I have a birth story to tell which is almost three years over due. Our first son, Jacob Davis, was born at the Family Birth Place on September 25, 1998. Gretchen was there at his birth. I came to the midwives late in my pregnancy. We had just moved from Pittsburgh and I had just finished reading Dr. Sear's "The Birth Book". Inspired to find prenatal care that would respect my desire to have a Bradley style birth, with as little intervention as possible, I discovered the midwives in the yellow pages. Looking back now, I know it was the best decision I could have made.

When my water broke at 3AM on my due date I was elated and terrified. Gretchen met me at 5AM and my labor was progressing. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite get the hang of pushing when the time came, so my labor was longer then it probably needed to be. Gretchen was calm and when I griped about the effort, I remember she told me, "That's why they call it labor." Twelve hours after it began, my beautiful son was born. I felt empowered and extremely pleased with my birth experience.

When I became pregnant in January 2000 with out second son, Jonathan Quinn, I naturally returned to the Family Nurse Midwives. We were always treated with kindness and patience. Whatever our concerns were at out office visits, Gretchen, Sandy and Nancy always considered them to be valid and worth their full attention. Jonathan was reluctant to be born until six days after my due date. Finally my contractions picked up on October 10, 2000 and Sandy was with me throughout my short labor. She was so encouraging and always seemed to know exactly what to say to help me help myself through the intense three hours. I cannot say enough good things about the midwives and also the nurses at the Family Birth Place. They have truly touched the lives of my family and made my memories of our sons birth as perfect and joyous as memories should be.

Amy DeSchepper