#top-rated supplement

[bluepillexpress]

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[aiura-stan]

ngl ive been having A Time of it, though, as of late, and it’s not even just the new job. My body has decided to malfunction in several different confusing ways and I have to force my brain to stay awake sometimes

[wildearthpetfood]

Grain-Free vs. Grain-Inclusive: What Should You Choose?

Choosing the proper pet supplements diet for your dog is crucial for their health and well-being. One of the most debated topics among pet owners and veterinarians is whether to opt for grain-free or grain-inclusive dog food. This article delves into both options, providing insights to help you make an informed decision for your canine companion.

Understanding Grain-Free Dog Food

Grain-free dog food excludes wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, and rye. Instead, these diets often use alternative carbohydrate sources like potatoes, legumes (peas, lentils, chickpeas), and tapioca. The primary reasons pet owners consider grain-free diets include:

Allergies and Sensitivities: Some dogs may have allergies or sensitivities to certain grains, leading to skin issues, digestive problems, or other health concerns.

Ancestral Diet Beliefs: The notion that dogs, being descendants of wolves, thrive on diets similar to their ancestors, which were predominantly meat-based with minimal grains.

Perceived Health Benefits: Beliefs that grain-free diets may lead to better digestion, healthier skin and coat, and increased energy levels.

Understanding Grain-Inclusive Dog Food

Grain-inclusive dog food contains wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, and rye. These grains serve as carbohydrate sources and provide essential nutrients. The reasons for choosing grain-inclusive diets include:

Nutritional Benefits: Grains offer fiber, vitamins, and minerals that promote a balanced diet.

Digestibility: Many dogs can efficiently digest grains, benefiting from the nutrients they provide.

Cost-Effectiveness: Grain-inclusive diets are often more affordable than grain-free alternatives.

The Debate: Grain-Free vs. Grain-Inclusive

Pet owners and veterinarians have discussed the choice between grain-free and grain-inclusive diets. Key points in this debate include:

Nutritional Adequacy: Grain-free and grain-inclusive diets can be nutritionally complete if formulated correctly. Ensuring that the chosen diet meets the dog's specific nutritional needs is essential.

Health Concerns: Recent studies have raised concerns about a potential link between grain-free diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart condition. The FDA has been investigating these reports, but definitive conclusions are yet to be made.

Allergies and Sensitivities: True grain allergies in dogs are relatively rare. More commonly, dogs may be allergic to specific proteins like beef or chicken. Therefore, eliminating grains may not always address the root cause of allergies.

Wild Earth's Approach to Dog Nutrition

We prioritize your dog's health at Wild Earth by offering nutritionally complete, plant-based dog food. Our formulas are designed to provide all essential nutrients without common allergens in traditional pet foods. Here's why you might consider choosing Wild Earth:

High-Quality Protein Sources: Our dog food contains 31% protein sourced from sustainable and digestible ingredients like yeast and potato protein. These proteins are not only high-quality but also environmentally friendly.

Superfood Ingredients: We incorporate superfoods such as chickpeas and sweet potatoes, which are rich in essential vitamins and minerals. These ingredients support your dog's immune system, vision, and overall health.

Allergen-Free Formulas: Our recipes are free from common allergens, making them suitable for sensitized dogs. We avoid meat byproducts and filler materials, ensuring your dog receives only the best nutrition.

Sustainability: By choosing plant-based ingredients, we reduce the environmental impact of traditional meat-based pet foods.

In-Depth Questions and Answers

What are the potential health risks associated with grain-free diets?

Answer: Recent studies have Wikipedia suggested a potential link between grain-free diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a severe heart condition. The FDA has been investigating these reports, focusing on diets high in legumes like peas and lentils. While a definitive cause has not been established, consulting with a veterinarian before making dietary changes is essential, especially if considering a grain-free diet.

How can I determine if my dog has a grain allergy or sensitivity?

Answer: True grain allergies in dogs are uncommon. Symptoms may include itching, skin irritations, ear infections, and gastrointestinal issues. To determine if your dog has a grain allergy, consult a veterinarian. They may recommend an elimination diet to identify the specific allergen. It's important to note that other ingredients, such as specific proteins, are more common allergens in dogs.

Are there benefits to plant-based dog food compared to traditional meat-based diets?

