My husband and I got married June 2007 and at first thought we should wait a little while to try to have a baby, but we both wanted one so after a few months we were too excited to wait and conceived in the beginning of December 2007. I was shocked because we had just started trying and more shocked because I found out so quickly.

I actually found out I was pregnant only 10 days after conceiving. I didn't know you could find out that quickly. I was in such denial I took five pregnancy tests before even telling my husband. Then I took another one before we told anyone else. We were thrilled!

I look back fondly at my time being pregnant, but it was very hard. I had morning sickness all day and night for a majority of my pregnancy, but I finally got a prescription that worked magically.

One good thing is during my first sonogram they found a cyst (that's not the good thing!) but the good thing was because of the cyst, I ended up getting lots of extra sonograms along the way to make sure the cyst wasn't getting bigger (and it wasn't) so I have lots of prebirth pictures of my baby.

It's a boy! We were excited to find out and loved getting little boy things.

I intended all along to go natural, and yes because of the side effects and the experience of the birth, but frankly, I did not want a needle in my back. I just knew I'd be that .001 percent that gets paralyzed or something, and that thought made me stick to my plan. I read over the cons of an epidural many times during my pregnancy so that I would be strong willed.

Anyone considering going natural and isn't sure they can handle it, let me tell you I have a low pain tolerance and if I can do it, anyone can. Just don't dwell on the pain that will happen. I basically prepped myself by saying, it's only going to be temporary pain, not permanent. I can handle one day of pain. If during everything you remind yourself that it's only temporary, it helps.

I had a dream that I was going to deliver on the 18th of August (a week before my actual due date) and oddly enough I actually did. On the 15th my mother-in-law and best friend arrived to be here before and after the baby, but until the baby decided to arrive I wanted it to be a nice vacation for them. Since I had a strong feeling I was going to go into labor early, I tried to push a lot of activities into one day for my guests on the 16th of August.

We went to several places that day and I think being so active got the ball rolling because by the end of the day my mucous plug started to come out. I was so excited. I called my husband and told him that I was losing my mucous plug and he had no Idea what that meant so I explained – it means any day now!

The next day, the 17th of August, I woke up with mild contractions. I was excited. When my husband woke up I told him, but they were so mild I wasn't sure if they were contractions. But I was excited at the thought. I told him to go to work because this part of labor takes forever.

My friend and mother-in-law thought I would definitely have the baby that day, but I knew the contractions were too mild to worry about yet. But they thought I should get checked. Within a few hours they got stronger and I agreed that I should go get checked because my hospital of choice was an hour away and I didn't want to be too far away if I really was getting close.

When I got checked I was disappointed that I was only 2 centimeters dilated. Two! So they suggested I walk around. The contractions were getting stronger, but we all went shopping around town and ate. The contractions were so uncomfortable while I was out and about I was afraid store personnel would get too nervous about me being there because I kept stopping and breathing through contractions.

They were so strong I really wanted my husband with me. He left work and drove over to the city. The hospital was in where I had spent my day and we went to get me checked again. Still 2 centimeters. They said I could stay like that for days but I knew it wasn't possible because the contractions only got stronger and never went away. We decided to go home and wait it out.

All night long I had contractions every five minutes and my husband woke up with me every five minutes to help me breathe through them. Finally I took a bath, which was great but when I got out the contractions were so close, about two minutes apart. I was nervous we wouldn't make it to the hospital, which again, was an hour away. I kept rushing my husband and kept asking if he was driving fast.

When we got there I was little overwhelmed. I asked for a narcotic because I was in so much pain and absolutely knew I didn't want an epidural, but when they checked me they said there wasn't enough time for a narcotic to kick in but I could have an epidural, and I said no. There wasn't enough time because I arrived at 8 centimeters. I was so happy for that. I definitely recommend laboring at home because you are more comfortable in your own home. I know if I had been admitted the night before instead of going home I might have caved on pain medicine.

Now at 8 centimeters, I and the doctors thought I was about to have the baby but it was actually several hours. I felt the urge to push during so many contractions and they kept telling me to wait. I labored in the tub at the hospital too (just a regular tub in the room's bathroom). I definitely recommend laboring in water. It's much more comfortable (not that anything at that point is comfortable!).

I have to say my husband was by my side the whole time and I adore him for that. He was so supportive and did exactly what I needed the whole time.

Finally they let me push. I read and heard about everyone saying what a relief it is to push. I will say for me, no – I hated it. I wanted to push so badly because everyone says pushing is great, but after my first push I started saying, "I can't do this!" After one or two pushes they told me, "He's almost here! We can see the hair!" I didn't believe a word of it because I had heard of so many people especially on the first baby having to push for hours. But then the next push he was out and on my chest! I was so shocked that he was out already! And immediately the pain goes away. That is the relief – the baby coming out.

I needed some stitching from I believe a 2nd degree tear, which wasn't comfortable to repair, but I didn't feel it happening. I had my baby and that's all I cared about. To go from not having a baby to having a baby is so amazing. No one can prepare you for that moment. That is my favorite moment. I don't think that moment would have been what it was if I was all numbed up. Not that I don't understand why people get medication. Oh, I am profoundly aware. But the feeling of pride that you have for going natural is the best feeling and I know that my experience was better because of it.So I started contracting about 9 a.m. on Sunday and had Liam at 1:39 p.m. on Monday. I don't really count that whole time, though, because at first the contractions weren't even uncomfortable. I'd say I was uncomfortable for about 24 hours.

He was 7 pounds, 8 ounces. I breastfed immediately and still am at about six months later. My goal is to breastfeed for 1 year. That is another point of pride for me.Before becoming pregnant and even after birth I said I only wanted one, but now almost six months later, I know I want another and I want to go natural again. Also, my pre-pregnancy weight was 184 and I gained 40 pounds. Almost six months later with little exercise and no dieting I am 187, so I think breastfeeding definitely helps shed the weight. But I will say at almost my original weight, I am not almost at my original clothes size, so be prepared for that. I am still two sizes larger because my hips spread. But I am OK with that. When I am done breastfeeding I'll worry about dieting. For now I am just loving being a mom!