First off...Breathe!

Congrats! I am so happy for you. I am due at the end of Feb so we can gripe together!

I also have issues with pain. I have rheumatoid arthritis and I am on a lot of heavy duty meds. My pregnancies shave all been planned as they needed to be because I can't actually conceive on one of my medications. With my first pregnancy, I went off the hardest meds while we prepared to conceive. I was in desperate pain and I was eventually referred to a specialist who specializes in auto immune diseases and pregnancy. I didn't know such people existed but he literally enabled me to have kids but he made the process enjoyable for me. He put me on better meds that were also safe for a fetus. Not sure what kind of arthritis you have but with auto immune diseases your symptoms often go into remission during pregnancy so I actually LOVE being pregnant for that reason, heh heh.

As for time off from daycare. My plan at the moment is to close for the year. I am not sure I will reopen however I have never felt comfortable with my kids in daycare so unless we win the lottery I will probably reopen. I know a lot of women on here will close for 6 wks and have their husbands take Pat leave to help with the baby and the daycare. I want to enjoy the time off with my baby and my 3 y.o.

Re: food to stay away from: unpasteurized cheese and milk, cold cuts, hot dogs, raw eggs. Basically the things that put you at greater risk of listeria. Usually the first baby you may restrict everything. By your second or third you tend to lighten up and realize that women in France get pregnant and continue to eat Brie so it is probably fine.