Answer: Plant-based dog foods, like those offered by Wild Earth, provide several benefits:

Allergen Reduction: They eliminate common meat allergens, which can benefit dogs with sensitivities.

Sustainability: Plant-based diets have a lower environmental impact compared to meat-based diets.

Nutritional Completeness: When adequately formulated, plant-based diets can provide all the essential nutrients for a dog's health.

It's crucial to ensure that any diet, whether plant-based or meat-based, is nutritionally balanced and meets your dog's needs.

How does Wild Earth's dog food compare to other brands in terms of protein content and quality?

Answer: Wild Earth's dog food contains 31% protein sourced from high-quality, sustainable ingredients like yeast and potato protein. This protein content is comparable to, or even higher than, many traditional meat-based dog foods. For example, Orijen Regional Red Dry Dog Food contains 38% protein, and Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Dog Food contains 34% protein. We focus on providing digestible and sustainable protein sources without meat byproducts or fillers.

Conclusion

Choosing between grain-free and grain-inclusive top rated dog supplements depends on your dog's specific health needs, potential allergies, and personal preferences. It's essential to consult with a veterinarian to determine the most suitable diet for your canine companion. We are committed to providing high-quality, nutritionally complete, sustainable dog food options at Wild Earth. Our plant-based formulas are designed to meet your dog's nutritional needs while minimizing environmental impact. For more information or to explore our products, please visit our website or contact us directly.

[bestbuysupplement]

Best Buy Supplements for Optimal Health – Top Picks for 2024

Looking for the best supplements to enhance your health and wellness journey? Best Buy offers a wide range of high-quality vitamins, minerals, and health supplements to support your fitness goals, boost energy levels, and maintain overall well-being. Whether you're focused on immunity, weight management, or improving mental clarity, Best Buy’s carefully curated selection ensures you get only the best products from trusted brands. Shop with confidence and find supplements tailored to your needs, with great deals on top-rated options that support a healthy lifestyle.

[healthtodys]

Nitric Boost Ultra for energy and performance

Nitric Boost Ultra is a supplement made to Improve sexual performance and overall well-being. This supplement comes in a convenient powder form that mixes easily with water, offering a simple daily dose. Nitric Boost Ultra Ultra aims to improve your vitality by supporting better blood flow, boosting energy levels, and enhancing sexual health.

What is Nitric Boost Ultra?

Nitric Boost Ultra is a dietary supplement made to Improve overall vitality and sexual performance. This supplement comes in a powder form that is easily mixed with water or other beverages. It's formulated to support increased energy levels, improved circulation, and Improved sexual health.

Nitric Boost Ultra works by leveraging natural ingredients that promote the production of nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide is a key molecule that helps relax and expand blood vessels, leading to improved blood flow. This can contribute to better performance and endurance, both in daily activities and intimate moments. The supplement aims to support your body's natural processes to help you feel more energized and confident.

How Nitric Boost Ultra Works?

The success of Nitric Boost Ultra lies in its ability to enhance blood circulation. Blood flow is essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients to different parts of the body, including the muscles, brain, and sexual organs. By increasing nitric oxide production, Nitric Boost Ultra improves circulation, which is beneficial for cardiovascular health, stamina, and overall vitality. Improving Blood Circulation: One of the key ways Nitric Boost Ultra supports health is by boosting nitric oxide levels. A chemical called nitric oxide relaxes blood arteries, improving blood flow. This increased circulation delivers vital nutrients and oxygen to your body, improving not just physical performance but also mental clarity and stamina. Supporting Cardiovascular Health: A healthy heart is essential for overall well-being, and Nitric Boost Ultra promotes cardiovascular health by improving the function of the endothelium—the lining of the blood vessels. This ensures better blood flow and reduces the risk of heart-related issues.

Nitric Boost Ultra price and discount: .

The Science Behind Nitric Boost Ultra

Nitric Boost Ultra works on the science of increasing nitric oxide production—a molecule critical to vascular health. Nitric oxide acts as a vasodilator and relaxes and opens blood vessels to increase blood flow. Done properly, this is very important in enhancing delivery to the muscles and organs of oxygen and nutrients.

Nitric Boost Ultra supports improved circulation, better cardiovascular health, enhanced vigor, and improved physical performance resulting from elevated nitric oxide levels.

This comes with a very high efficacy rating due to its astute choice of ingredients that border on Beet Root Powder, rich in natural nitrates. These nitrates get converted to nitric oxide upon ingestion to participate in the actual vasodilatory process.

