I felt a renewed energy as we drove home and once home, we did the usual bedtime routine with Makayla. Immediately after tucking her into bed at 8pm I started feeling some cramping. I had no idea at the time how intense (and life-changing) the next 3 hours would prove to be.

I called my midwife at 8:30pm just to let her know I felt crampy and was going to try to sleep just in case this developed into something more, later in the night. By 9pm I called her back to let her know the cramping had progressed into contractions and I couldn't sleep but I was still moving and talking through them. I wasn't sure this was really labor yet so I was hesitant to have her come over. She suggested she and her assistant could come over and they could just hang out in our guestroom if things didn't progress any further. All I can say is thankfully this is what we agreed upon.

My contractions rapidly increased in frequency, duration, and intensity. I couldn't even time them I was so involved with just breathing and focusing. I moved around the house and Steve filled our bathtub. I had Steve call our midwife to tell her to hurry over- no hanging out would be necessary!

As soon as she arrived (about 9:45pm) I got in our bathtub, which Steve already had ready for me. The midwife and her assistant offered me comfort and support that I so deeply valued. Steve poured water over my tummy exactly as I asked him to. By 10:30pm I started having pushing contractions and by 11pm my sweet baby, Ava Mae, was born. The bag of waters broke as her body was delivered. She made a few whimpers; she looked a little pale at first but soon got nice and pink; she had some vernix on her so I rubbed it into her skin; her eyes were wide open and looking directly at me. I held Ava on me while the co rd pulsated. Our midwife helped me keep this sweet baby warm with towels. We nursed.

I asked Steve to take our new daughter as I delivered the placenta and then moved out of the tub and onto our bed to snuggle and nurse my new baby. I felt wide-awake though- filled with excitement. The contractions continued and were far more intense than I anticipated.

Our photographer. Meg arrived just after Ava's birth. She had planned on being there for the birth but just missed it. Meg's presence and energy was warm and sweet and I am grateful for the beautiful pictures of the first few hours of our daughter's life.

(Makayla and I are pictured at a prenatal apt. with Nancy on this site's homepage and a just-born Ava Mae and I are pictured in the top corner here too!)