I was exactly 38 weeks when I went to my midwife appointment and was told I was pre-eclamptic. I was working full time and had to go on bed rest.

I was very scared about the health of my baby and asked the midwife what I could do. She said I could wait for labor, I could stimulate labor (sex, nipple stimulation) or I could induce. I went home and thought about how I should handle this. I really wanted as close to natural of an experience as possible but didn't want to chance the health of my baby due to my inexperience birthing.

My husband and I decided to try to "stimulate" labor. Early the next morning I started feeling contractions. I walked around the house the rest of the day trying to understand what was happening to my body. By 6 p.m. or so they were regular and consistent so we decided to go to the hospital.

By the time we got there I was dilated to 4 centimeters. We walked the halls, sat in a whirlpool and tried relaxing without medication.

I got to 7 centimeters and just got stuck there. I think I was trying so hard to suppress my fear of not knowing what was going to happen that I physically held my contractions too tightly and did not let them take over my body as I should have. My midwife advised Stadol to help my body relax. All I remember is that it made me loopy but did not help me to feel any looser. She then offered an epidural and as much as I wanted to avoid that route I did it because I wanted to see my baby so badly and didn't think I would be able to relax enough for labor to continually progress. I got the epidural and slept. Wonderful!

I woke to contractions and asked for some help. I was dilated to 9 or 10 by then but couldn't get him out. His head was slightly sideways and made my first-time labor even more difficult. I was begging for a Cesarean section by this point. Finally they brought in forceps and he was out within minutes. I had a beautiful boy that we decided to name Oliver James. He is the light in our lives. My husband and I cried joyously at the wonderfulness of his presence. We love him and are still in awe of him at 14 months.