Key ingredients of the Nitric Boost Ultra powder

Beetroot powder

Beetroot powder helps increase the nitric oxide levels in the body. It is also proven to support various other functions in the body including reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, promoting heart health, and dealing with oxidative stress. 

Horny goat weed

Horny goat weed is beneficial in increasing the male hormone levels. It deals with the issue of impotence and improves your mood. This Nitric Boost Ultra ingredient also strengthens the bones and reduces fatigue. 

Dong quai

Dong quai is a Chinese herb used to improve blood flow to the reproductive organs. This ingredient in Nitric Boost Ultra helps relieve the pain and supports a healthy immune system. 

Final verdict on Nitric Boost Ultra reviews

This section of the Nitric Boost Ultra review will sum up all the points that are understood by conducting a detailed analysis of this nutritional formula. Nitric Boost Ultra is a male health support powder made using good-quality natural ingredients, chosen for their ability to improve male health and enhance vitality.

The supplement is manufactured in a well-maintained lab facility that follows sterile making and testing processes, thereby ensuring quality and potency. Nitric Boost Ultra customer testimonials are appealing, with no mentions of severe cases of side effects or health complications.

It comes with a free bonus and a risk-free money-back guarantee, enhancing the trust and reliability of the supplement. Taking all these aspects into consideration, Nitric Boost Ultra is a legitimate supplement that offers comprehensive support to enhancing male health and maintaining general health. 

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[amar3103singh]

Dr Vedic | Great multivitamin for women

Q. Are there any side effects associated with these tablets?

A. The tablets are generally safe for use when taken as directed. However, individuals with specific medical conditions should consult a healthcare professional before starting.

Q. Can men use Dr. Vedic Multivitamin Women Tablets?

A. These tablets are specifically formulated for women. Men should explore products designed for their specific nutritional needs.

great multivitamin for women

[rdayenterprises]

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Boost your energy naturally with Herbal Energizer 7! Whether you're chasing after the kids or hitting the gym, our all-natural supplement supports an active lifestyle by enhancing energy and curbing appetite. Say goodbye to fatigue and hello to vitality! Ready to embrace a more energetic you? Try Herbal Energizer 7 today!

[bluepillexpress]

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[technicallyhappyarcade]

Everything You Need to Know About Multivitamins for Women

Multivitamins for women are essential dietary supplements designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of women. These supplements aim to support women's overall health and well-being. They often include vital nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, iron, and folic acid, crucial for bone health, immune function, and reproductive health. Multivitamins for Women is tailored to address women's unique nutritional requirements, including those during pregnancy, menopause, and beyond. They help maintain healthy hair, skin, and nails, boost energy levels, and promote a robust immune system. Incorporating these supplements into a balanced diet can empower women to thrive and lead healthier lives.

[vetsonhealthcare]

Top Rated Veterinary PCD Pharma Companies in Bihar

All those who are interested in working in the Top Rated Veterinary PCD Pharma Companies in Bihar are being offered this business chance by Vetson Healthcare. This is the most lucrative industry for business that may generate a profit. You have the chance to effectively demonstrate your business, marketing, as well as selling talents through this opportunity. We prioritise preserving positive client relations & doing business with them long-term. Vetson Healthcare is the exporter of veterinary products in India. The following is a list of the advantages we offer to our esteemed associates working with us:

Unique monopoly rights for Top Rated Veterinary PCD Pharma Company in Bihar are something that our business offers you and is thought to be one of the best marketing techniques.

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Free of cost promotional gifts – Our company has a dedicated department for promotions that is in charge of giving you different promotional materials with a printed domain name on them.

Regular Bonuses: We also give you the best as well as most consistent incentives when the regular incentives are met.

In short, Contact us to get details regarding the Top Rated Veterinary PCD Pharma Companies in Bihar or any other part of PAN India.

[milkyhoneybee]

You know how some offices have a dog or other pet to help keep workers calm and happy? I want to be an office hucow. I'd have a nice little inside barn set up where people could take a break and come and brush me or give me scritches/pat me, feed me things, or they could take me outside to watch me gambol about in the sun before their next meeting

Cows are, after all, very cute and friendly, and they make friends and love to play!

