When my husband finished work that afternoon at 3:30 the kids and I picked him up and headed out of town to do some shopping (we live in a rural area). I drove the 30 miles to Walmart. I mentioned to him I was having contractions but we both blew it off as just more Braxen-Hicks. We shopped for a couple of hours and also visited Jon's (hubby) grandmother. That evening while sitting and watching TV after returning home I timed my contractions at 5-7 mins. apart. That didn't mean much to me since labor with my first son lasted about 20 hours with contractions at less than 5 min. apart. I decided to take a nice, long bath and drink my raspberry leaf tea. The bath felt great.

Jon and I stayed up late. We went to bed at about 11:30. I was beginning to think I would produce a baby in the next day or two. I only slept a few minutes before waking to a fairly strong contraction. I paced around trying to decide if I should call my midwife or not. It was midnight on a Sunday night. I didn't want her here too early. I sort-of wanted my space until the last minute. At about 12:30 or 1am I woke Jon up. He encouraged me to call our midwife, Judy. When I called her, her husband gave me her cell phone #. I called her and she said she had just finished a birth and would leave in 5 minutes. She was 2 HOURS AWAY. I thought that would probably be OK.

We watched TV in the family room (where I had planned to birth). The contractions were getting closer and were very strong at this point. I knew I was hitting transition but didn't want to tell my poor, dear hubby who was not so excited about the whole homebirth idea to begin with. He seemed relaxed as he flipped through the channels looking for something on at 2am. At 2:30 I jumped off the sofa with a strong contraction and my water broke all over the towels I had laid on our floor. At this point my hubby realized how close I was to giving birth. He too jumped off the sofa and said "Oh ****! That means the baby's coming right now!" I tried to comfort him by telling him that that is not necessarily the case. He called Judy and told her. She told him to tell me that if I feel like pushing I'll know what to do. I remember thinking DUH, like I don't know that! Now I realize she said that to reassure Jon!

I have to share this. I'm usually the worrying type. I like to know everything is going to be OK and that all safeguards are in place. Typical type A, controlling personality. Under normal conditions I would have been scared to death that something might go wrong and my wonderful midwife wasn't yet there. My husband started to get nervous. He said, "I hope someone gets here before you have the baby." I looked at him like he was crazy and said, "I hope not I want this over with soon". (Our midwife's apprentice, Rachel, was also speeding toward our house). The peace of the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ came over me and calmed any worrys I might have had. I have never felt so close to God.

We unpacked the birth kit and I unwrapped the bulb syringe and the cord clamp and felt completely peaceful. I felt the urge to push. At 3am I began to secretly push so as not to alarm my husband. He paced around and stared out the blinds hoping to see a familiar car. At 3:05 he exclaimed, "Rachel's Here!" and ran upstairs to rush her in the door. When she entered the room I was on my hands and knees. I said "I'm pushing now". She quickly washed her hands and returned. I was pushing non-stop now. I didn't rest when the contractions ended - I wanted the pain to end soon! There wasn't time for perinael massage as we had planned. Rachel said to my husband (now much calmer), "Do you want to catch or me?" Jon quickly answered "YOU!"

RACHEL ELIZABETH CALLAHAN crowned at 3:15 am. Her apgars were 10. Jon was crying because he had wanted a girl so badly. I couldn't believe she really was a she. As we lay nursing on my family room floor, still connected/cord uncut, I checked no less than 3 times to confirm that I had a baby girl. She was 17 1/2 inches long and 6 1/2 pounds. Born three days before her due date. The placenta came naturally about 10-15 mins. after the baby. Also, Judy arrived and Jon cut the cord. We awoke her oldest brother(5 1/2) and he was also excited to have a sister. He did comment that the placenta looked, "Gross". :) Joshua, our oldest, and I prayed a prayer of praise for three beautiful children and esp. for Rachel's wonderful birth while Judy showed Jon the intact placenta and amniotic sac in the bathroom. The midwives cleaned all the mess, started laundry and did my dishes! Andrew (now the middle kid) awoke at dawn and happily adjusted to sharing the baby role.

I never had a cervical "check" during my pregnancy or delivery :)