We decided to go with a nurse midwife when we were pregnant with our fifth child. With our four previous births, we have an OB/GYN doctor and various invasive procedures, which we hoped to avoid. The nurse midwife's approach and ideology are much more in line with what we had imagined and hoped for in a birthing experience.

We were due June 15, 1998, but on June 10 at 8:30AM my water broke. I remained calm as my four children, ages 6,5,3 & 22 months filtered into our room to greet me as they do each morning. My daughter, the oldest, ran to the barn to tell dad, a full time dairy farmer, that "the sac the baby is in broke and the baby is coming out today". I called Gretchen, who after asking a few pertinent questions, told me to relax and take a shower and eat breakfast.

I proceeded to call grandparents to baby sit, get the children situated, and prepare myself. I remained calm but excited. The contractions were irregular but intense. I felt in control and used visualization techniques I had read about just the night before, I guess I knew I would need them. Gretchen lent me the book by Carl Jones entitled, "Visualization for an easier labor." These exercises helped me tremendously through out my entire labor experience. I called Gretchen at 11:30AM to let her know we were on our way in. She told us if the contractions were too hard and close to go right to the Birth Place. As we walked through the parking garage the contractions became harder and were back to back. I grabbed a metal beam for support. As we stood there a car passed and a woman asked if we needed help, we reluctantly said we would be ok. But before you knew it, an escort with a wheel chair was coming to get me and took us to the Birth Place. I do not think I could have made it walking that far. That woman's kindness was greatly appreciated. Nurse Carol met us and called Gretchen while I got changed. As I did, the contractions were harder and closer and immediately I knelt down on my hands and knees. My husband was a great help and I felt uninhibited in my effort to find a good position. This I thought was going to be a great labor just because I was free to move as I wished and had constant support of husband, midwife, and nurse. When Gretchen arrived I was 6 - 7 cm. A fetal monitor strip was taken and then the monitoring belts were removed. I knelt on the bed, which helped relieve back pressure and then I used the birthing ball, while my IV antibiotic was running. Both positions helped me. Once the IV was removed we went to the shower, the contractions were getting harder and closer with out ceasing. Gretchen and my husband Curtis helped me kneel down on the floor mat in the shower and rest my head, shoulders and arms on a shower chair seat. My husband held the shower of warm water on my lower back and talked to me. How wonderful it was. Gretchen talked me through each contraction, helping me with visualizations and reminding me to relax. She even let me know that soon I would be able to eat. In my deep concentration and relentless contractions I smiled.

The contractions continued to be relentless, but I was impressed at my control and my ability to relax my face and other areas and to focus on the "waves" of contractions as a means of helping my baby come into the world. At the start of each contraction I would say, "talk to me" and Gretchen would continue in her soft affirming voice. She never left my side. She had a phone call during my labor, I remember, and she said that she could not leave. That impressed me, because with my previous births, I had been left along during contractions when I needed the help the most.

Finally she said after the next contraction, "lets try to go to the bed". My husband and Gretchen dried me off, and escorted me to the bed. I was 10cm and could push, with out stirrups or belts, it was wonderful. After a few pushes the head was out. But the rest of the baby did not come out so easily. The shoulders were large. They encouraged me to push harder and I did with all my might. I remember letting out a yell, unusual for me, and out came the rest of the little squirmier. A Girl. Just as we had hoped having after a girl and 3 boys. Gretchen set this beautiful newborn that just was inside me seconds ago, on my chest, with her umbilical cord still attached. As I felt her small wet body against mine and my husbands hug, I thanked God. Then Gretchen told me to open my eyes. I still had them closed so long to concentrate that I forgot to open them. Curtis cut the umbilical cord under Gretchen's watchful eye. I had no episiotomies and no tears. My husband was very pleased and wished we would have had all our children this way. Even with the other births I had some anesthesia. But I had no medication at all, I really amazed myself.

How capable, awesome, and wonderfully made our bodies are if we only let them be. Gretchen continued with her after care while my husband held me to keep me warm. I had intense chills. Gretchen showed me the placenta and let us know how heavy it was. They kept good tabs on me. Because it was my fifth child they gave me pitocin after birth to help stop my bleeding. Plus the after pains came so strong I asked for medication to help relieve them. I felt odd doing so well with the childbirth and having no medication, and now, afterwards, asking for pain relief. Gretchen assured me that I did do so well and the baby was fine and that it was quite all right to use some pain medication at this point. It was nice to stay in the same room for labor, delivery, and post partum. The midwives and nursing staff are very personable and in touch with your needs, concerns and wishes. We would do it again this way. I have much less anxiety now about childbirth and labor then I had previously. It is how I wanted it and knew it could be, more natural. Thank you Gretchen and staff for being Gods little helpers.

Curtis, Amy, & Veronica McQuaide

Saltsburg, Pennsylvania