Of course, they also love to lick things, whether that's a sweet treat or something saltier (or more umami), pulling up a skirt or opening trousers to let me get my dextrous, curious tongue on whatever they have for me, lowing and mooing excitedly whenever I get a treat

And, obviously, I need to be milked regularly. My udders would be kept plump and drained through the day to get me making more and more milk (on top of the supplements and medicine they give me to keep my production at max rate), and every time I hit a new growth milestone for them, there would be a little team celebration

They attach me to a milking machine mostly, while I kneel and chew on oats or watch them in the office, occasionally shaking my head so the bell around my neck clangs and my big floppy ears flick around, my tail twitching. Sometimes though, people want to drink from my teats directly or they'll get a stool and milk me themselves-- it's actually considered part of people's onboarding process, learning how to milk me so I don't get too full since that's painful for me, and as cute as it is to see me leaking and mooing for release, it makes it more difficult for the cleaners, plus it's bad for my health. Plus, my milk is super good for everyone else to drink

As long as people clean up after themselves, they're allowed to fuck me whenever they want, especially when I go into heat. Sometimes they need to put me on a special breeding rig to keep me from interrupting calls and meetings when I'm too loud, a fat dildo plunging into my cow cunt with a ring gag or dildo gag in my mouth depending on how quiet they need me

People are always surprised at how much they can fit inside my pussy, but it still feels hot at wet and so good to fuck, even after I'm stretched out, though sometimes they might need to spank my rear to get me to tighten back up after a heavy use or stretching session

I'd be such a happy office cow, and all the workers in my company would know how much I loved them and wanted them to enjoy their jobs

[theresattrpgforthat]

How To Find Cool Games: On DriveThruRPG!

So disclaimer upfront: I don’t use the DriveThruRPG website nearly as much as Itch.io. Some of those reasons are practical (there’s no tagging system, the catalogue is rather D&D saturated,), while others are more… well, shallow (the website isn’t as pretty).

However, DriveThruRPG is a very good tool to have in your toolbox when it comes to finding cool ttrpgs, for a number of reasons, the primary one being that it’s for TTRPGS and only TTRPGs! Let’s get started.

The Search Bar / Categories.

You can start by doing a basic search for a game that you already know about, or by searching for a keyword, like “pirates” or “zombies”. You’ll get titles sorted by “relevance”, so things that have the keyword in the name will show up first. One of the biggest downsides of this strategy is that everything kind of gets lumped in here: supplements, maps, expansions, adventures, character sheets… the list goes on. However, you can narrow down what you’re looking for by using the toggles at the top of the website. I personally usually narrow down search results by selecting “Product Type” and then “Core Rulebooks”.

One nice thing DriveThru has compared to Itch.io is that you can combine categories, so if I wanted to brows say, Gothic Horror Core Rulebooks priced under $20, well I can do that! My favourite categories are for genre, but another set of categories that you may find very useful once you’ve familiarized yourself with some games is the Rule System category. There are categories for systems like the Year Zero Engine, Forged in the Dark, BRP (Basic Roleplaying), OSR, and so much more. There’s also “other systems” and “any system” categories if you want to find something that’s unique or that can be used across games.

DriveThru also has a lot of games published in different languages, and you can narrow your results to see what’s been offered in your language. I think there are more options on this website than there are on Itch, although you might benefit by finding one or two publishers in your language on DriveThru, and then check the publisher’s website from there.

The Homepage

Another reason to check out DriveThru regularly is the sales and promotions. The top banner of the homepage will typically advertise a few things: the Deal of the Day, current themed sales, and special offers that DriveThru RPG wants you to know about. Their homepage also has Bestselling Titles, Most Popular Games Under $5, Newest Games, Featured Titles, and, if you scroll down enough, Personalized suggestions. Unlike Itch.io, DriveThru does a lot of work to show you what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s a really good deal right now, which can all be really helpful things!

When you land on a game, you’ll be able to see whether or not DriveThru sells physical copies, some basic information like book size, rule system, publisher & author, and a blurb describing the setting and other general information about the game. DriveThru has a side panel with “Customers also Bought”, which is great for showing you things that you might like, either because they surround the same theme, they work for the same game, or they are in a similar genre. (Another thing that Itch isn’t quite as good at.)

You’ll also be able to see (and leave) reviews for game, including the ratings left by other people who have picked it up. Occasionally I’ll find really useful information in the reviews, as reviewers might talk about mechanics they love or loathe, or recommend styles of play that they feel the game matches.

