I delivered our first daughter in a birth center with a midwife. Unfortunately, the center was closed when we were ready for No. 2 so I had to deliver in a hospital.

My first was a total of six hours, so I knew the second would be even faster. Both girls came on their due dates. Both also started around 35 weeks. I was dilated to 2 centimeters. I was so sure that they would come early, but it clearly was not up to me.

I went for my weekly checkup that day around noon. I was dilated to 5 centimeters. I spoke to my midwife about just breaking the water to get it going, but decided to wait a couple more days.

Finally that afternoon around 4:30 p.m. I had the first contraction. They were strong and fast so I called my husband to come home. We had a friend come to stay with our other daughter.

We arrived at the hospital around 5:30 p.m. The first nurse that saw me said, "Oh, you have that look in your eye." She was right. I was already at 8 centimeters. They got me in a gown and in the bed when I hit transition. My midwife had just left for the day, but luckily she did not live far. She made it back just in time for pushing. Since this was my second it only took two pushes and she was out. She didn't even have a cone head. Julia was born on 10/3/08 at 6:17 p.m. weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long.

I'm so glad I was able to deliver both of my girls naturally. It was so incredible to feel her moving through me and then be in my arms.