Inspired by all of your stories and now a business owner in Juvenile Products Manufacturing, I thought I would share my own.

I would like everyone to know all of my labors were natural, epidural free, two were at home, the third in the hospital and No. 4 was at a midwifery birthing clinic (house).

My experience with both certified nurse midwives and family practice physicians was fantastic – mostly because they listened to me, followed my birth plan and allowed me to give birth without unnecessary medical interventions. I have never had a stitch, been cut or allowed to tear. Everyone practiced perineal massage and used sterile olive oil, warm compresses and allowed the baby's head to crown slowly. Granted, I never had a breech presentation or any other complication, but most moms don't and are still cut or allowed to tear. We as moms need to educate the medical professionals about birth if they still think of it as a medical event. It is not and does not need to be unless the baby or mom is in danger. All in all, my experiences were blessed events and I couldn't ask for more. I was safe. Baby was safe. It was happy and joyful once it was all over.

Mattea Frances was our first and I also had the longest labor with her – 24 hours! Wow! I made the decision to use a certified midwife after being told I would "be C-sectioned if that baby weighs more than 7 pounds – you're not able to have a baby bigger than that!" – no thanks. I thought it was insane to not even be allowed to try to go through labor.

I had no idea what I had gotten myself into when, after 12 long hours, sure of myself that I had made tremendous progress, I was informed, "Honey, you're at 4 centimeters!" Only 4 centimeters dilated? No way! Well, I got through it – did lots of walking up and down stairs and sat in a nice warm tub for a good part of my labor after I progressed to 6 centimeters and my water hadn't broken, but was still intact.

She was born in my bed after many hours of intense back labor. She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and although I am only 5 feet, 4 inches, she was considered a small baby for both sides of the family.

Mariah Cathryn arrived in mid-July, also at home. This one was different – very fast labor. I think from the time the contractions woke me up, I had four hours until I held her! My midwife arrived at the house when I was at 10 centimeters and ready to push!

Pushing actually felt better than waiting, but the child weighed 9 pounds, 11 ounces! Her head was 14 1/2 inches – OUCH! I never tore, but it really burned. I kept telling them I was sure I would tear, but they all said, "Oh no! You're just fine!" Whatever! Thankfully, they were right! I'm sure I was a little bruised, but no big deal. I felt great by the next day and even went to the store!

Madalyn Theresa was born at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis, as my insurance only covered hospitals once we moved to Indiana. I found some great progressive thinking doctors and all was well. I did have my water break at my last doctor's appointment – on its own! Mattea was sure I had wet my pants and she was completely disappointed in me – told me so the whole way to the hospital.

My labor started and stopped; it could have been my nerves – I was in unfamiliar territory here. They were in charge and I was fighting some of the nursing staff. One offered me drugs while I was having a contraction. I wasn't happy. "Read my birth plan and get out of here! Now!" I was given a "whiff" of Pitocin to regulate the contractions about six hours into it; they had piddled down to nothing. Everyone said third babies are usually the ones who don't cooperate – they had seen this loads of times. That worked great – she was born an hour later with one of my two doctors holding my leg for me! He cried when he saw her too – he and his wife were trying to conceive at the time. It was a very nice experience overall.

No. 4 – we finally got our boy! Joel Zachary was born in October, also in Indianapolis, but with certified nurse midwives. This was my favorite experience by far – minus the car ride there. My water broke at home, after taking castor oil to try to start labor. Bad idea! So I was having contractions along with running to the bathroom while my system cleaned itself. Don't do it! By the time we left, I was screaming at my husband (with the girls in the back of the van to hear), "If you go over one more bump – so help me – I'll come over there, push you out and drive myself!" That poor man!

We got there, and I thought I had time for a nice whirlpool bath – something I had looked forward to for 7 months! No. I was at 8 centimeters and there was nowhere I wanted to be but in bed! He was born within the hour and just like Madalyn, weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces. His sisters helped give him his first bath – it was a glorious family experience. I didn't have the girls in there during labor, but they came to meet their brother immediately afterward.