When we found out we were pregnant with our second child-there was no question that the midwives would follow the pregnancy since we had such a wonderful experience with the first pregnancy and delivery. My pregnancy was very uneventful except for the 4 months of constant nausea). We could not wait for every checkup- it was so neat hearing the heartbeat and finding out that everything was growing as it should be. Our 2 year old daughter also enjoyed the visits, she loves measuring my belly and trying to find the heartbeat. I must say our visits were definitely a family affair with both Grandma's and a few Aunt's taking turns joining us throughout the months.

Our due date, Saturday, May 4, finally arrived and that evening I began having contractions. When they were 4-5 minutes apart, I paged Gretchen and she said she would meet us at the hospital. We were admitted and the contractions soon got to be 2-3 minutes apart. This lasted off and on for about 2 hours and then they just stopped. How disappointing to be leaving the hospital Sunday morning with no baby!! That day I felt fine- no contractions, aches, or pains all day until 11:00 pm- then WOW, I woke up with a hum dinger of a contraction. I began timing them when I realized they were less than a minute apart. Adam paged Gretchen (who was already on her way to the hospital for another birth) and called his Mom to come stay with our daughter. We arrived at the hospital around 12:00 am. When we walked through the Birth Place doors I saw the most reassuring thing in the world- Gretchen! I was right in the middle of a contraction and felt as though I could push. The nurses and Gretchen helped me to the room. Gretchen checked me and I was 8 cm. With the next contraction, I really needed to push- she checked me again and I was ready. A few pushes later- at 12:13 am- Amber Marie was born. I cannot explain how wonderful my pregnancy and birth experience was thanks to Gretchen, Sandy, Sue, and all the nurses at the Family Birth Place.

Wendy and Adam Duke
Greensburg, PA