This is the story of your birth, Lea Marie. You were actually "scheduled" to arrive at the end of November, but you seemed to not be patient enough to wait so long and decided to slide deep down into your Mom's pelvis about a month early. That made your Mom waddle like a combination of John Wayne and Donald Duck! As we were counting days to make sure you would be ok, all kinds of thoughts and emotions crossed our minds: happy anticipation, nervousness, curiosity, impatience just like yours. And through all this: Gretchen and Sandy's experienced confidence that we would be just fine.

One late evening, as your Mom was practicing squatting (recommended by the midwives) while talking on the phone, there was a trickle of amniotic fluid and half an hour later some mild cramps. Didn't that get us all excited! Sandy, who answered her page right away, advised us to stay calm, note the intensity and frequency of contractions (still more than 10 minutes apart and very faint) and then suggested to come in the next morning, if things didn't progress. Which they didn't. Aunt Julie was a nervous wreck on the living room couch, but your Mom enjoyed some good and restful sleep.

Gretchen saw us the next morning and her check confirmed: you were "knocking on the door" but you were not to come out yet. She told us to go home, rest, eat and relax. All day long friends of ours took care of your Mom: cooking for her, propping her feet up, taking her on long walks to stimulate contractions. But in the evening Gretchen just sent us home again after she had checked on both your Mom and you. You were both doing great, the time was just not right yet. Apparently you must have had a change of mind on your way and were not that much in a hurry at all any more, we thought!

Finally the following morning, November 9th 2002 , your Mom started to experience "real" contractions, more regular, more rhythmical, stronger. Strong enough to stop talking in the midst of them. This was the real thing. The welcome at the Family Birth Center was warm and friendly, enough time and privacy to get set in the birthing room. Your Mom was still far from being dilated or effaced completely, so Gretchen recommended to take a hot shower and take some leisurely walks. Two hours later not much had changed and we discussed our options. We agreed upon Gretchen breaking the amniotic sack, expecting this to intensify contractions and promote cervical dilation. Your Mom was really surprised to see how much fluid you had been floating in all this time! The color of the amniotic fluid was of a disturbing greenish color, which can be an indicator for fetal distress. But monitoring your heartbeat and activity level showed Contractions were getting stronger and longer now and your Mom frequently moved from the bed to the shower to the rocking chair, her favorite. Putting her feet up on the gymnastic ball while rocking in the chair helped her dealing with the new physical challenge. Her focus went inwards, almost like in a trance, and she became very quiet (which by now you know is unusual!). It was a good time to leave her alone with her task. Gretchen and the nurses were always close by, encouraging and supporting without disturbing the precious privacy of this special occasion. It turned out to be really hard work to birth you, little girl! By late afternoon your Mom's cervix was no further than 5 cm wide open - that was discouraging to hear! Again Gretchen sat down, offered and explained further options and allowed your Mom to make her own decision, to choose what was right for her and you. Your Mom selected to receive labor stimulation with Pitocin, which was started at a slow drip rate. That gave your Mom the opportunity to adjust to new level of strain and breathe through what finally felt like "productive" contractions. Aunt Julie's return from work was welcomed with relieve and tears by 6 o'clock to help your Mom ride the emotional roller-coaster - it had been a long day already. And she was dearly needed now to hold hands, tolerate fingernails in the back of her arm, massage your Mom's aching back, hold a cool washcloth on her forehead, feed her little pieces of ice and simply be the wonderful friend she is. Gretchen was continuously present now , monitoring both your Mom and you, supporting and encouraging when needed. She knew when to suggest medicinal pain management, which gave your Mom a chance to sleep a little bit in between contractions (by now only 3 - 4 minutes apart and quite overwhelming), at least for an hour before the medicine wore off again. She also knew to respect your Mom's solid decision not to have an epidural anesthesia. Your Mom wanted to be fully mobile through this most wonderful and strongest female expression: giving birth.

Finally around 10.30 pm that urge to push, we had been reading and hearing about in the birthing books and crash course, became stronger and stronger. Gretchen checked one last time to make sure that your Mom's body was ready at last and that you were turned right, and then gave us green light. What a feeling! Giving it the full "uuuumpfhh", being active instead of enduring the contractions, pushing you into this world bit by bit. It was the most incredible experience and feeling for your Mom to touch the tip of your head, moist and warm and full of hair, when you had worked your way into the birthcanal without slipping back anymore. It still took a couple of good pushes to bring you out all the way, but at 11.18 pm your Mom held you in her arms, on her belly, and the two of you made first eye contact. And as your Mom had promised, you were welcomed and greeted in German: Griass di, mei Klans.

What a beautiful baby you were! You did not look too stressed at all, pink and smooth all over, with a head full of brown hair and the darkest blue eyes we have ever seen. You protested just a little bit when the nurses suctioned the mucus out of your airways, before they returned you to your Mom's arms, who couldn't wait to get you back. Nine pounds and 21 inches, as the measuring and weighing revealed later - no wonder it had taken so long! We were all so glad to see you and even happier to take you home two days later!

The birthing experience with the midwives was thoroughly positive, Gretchen's coaching so very sovereign, warm and respectful at the same time. We can only say: Thank you so much - you ladies are wonderful!

Alexandra, Lea Marie, John and John