Hello,

I am 33 weeks pregnant and my due date is Sep 3, 2011. As the day gets closer the more nervous I get. My boyfriend is currently deployed and I by the looks of it I will might be alone during childbirth. I don't know if I will be able to do it on my own. Any advice?

You have a couple of options: you could have a close female relative or friend accompany you, hopefully one who has given birth and has had a positive experience. Optimally, she would also be able to take childbirth preparation classes with you. (Here, by the way, is the gateway to the Lamaze parent's site, which includes a link to a page for finding a class as well as access to other helpful resources and information.)  Your other option, which I highly recommend, is to hire a doula. Doulas are women trained and experienced in labor support. You can find out more about doulas here. If finances are a problem, many, if not most, doulas will be willing to work with you to come up with a plan that is mutually agreeable. I feel certain that is especially true for someone such as yourself whose partner is being deployed. And, of course, there is nothing to prevent your opting for both.

~ Henci