Finally, like Itch, DriveThru will let you know if you’ve already bought the game, and provide you with a download shortcut.

Publishing House Pages

Larger publishing houses typically have their ttrpg content sorted very nicely for you on their publisher pages, to help you find the things that you want. Modiphius is a great example, sorting Star Trek, Dune, Fallout, and their 2d20 games all in special categories.

Many publishers also have a Community Content section, which is great if you’re looking for assets, new adventures, hacks of a game system and some very reasonably priced (or even cheap) game additions. Similar to Itch, DriveThru has a Pay-What-You-Want feature for many games, although, unlike Itch, most PWYW titles require that you pay a non-zero amount.

Newsletters

When you create an account on DriveThruRPG, you can sign up for various different kinds of newsletters. Some come directly from DriveThru itself: this includes the Follow Your Favourites and Deal of the Day options, as well as weekly/monthly newsletters carrying information about new releases, special promotions, and (often) a free ttrpg product of the month.

However, on top of that, when you purchase a game or follow publishing pages, you can also get emails about new releases specific to those creators, as well as updates if a new version of a game you bought has been added. Often if it’s a game you already bought, this means you own the new version too - something that DriveThru has in common with Itch!

The Follow Your Favourites announcements will line up with whatever you’ve chosen to follow on the website. I’ve asked for updates about new Core Rulebooks, and I also get updates from the Onyx Path and a few other places where I found games I really liked. I also check the Deal of the Day offers fairly regularly; sometimes there are really really good deals offered and if it’s a game you know or like, then you don’t want to miss out on a sale!

Wishlists

DriveThru allows you to add games to wishlists to look at later, and even gives you the ability to sort your wishlists, although the process feels harder to look through than Itch does; I think it might be a UI issue.

However, because it acts like a wishlist, you can move games from the wishlist into your cart and vice versa, as well as move the games to another list. One really nice thing about the wishlist section is that DriveThru will alway show you when something you want is on sale, and how much it is normally - Itch does this too, but in this case, DriveThru is much easier to read!

I mostly sort my wishlists into Core Rulebooks and Supplements, because I don’t have nearly as many games bookmarked on DriveThru. If it exists on Itch, I store it on Itch - but there are plenty of other, “someday’ games, that I want to be able to find again in the future.

Your Library

DriveThruRPG has an app that you can download onto your computer or your phone, and it basically acts as a library that you can look through. In both the webpage and the app, you can sort your purchases alphabetically, from new to old, by publisher, by whether or not they were updated, and using similar categories as the search bar on the store front.

Free things can definitely be found here, even if they’re harder to look for. On DriveThru, most free products are things like character sheets, playtest games, or Quickstarts. However, some publishers do put up their stuff for free. Whenever I can get a Quickstart of something interesting, or if I find something being offered for free, I add it to my library. Free games are how I got started in ttrpgs, and QuickStarts are wonderful introductions to a system that usually give you a good idea of what the game is going to feel like.

Conclusion

Overall, DriveThruRPG is great for folks who like certain big publishing houses, and folks who like a good deal. I personally usually end up on the site because something in my emails caught my eye, which is the opposite of how I navigate Itch. DriveThru was my home base before I discovered Itch.io, so I still have a little fondness for the website, even if looking through it is a little bit of a slog.

One thing that might be a bit of an annoyance is that if you own something from a certain company, they might be able to send you a lot of emails for every sale and new product. If this becomes too much, you can choose to opt out from those publishers.

If you don’t want to have to actively engage with the website as much as say, Itch, DriveThru’s email system is also a big help. You can customize your subscriptions to match what you’re interested in, and then just check your emails once in a while to see what’s on offer. After a while you’ll also learn about yearly events, like the Summer Sale, which often provides big discounts on a lot of different games.

DriveThru is also a great place to start if you’re looking for print versions of games: I don’t know what shipping is like to places outside Canada, but I definitely appreciate that it’s an option, and sometimes all you need to do is find a game or publisher - once you know that it exists, you can google that publisher, check out their website, and figure out the best place to order from there.

[captain-danwilds]

Helping my sister with her med school applications has made me very aware that Aaron would need to take at least one gap year. Granted early 2000s had an easier process than today (with lower average GPA/MCAT scores, less emphasis on already having clinical experience and higher matriculation rates requiring you to apply to fewer schools), but it would be impossible for him to complete everything required while also doing school and Exy without a gap year.

