After 4 undesirable to mediocre births in the medical/hospital system-my husband and I decided we wanted something better.  At the time, we did not even know it was possible to have something better but simply could not believe the experiences we had experienced could be what God wanted for the end of His creation of life.  We had begun to attend a new church at the time and realized there were several women who had been using non-medical midwives and having their babies at home.  "Could this be legal?  Could this be real?"  I remember us asking one another.  But after feeling like a number, another unnamed face in a sea of pregnant women; I just wanted more intimacy to accompany the very miraculous and precious pregnancy that we had been blessed with.

We nervously went to our first prenatal appointment with one of the midwives that had been recommended to us.  I remember we were the only "English" couple amidst many Amish.  My husband said it felt like being on "Little House on the Prairie." And he was exactly right.  All the midwives were dressed in modest, long skirts and dresses.  Their hair was long and either tied back or in a bun.  Many of them wore head coverings and all were soft spoken and kind.  My first appointment was more thorough than all of my prenatal appointments added up in the past four pregnancies.  I was with the midwives for almost 2 hours that day.  They took their time getting to know my husband and I, took their time getting to know our history as a couple, and they took their time getting my obstetrical history and I could tell they were not just writing but really trying to take it all in.  They told us a lot about themselves and the practice and what we could expect.  They shared about finances and how our payment would work.  They told us everything we needed to know and left nothing out so there would be no surprises.  They also told us that they, the two who were in our first appointment, would be the two we would see at every appointment and at our delivery-this is continuity of care and it is truly one of the parts that make midwifery in this way so unique and priceless.

I had a question about a week after our first appointment and I called the office.  The receptionist recognized my voice and called me by name-I had doctors who at nine months had to look at my chart to remember who I was.  This solidified the decision for me.  I wanted personal and this was the best way.

For the next several months, my husband and I did a little research, but mostly we spent time looking into God's word and what examples He had given us regarding birth and what we found was women helping women and midwives.  We felt certain this was His best for us and we settled into a peace with our decision.

I had been induced two weeks late with my first four children and had been told I would not be able to go into labor on my own without medications.  We gave this to the Lord and simply began praying over this.  We knew our midwives were praying over this as well.  I had also always had an epidural and after much research in this pregnancy, realized how dangerous medications in labor really are and yet was fearful of how I might be able to handle the pain without it.

About two weeks prior to my due date-both my husband and I experienced a spot of fear.  We had so many people trying to discourage us from our decision to stay home and so we prayed over it and talked with another couple that had delivered their first baby (and the three that followed) at home with these same midwives.  They shared that it was common to have fear right before the date and helped us to place our faith back in the Lord's hands.  We also were reminded that God is not the author of fear!

My due date came and I expected it to pass.  But as I sat on my squatting stool that morning at 8:30 am talking to my husband while he readied for work-I felt my first contraction.  I thought," It cannot be."  But then 5 minutes later-I had another contraction.  And 5 minutes later, another.  They were not painful, but were very consistent.  He finished getting ready and I called the midwives just to see what I might do.  They suggested a shower as that would either slow it down if not for real, or make them stronger if it was.  My husband went on to work knowing I could call him to come home if it they got more intense.  The shower felt wonderful and my contractions were actually stronger and lasted a bit longer while in there.  I got out of the shower and called the midwife just to tell her about it.  I was not ready for her to come as I could not believe this could possibly be it.

These contractions continued on all morning-no real pain, but very steady every five minutes and each one lasting 45 seconds or so.  I made breakfast, cleaned some things in my house, played with the children, just tried to stay busy.  Around 2pm they were getting a bit stronger so my friend came to get my other children and I called my husband to return home.  I also called the one midwife who lived closer to me and she went ahead and came over.  She arrived around 3pm and I was dilated to 5 cm.  I was thrilled-this really was it.

I remember we all sat down and had a sub sandwich from Subway-mine had chicken breast and cheese and some light fixin's.  I remember well because some of it returned on me a bit later. ?  We were enjoying our fellowship together and the contractions were more intense but nothing like I remembered at 5 cm when in the hospital.

Around 4:30 pm, my contractions were really getting more intense.  They were lasting about a minute to 70 seconds and were about 4 minutes apart.  We called the other midwife to come and found I was at 7 cm.  I kept getting in and out of the shower because the water beating on my back and belly felt so incredibly good during contractions.  I hit a natural plateau at 7cm (which I realized is something I do with all of my children) and stayed there for 3 hours (also something I do with all of my children).  This was not the easiest thing to go through, but again, was so different in comparison to the hospital.  I was upright, walking, sitting on the ball, in the shower, leaning over the sink, whatever felt better at the time.  The change of position was actually a help to my body and the baby during the labor and was something I had missed each time before.  I remember hearing the midwives quoting scriptures to me, "His grace is sufficient for His strength is made perfect in our weakness."  It was such a blessing and a help to me to know they were praying for me and encouraging me through it all.
At 8 pm, I begged the midwife to break my water (this had been done with all my babies and was ultimately what caused my final progression).  She reluctantly did so and I went from 7 to 10 in 22 minutes.  When she told me I could sit on the birth stool and push I wanted to jump up and down for joy.  I LOVE PUSHING!!!!  It gives such control and allows me to bear the pain so much more.

One pushes-head; two pushes and our precious Abigail Marie was born!  She weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz. and was 21 inches long.  She didn't cry and this alarmed us until we realized a lot of home birth babies are just calm and happy to be in such safe and loving surroundings.  I was able to nurse Abby immediately and I remember Steve whispering in my ear just moments after her birth-"I am ready to this all over again."  It was so amazing!  God was so present and I knew I never wanted to deliver any other way!