About two years into our relationship, my boyfriend, Tyler, and I found out we were going to have a baby. We were thrilled. We were each established in our careers: Tyler was an architect, and I was going into my fifth year as a licensed midwife. We had just bought a new house, and were ready for a family.

I asked my fellow midwife, Eva, to help me during my pregnancy and delivery. Even though I knew what to expect during pregnancy, I can honestly say I wasn't prepared. The morning sickness, constipation, mood swings, cravings, swollen feet and weight gain were hard to deal with in the beginning. I knew that it would all go away in time, but it felt never ending. Everything else as far as the baby was concerned was fine. All of my usual tests during my pregnancy came back normal, and the baby's development was perfect.

My due date was April 23, but I knew it was going to be sooner. I'd gone into my nesting period where the house just couldn't get clean enough. We'd planned on doing a homebirth, and I was checking the supplies daily to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything. I went to my 38-week checkup and was checked to see how dilated I was. Unfortunately, I wasn't showing any signs of labor, but my body was telling me that the baby was coming.

On the morning of the 8th, I lost my mucous plug while I was once again cleaning the house. I called Eva simply so she knew what was happening. Throughout the day, I felt dull tugging on my right side and the first pains of labor. The baby felt like it was doing cartwheels inside me. It was ready to come out.

I'd actually gotten a good night's sleep, and woke up on the 9th at 7:30 a.m. feeling alright. I was definitely contracting, but I was still able to function. Knowing the first stage of labor could take hours, I told Tyler to go to work, and I'd call him if anything happened. My contractions were so irregular they weren't even worth timing. As far as pain, I'd had period cramps that were worse.

I decided to spend the day relaxing. Eva came over to keep me company. By mid-afternoon, my contractions were between 10 and 12 minutes apart and lasting about 15 seconds. Nothing worth getting worked up over, but at least I was starting to get into a pattern. Tyler came home around 6:30 p.m. and Eva decided to head home. I had her check me just for the heck of it to see if anything was going on. I was dilated 1 centimeter, but wasn't effaced even a little bit. Before I went to bed, I got out all my home birthing supplies, and had Tyler set up the birthing tub.

I woke up at 3:30 in the morning on the 10th with extreme lower back pain. I couldn't stay in bed anymore. I snuck out, trying not to wake Tyler, and walked out to the living room. I was feeling the contractions a little more, but they still weren't very strong. They were more annoying than anything else. I decided to fill the tub up and watch a couple movies.

The warm water felt terrific on my back. It took the pain almost completely away. Around 6:30 a.m. I started timing them. They were every seven minutes and lasting about 30 seconds. Each time I felt one, I closed my eyes and breathed.

Tyler joined me around 8 a.m. My contractions hadn't really changed. Around 9:30 a.m., I got out so fresh water could be put in the tub. I took this time to call Eva and give her an update. I went to my kit and took out my Doppler and checked the baby's heart. Everything sounded fine.

Tyler and I decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood hoping it would kick my labor into a high gear. We ended up walking for over an hour. When we got back to the house, I got back in the tub. I felt the baby's head farther down in my pelvis, and decided to do a self exam. I was 3 centimeters dilated and about 30 percent effaced. My contractions were only lasting 45 seconds. I knew we were going to be at this for a while.

The day droned on. I went from breathing heavily to moaning through my contractions. I later moved from the tub to the birthing ball. Tyler was terrific. He never left my side. He brought me food and drink when I needed it, rubbed my back and even massaged me perineum when I was in the water. I swear there is no better labor coach alive.

I told Eva I'd give her a call when the contractions were lasting 90 seconds. That call didn't come until almost 11 at night. Eva came over with Chinese food and some rentals from Blockbuster. I lay down on the couch and had her check my cervix. I'd only progressed one centimeter, and was still at 30 percent. I couldn't believe my luck. Over 48 hours of contractions, and I wasn't even close to delivering.