Ideally, Aaron would need to apply during 4th year playoff season and then complete supplemental essay hell during that following summer (Schools sent you the prompts and you have a week to submit, not too bad except you likely applied to 20+ schools and it’s all roughly happening the same week.) Then 5th year could be used for interviews and letters of interest/updates. But Aaron is not operating on the ideal timeline. He likely had planned to use his summer post TKM to study for the MCAT but instead he has to sit through his murder trial. While I know people who have studied for the MCAT during the school year, they also did nothing besides study during that time, which is not an option for Aaron.

I feel like there’s a lot of potential for angst we’re not digging into because while Andrew graduates and immediately has his next step figured out, Aaron is still figuring things out. He’s also feeling out of sync with all his friends and Katelyn since they largely completed the process when he was doing his 5th year. He’s also trying to balance having a long-distance relationship with a Katelyn who is struggling through her first year of med school on top of all the above nonsense.

However you could also go the comedy route, Aaron and Neil becoming friends during Neil’s 5th year since Aaron stuck around to work as Abbey’s assistant (or at Reddin).

[amar3103singh]

Dr Vedic | Best female multivitamin

Q. What are the benefits of taking Dr. Vedic Multivitamin Women Tablets?

A. These tablets support enhanced energy levels, improved immune function, better muscle and bone health, and increased mental clarity.

Q. Who can benefit from using these multivitamin tablets?

A. These tablets are formulated to meet the specific nutritional needs of women looking to support their overall health and vitality.

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[illdowhatiwantthanks]

The Eggplant (The Surprise, Part 18)

Emily Prentiss x fem!reader Warnings: nightmares, mentions of Emily's fake death, mentions of past sexual trauma (nothing graphic though), discussions of birth/delivery times (let me know if I've missed anything!) Word count: 2.1k

Summary: You've always struggled with sleep and nightmares, but the third trimester is making it worse than ever. Thankfully, Emily is always there to calm you down and take your mind off the bad dreams.

Note: I know the gif is the man that we can't stand! But it was the most appropriate one! Just use your imagination! Replace him with reader!

Week 28: The Eggplant

You jerked awake, gasping and flailing, struggling to sit up against the weight of your baby bump. Sweat pooled in the dips of your collarbone and at the nape of your neck, dampening the soft strands of hair that rested there.

You blinked in the darkness, sucking in great gulps of air, feeling for Emily next to you. She was already up, already pressing her hand into yours and squeezing your palm, already drawing you into her chest, holding you protectively.

“Hey, hey,” she cooed, “it’s okay. You’re alright. It’s just a dream.”

Your heart raced, and you snaked your arms around Emily’s waist, burying yourself in her. You coughed, your breath still caught in your throat. She ran her thumb gently along the side of your face, wiping away the tears that lingered from the dream.

You’d always had more vivid dreams–and more often–than the average person. As a child, you’d even been diagnosed with a sleep disorder characterized by horrific nightmares. It had faded, but not gone away, as you grew up. After a lot of trial and error, you’d discovered that taking ashwagandha supplements before bed largely put a stop to the nightmares.

But you weren’t allowed to take ashwagandha while you were pregnant or breastfeeding. You’d been lucky until now–the nightmares had been few and far between, despite not being able to take your usual sleep aid. But when you hit the third trimester, they’d come back in full force. Almost every night, horrifically realistic, so terrifying that you were often scared to go back to sleep afterward for fear the dreams would resume. You’d tried melatonin, Benadryl, Tylenol PM, Unisom, and doxylamine. Tonight, you’d tried magnesium. The only thing it’d done was make you have to get up and take a shit in the middle of the night.

Your heart rate was slowing, but your body still shook. You grasped onto Emily’s t-shirt desperately, as if it was the only thing tethering you to the world. Sometimes the dreams involved your family. But most often these days they were about Emily.

“I guess that’s a no on the magnesium, huh?” Emilly whispered, her breath warm at the top of your head. “You want to talk about it?”

You let out a shaky breath, holding her just a bit tighter. “You died again,” you said, your voice so soft she almost couldn’t hear you. You were afraid to speak it into existence.

