeover perhaps!

alhamdulilah mpendwa..hali safi kabisa, za kwenu natarajia yu mwema I have few reer burco close friends, the charm i can attest to .......*******reverse reverse*******. what was the topic again ...n'ways. Aheey charming fella. Che is still recovering from the seismic shocks

well at least people change,.....except NGONGE ****bal ani iyo odey ngonge maxaa nakala heysta **** I best leave him alone before the wifey bud ila dacdaa. Malkia (aka Malika) sis salaam & Che......& NGONGE sabaxal nuur

Alright Chimera. I'll leave it at that coz i can't even decipher where you stand.

Bisinka Chimera...you don't adhere to simplistic views..you don't adhere to labels..you don't blah blah blah..you post are extremely negative,...can't even read what you are saying because you are consumed by attacking that you can't even see the facts. its not simplistic or superiority complex or whatever names you might come up.. they are the facts bro/sis. As blackflash mentioned why doesn't it affect as much other african cultures..the ghanians, the Ethiopians, the Oromos, why somalis so much eh....??? N'ways Blackflash, First thanks for being mature & not responding even when you are being called names, but really you spoke of the fact. Safferz-by the way..Anecdotal evidence is what constitutes primary data (quantitatively/qualitatively). & as Blackflash mentioned institutional racism & other societal/structural limitations (lack of resources) affects all communities residing in those conditions (including A. Americans, white, chinese, Africans that are emigrated to those places etc). So why somalis's. Coofle-the "unique" pride you are inferring to is what has caused so much havoc today. The irony in your adulation is that it has even marginalized many SOmalis now more that even on clan lines & "other" (by somali standards considered non-somali/somali bantu's). Somalis are in conflict w/themselves.

Rudy-you old Dirty B... lol@casper.

Good news indeed.

Nothing is permanent Safferz. Even Mount St. Helen in Alaska's recovered from its disasters. So, Somalia can w/better ecological management & understanding the urgency of preserving what's currently left of it. Oday-the thread is wonderful & thx for giving us a glimpse of our motherland. As apophis mentioned, no matter our political alliances, we are broken, our culture (whether we are somali/landers of any kind) is in crisis & unless we mediate this...Somali's whether in diaspora or back home will be left to the wolves (life will teach us a lesson). ***You analysis on the women issues was/is poignant & in need of an immediate resuscitation. Thank you.

^^indeed we got too many issues to resolve first before we delve into "hollier than thou".. Good to see you J still kicking & well

waa maqle nuune waana runta

xabad;930426 wrote: originality is a commodity that is in very short supply amongst somalis. wad dad ayaga dan wada copycat ah. caku iyo somali. ma aragte horta! @Somalia-what does that mean "Non-state Actor..." **speaking of irrelavance/relativity-there was once a friend who told me that a group once established a social/referral agency/organization & the name of all things was ".......herald" my thinking straight went to "are they selling newspapers/magazines" mise anaa qaldan? What's w/teh fascination w/colossal names w/little action to voucher for?

lol@ku jaqi. Nuune you have a way w/words/expressions

^^^lol Shikamoo nyote salaan sare.

^^salaam..waad nooshahay ileen weli lol..good to see ya. Can't access it at work...will do some other time. Mahadsanid!

oh you like a bunch of tight a$$es..got it

Ok...advise pls-I can't see the pics?