Thankfully, Tyler and Eva were there to keep my spirits up. We enjoyed the food and the movies and kept visiting. I sent Eva home again, and once again said I'd call her. Around 4:30 a.m. on the 11th, I took some castor oil to help clean my system out and strengthen the contractions. About a half hour later, I felt the change. My contractions were every four minutes apart. I was moaning and grunting during each one. The only comfort I found actually came from having a towel under me, and sitting on one of our hardwood kitchen chairs. The baby had dropped farther into my pelvis and my stomach was touching the seat.

Around 10 a.m. I told Tyler I had to go to the bathroom. He helped me get to my feet and as I started to make my way down the hall, my water broke. I had a constant leak for the rest of the morning and afternoon.

After my water broke, it got harder to stand during the contractions. They were lasting over 90 seconds. I could feel my cervix opening and it felt like someone cutting me with a knife. By 3 p.m., I found myself on my hands and knees on the bed rocking back and forth. I was trying so hard not to scream. A contraction hit that felt unlike the others. I reached inside my vagina to see if I could push yet. I still had four centimeters to go, and was only 70 percent effaced. Tyler put the Doppler to my stomach so I could hear the heart. Thank God the baby still sounded great.

I was really getting discouraged. I'd been at this for three days, and still no baby. I kept telling myself that as long as everyone involved was doing alright, then I should keep going. I mean I had a patient once that had contractions for a week before she went into full labor and had her baby.

When evening came, I returned to the tub, praying that I wouldn't be at this for much longer. My contractions were every three minutes and I could feel the baby pressing on my cervix. I was screaming so much that I actually went hoarse.

For some reason, the tub wasn't working anymore. I couldn't rest between the contractions because they were so close, my back was killing me and I was feeling so much pressure I thought I was going to split in two.

Just after midnight on the 12th, I told Tyler I had to get out. Almost instantly, I got to my feet, and I felt the baby's head come down. I reached inside and felt the top of the head. I had to push. Tyler wanted to call Eva, but I wouldn't let him.

I squatted next to the couch and pushed with each contraction. After having been in labor for so long, I couldn't push for very long, but I did the best I could. Tyler sat in front of me and supported me by my armpits. Past experience told me I could push for up to three hours, and I knew slow and steady was a good way to do it so I wouldn't run out of gas.

Three hours passed and still no baby. I tried squatting, lying on my side and my hands and knees. I could feel the baby moving down, but it took that whole time to push it past my pubic bone. I sat on the edge of the couch to take a breather. My contractions were constant by now, and my body was still pushing.

Something inside was telling me I'd feel better in the bedroom. Slowly but surely, stopping to push during contractions, I made it to my bed. I looked at the clock. It was 5:07 in the morning. I propped myself up against the headboard and rested my hands behind my thighs. Tyler asked me if he should call Eva, and I said no.

A contraction came and I started pushing. I could feel the difference. I knew it wouldn't be long. Five contractions later, Tyler said he could see the head. I instructed him to gently open my vagina with his finger to help the skin stretch. Ten minutes later the head was out. I took a breather and rubbed the baby's head. I remember thinking how much dark hair it had.

Another contraction came, and I pushed as hard as I could. It wasn't long before I realized that the baby had stopped moving. One of its shoulders was stuck. I told myself not to panic because I didn't want Tyler to worry. I looked down at the head and saw that it was pink. Good, at least its oxygen wasn't being compromised. I knew what to do.

I flipped over onto my hands and knees and pushed. Nothing was happening. Tyler was getting scared. I carefully rolled back over onto my back. I told Tyler to grab both of my knees and pull them back as far as they'd go. I felt another contraction coming. With both my hands, I pushed on the top of my stomach while I pushed with the contraction. I felt the shoulder come free and Tyler instinctively grabbed the baby. The rest slid out easily and Tyler brought it up to my stomach.

On April 12 at 6 in the morning, our son, Tyler Jacob Williams Jr., was born. He weighed an even 11 pounds. Altogether, my labor lasted 96 hours, and six of them were spent pushing. Thank the good Lord everyone was healthy in the end.

I had no post delivery complications, and little Tyler suffered no trauma from the long labor and difficult delivery.