You could see Emily’s face without seeing it. Always wracked with guilt, always heartbroken. She always told you that going into WITSEC after Doyle, letting you and her team believe she was dead for nearly a year, was the worst thing she’d ever done. There had been no way around it; you knew it and she knew it. You didn’t like to bring it up, didn’t like to make her feel bad. She’d done what she had to do to protect herself, and as much as her fake death had devastated you–destroyed you, even–you couldn’t bring yourself to hold it against her.

“It was Doyle,” you whispered into her neck. “He made me watch.” You shuddered, and Emily grasped your face in both of her hands, turning you gently so she could look you in the eyes. She brushed a strand of hair out of your face and sighed.

“He’s dead, honey,” Emily said firmly. “I will never do that to you again.”

A tear ran down the side of your face, part of your brain still stuck in the dream, still watching Doyle hurt Emily again and again. Emily wiped it away, replacing it with a kiss.

“It’s okay, baby,” she reassured you, her heart aching to see you so scared. “I’m okay. I’m safe.”

“I’m sorry, Em,” you choked out, more tears coming now. It was three in the morning. You were on your second week of waking up terrified every night. Emily always got up with you. She had to be tired. You were exhausted. “You should go back to sleep.”

“Nope,” she protested lightly, drawing you down to the bed with her, pressing your face to her chest. “No crying, come on. It’s okay. You’re up, I’m up. Shh, just let me hold you, alright?”

You leaned into her touch, relishing the way her fingernails felt against your scalp, the weight of her arms around you, the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, the up and down of her breath.

“What’ll help?” she asked. “You want to get your mind off it? Think about something else?”

You nodded, sniffling.

“Alright,” she yawned, stretching a bit to reach inside the drawer of her nightstand. She pulled out her tablet, the light from the screen making you blink.

“What are you doing?” you asked, blinking.

“We might as well get something done, if we’re up,” she said, cradling your head in the crook of her elbow, so that she could manage the tablet and keep you close at the same time.

She opened a Google doc that she’d titled Birth Plan.

“Birth plan?” There was a series of questions and fill-in-the-blanks on there, as if Emily had copy-pasted it from another website. “I thought the plan was to have the baby. That’s the birth plan.”

She pinched at your stomach, and you giggled, squirming. “No, you dork. There’s more to it than that. And I’d rather us make the decisions now, so when you’re in labor, freaking out, we don’t miss anything.”

“I think you mean when you’re freaking out during labor.”

You watched her roll her eyes and smiled. You loved teasing Emily.

“Okay, well, regardless of who's freaking out, we need a plan. So just… lay your pretty head down and answer my questions, okay?”

You kissed the inside of her arm and nestled yourself comfortably against her. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Alright, let’s see…” Emily said, brows furrowed, biting at the corner of her lip. Her thinking face. She meant business. “Full name and pronouns, I already know that. Partner’s name and pronouns… Due date, provider… I can fill all this out without you.”

“So then, the birth plan really is just have the baby?”

“No!” Emily insisted, scrolling. “Here. Here’s some you can answer. Have you ever… had group B strep?”

“No.”

“Been previously diagnosed with genital herpes?”

Your face went beet red. “Jesus, Em! No!”

She smirked. “I know, I just wanted to see you blush. Uh… do you have Rh incompatibility with the baby?”

“I don’t think so? I feel like Dr. Delgado would have mentioned it by now.”

“I’m putting no. Gestational diabetes?”

“No.”

“Fear of needles?”

“No, not really.”

“Have experienced–” Emily stopped suddenly, her voice stuck in her throat.

“Experienced what?” you prompted. When she didn’t answer, you poked her leg with your foot. “Emily, experienced what?”

“It’s okay,” she mumbled. “I can answer that one for you.”

“Well, now I want to know…”

“It’s fine, Y/N. Let’s just move on.”

“No, Em, I want to know!”

She sighed and bit at one of her nails. You furrowed your eyebrows and took her hand.

“Have you ever experienced birth trauma or prior sexual assault,” Emily read, her voice soft.

“Oh.”

You were both quiet for a moment, your thumb running over Emily’s knuckles. “Well, I guess you did know the answer for that one…” you said, trying to lighten the mood. “Let’s keep going.”

Emily shook her head a bit, as if clearing clouds. “Uh… delivery plan… I’m assuming vaginal?”

You nodded. “What are the other options?”

“C-section or water birth.”

