Jen due December 09

My fiance has been ordered to pay $400 a month in child support. He is the one who opened this case and established paternity. He was trying to do the right thing. He's definitely not the bad guy here. His ex left him when she was 4 months pregnant, wouldn't let him be included with the pregnancy or birth. We are both hard-working college educated people. I'm a teacher, he's a photojournalist. We're thrilled to be expecting our first baby! I understand and accept that he is responsible for his daughter's child support, but I feel that the government is being very unfair. He makes about $1750 a month. They want him to pay $400, plus $200 for health insurance a month. We are trying to get our finances in order to pay this, but we just keep getting hit. Just found out about the health insurance yesterday. I work a second job and he's getting one. We will be able to get by, but my big problem with this is.....why is he expected to pay the full premium? I thought it was 50/50. Why was his child support not lowered a bit to compensate. Why is she esssentially getting free health care? Also, who will pay the co-pays and the amounts not covered by insurance. Who will the bills be sent to?

I forgot to mention, he has $400 in student loans a month. I realize that they don't have to take this into account, but come on. As I said, he makes $1750 a month. They want $400 for CS, $200 for health, he sent in his college bills to them...so that makes $1000 a month. How do they expect him to survive on $750 a month? I guess it could be worse....we just feel so trapped.

My OB says not to worry too much and that there are usually no complications. The baby is growing well so far. I'm 24 weeks. He wants to get a better look at the kidneys and heart because the tech couldn't see them well at last ultrasound (baby position). He doesn't seem overly concerned at this point, but it does make me worry.

I'm 27, and in a 6 year relationship. We've been living together for 5 years. I've met someone else. I know this new person is perfect for me, and I for him. That's just all there is to it. I've second guessed my current relationship before. That's not new. He has anger issues, motivation issues, but deep down he's a good person. He also can't communicate well. I care about him more than anything, but I don't feel I'm truly in love with him. I've told him I have been talking to someone else, but he seems to just want to forget about it. I feel that I need to end it with him. How can I do this respectfully and also protect myself? I'm worried about him. He can't support himself (he's going to school), but I can. He has huge school loans he thought I'd help him pay. Most everything in our apartment is mine. I just don't know what to do, but I can't ignore how I feel any longer. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.

I'm 25, have no children yet, but here's a question. When I do have a child, I'm not sure that I would have him/her baptized. I don't go to church, I'm agnostic. I was raised Christian, and though i know it would be my fiance's and my choice, I don't want to hurt my parents. What would you do?

I live in an apartment and my heater works, but it doesn't shut off at the temperature I have it set to. I have to manually turn it on and off. The AC worked fine as far as shutting off at the correct temp. Is there a different mechanism for the heater to shut off? I need to call my landlord, but was just wondering.

I just moved into this apartment 3 months ago. The AC has been working fine. I was told to change the filter every 3 months (which I did, yesterday). Within an hour of changing the filter, I noticed the carpet getting wet in front of the AC vent. My boyfriend and I looked behind the vent and saw that the coils are dripping water. My boyfriend said he thinks the couls are freezing up. What could be causing this, especially after I just changed the filter? I've tried calling my landlord, but probably won't be able to reach him until Monday. The AC is still working fine. I've stopped it from soaking through to the carpet and have a container behind the vent to catch the water. Can I still keep my AC on?

I'm appalled and angered by this ignorance.

I'm 25, have been with my guy for 4 1/2 years, and living together for 4 years now. I have every intent to stay with him forever. However, I'm just not too excited about an about an actual wedding. He calls me his fiance, but we've never set a date or anything like that. It has nothing to do with commitment, we're just not wedding people. I wouldn't be upset at all to just have it done legally. I feel so pressured to have a "formal" wedding like society says you should. I hate that I'm "supposed" to get married, and then have a baby..etc..etc..

What do you guys think?

I'm on my second pack of Ortho Tricylen Lo, and I'm having breakthrough bleeding. I wasn't sure if I started my first pack at the right time, b/c my periods were so irregular. I had breakthrough bleeding the first month (but figured it was normal). I also had a light period on the inactive pills like you're supposed to. Everything was fine starting the second pack, but this past Saturday I took my pill and 2 hours later started vomiting. I've had breakthrough bleeding since Sunday.

So..my question is...is the breakthrough bleeding normal? Can I get pregnant if I'm having breakthrough bleeding, or is my pill still working? Could it be b/c I was vomiting and the pill wasn't absorbed? I haven't had any unprotected sex since I threw up.

About a year ago, my boyfriend and I saw a commercial on tv about Aspercreme. The jingle at the end said "You bet your sweet Aspercreme!" It was hilarious! Totally surprised me. I only saw it once, and it was changed. Did anyone else catch this?

I am 25, just got back on birth control after a few years of being off. I've been having a lot of breakthrough bleeding this first month. Today I finished the last of my active pills for my first month and I had unprotected sex today. It says that you are protected after the first 7 days. I'm just worried because I'm hoping I began my pills at the right time. (My periods were very irregular). Has anyone else been nervous about this or am I just worrying over nothing?

I'll be there :)