It all started at 9:15pm on Saturday. For the past week, I'd been doing everything from pedicures to eating Chinese food to allowing the midwives to strip my membranes (twice) that might start y labor. Nothing seemed to be working and since I'd gained so much weight and my body was starting to show signs of needing this pregnancy to be over (high blood pressure, protein in my urine), I'd already agreed with Sandy and Gretchen that I would try castor oil on Monday and scheduled an induction for the Wednesday after (if all else failed).

But back to Saturday my husband went to a party and I put our 4-year-old daughter to bed at 8pm. By 9pm I was lying on the couch. I felt the baby turn abruptly and felt a warm discharge. Suddenly the realization that it wasn't stopping hit me ­ my water had broken! I called the hospital and when Gretchen called back she told me to go to the hospital. When she asked if the contractions had started it suddenly occurred to me that I needed that to happen. I remember asking her "they will start, won't they?". She assured me they would. Next on the list was calling my husband. He didn't answer his cell when I called (I later found out he'd taken it off for the golf game and since it was on "vibrate" noone heard it.) I ended up having him paged at the restaurant and found him that way. I made him stay on his cell with me the entire 10-minute ride home ­ I just didn't want to be alone with my thoughts as I began to think about the job in front of me.

He arrived, packed up Hannah and then me. We dropped Hannah at my cousins at 10pm and proceeded to the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital, they wheeled me to the Family Birthplace and got me settled. My younger sister poked her head in and told me that my and my husband's entire family (sister, mothers and fathers) were in the waiting room. I reminded her it could be HOURS, but she said they were settling in for the duration. My older sister, who had helped me through my last labor and was going to be there for this one, arrived about 20 minutes after us from Monroeville.

Since I had tested positive for Strep, I had to be hooked up to an IV for antibiotics. They got me hooked up and put me on the monitor for a little while. By 11pm, I was walking circles around the halls. I'd had some very mild contractions, but nothing much stronger than the Braxton Hicks I'd been having for months. I had in the back of my mind the fact that I only had 24 hours to get this baby out from the time my water had broken, so I was a little worried. But the walking did the trick. After about 2 hours of walking, they'd gotten pretty strong and my legs needed a rest, so I tried sitting on the ball, leaning on the bed and getting in the shower. Although the shower had really been something helpful in my first labor, I really didn't like it this time. I wanted to stand. The labor pains were getting pretty intense, so Gretchen checked me and said I was 5 centimeters. 5 sounded like little progress, but she reminded me that once I got to 7, I would hit "transition" and it would probably go pretty quickly. By 2:30am or so, I was really feeling the baby moving down. I would lean on my sister or husband, and the other would squeeze my hips to help relieve the pressure. We got through another hour or so, and I felt the need to push. Gretchen checked me and said I could. I wanted to lay on the bed for pushing, so I got on the bed and was so thankful to know my baby was almost here. But suddenly I was scared. Throughout my pregnancy, everyone who saw me commented on my size and the potential size of my baby. Suddenly the reality of a HUGE baby was scary. I remember saying to Gretchen, once the head was visible, "Can I do this?". She said "yes" and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I knew pushing was the hard part, but knew that if Gretchen said I could do it, then I could do it. And everyone there was so helpful. So, with the encouragement of Gretchen, my sister and husband, and a wonderful nurse, I pushed Jack Patrick Florey out at 4:08am on Sunday, October 7. Only 7 hours of labor, from my water breaking to him in my arms. I felt so relieved!!! He latched on right away and within 20 minutes my (very sleepy) family was meeting our newest member.

Now, 4 weeks later, I know my two sweet children are gifts from God, but the wonderful, natural experiences I have in labor and delivery are gifts from the Midwives. Thanks to Gretchen, Sandy and Sue!!!