You shivered. “Yeah, definitely vaginal. I think I’d cry if I had to give birth in a kiddie pool.”

Emily cracked a smile, and you were glad to see her getting back to herself. “Who do you want in the room with you?”

“You.”

“Well, yeah. Anyone else, though? Your mom?”

“Just you,” you confirmed, kissing her hand.

“Whatever you want,” Emily confirmed, continuing down the list. “Do you want any music played?”

“Screamo.”

Emily laughed. “Can you imagine?”

“Alright, I’ll settle for punk.”

“I’m putting TBD,” Emily decided. “Okay, this next part is a big, long checklist, so just say yes or no, I guess.”

“Okay,” you agreed. Your heart rate was almost back to normal, your breathing calm and even as you snuggled into Emily. You were starting to feel sleepy again, and were trying not to fight it, not to let yourself get scared again.

“Lights dimmed?” Emily asked, making her way down the list.

“Uh… I guess so?”

“Room as quiet as possible?”

“Minus the punk music, yes.”

Emily fought off a smile, running a hand absentmindedly through your hair. “As few interruptions as possible?”

“...Yes?”

“As few vaginal and cervical exams as possible? Yes.” Emily’s voice grew quiet again as she read this one, and you squeezed her hand to let her know you were okay. “Hospital staff limited to my doctors and nurses only? I’m putting yes for this one, too. I don’t want any fucking students in there watching.”

You yawned, closing your eyes as you pressed your cheek against Emily’s chest. You were having a harder and harder time staying awake.

“Do you want to wear your own clothes?”

“Yes,” you mumbled.

“Your glasses?”

You looked up at her, confused. “As opposed to what? Loaner glasses?”

Emily shrugged. “No glasses, I guess?”

“No. I can’t see shit without my glasses. The baby would just be a blob.”

“So yes to your glasses… Do you want me to take pictures?”

“Of me giving birth?!” you exclaimed. “No!”

“But you’ll look so beautiful!” Emily argued.

“I’ll look like a hot plate of shit,” you shot back. “In fact, I might actually shit myself during labor. I don’t want any photographic evidence of that, thank you.”

“Fine,” Emily grumbled. “Putting no. Would you like to stay hydrated with clear liquids and ice chips?”

“What kind of question is that?” you asked, fighting off another big yawn. “Of course I want to be hydrated.”

“Do you want to eat?”

“I don’t know. Depends on how long it takes, I guess.”

“There’s no box for maybe,” Emily observed.

“Make a box, then, Emily. Jesus. You work for the FBI.”

“Mean…” she mumbled.

“Sorry. I love you.” At this point, you were half-asleep, Emily’s voice far away, as if you were underwater.

“Do you want me to catch the baby?”

“Catch the baby? What are they tossing it?”

“No, like… as he’s born.”

“As she falls out of my vagina?!”

“...Yeah.”

“Not really. I want you up with me so I can squeeze your hand and yell at you.”

Emily was quiet, and you grabbed for her hand, blinking your eyes open.

“Unless it’s important to you,” you told her. “If that’s something you want to do, then by all means.”

“No…” Emily thought out loud. “But I think I’d like to cut the umbilical cord, if that’s okay with you?”

You nodded, getting comfy again, sleep infringing on the edges of your consciousness.

“Do you want him placed on your chest right away?” When you didn’t answer, Emily prompted you again. “Y/N?”

She looked down to find you conked out, snoring softly, your arm wrapped around her stomach, legs entwined with hers. She smiled softly at you and kissed the top of your head, sneaking her hand under the fabric of your shirt to rub your back.

“I’m putting yes,” she whispered, typing quickly then turning off the tablet and setting it gently on the nightstand, careful not to shift too much and wake you.

Emily adjusted the covers so that you’d be nice and warm. She wasn’t a praying person, but she hoped against hope that you’d sleep through the rest of the night. You had huge circles under your eyes from so many nights of restless sleep. Emily was used to running on little sleep, but you weren’t. And you were growing a baby. You needed more sleep than usual, and you weren’t getting it.

She pressed her lips to your head again and again, making sure you were secure in her arms. She couldn’t go into your head and fight off the nightmares for you, but she could make sure that if and when you woke up, you felt safe right away. She could make sure she was there, make sure that the moment you gasped awake, you felt Emily next to you–real and alive and warm and very, very here.