Early on a Monday morning, exactly two weeks past my due date, I woke up with cramps and spotting. I was scheduled to see my OB that morning and he confirmed that I was in the first stage of labor, dilated to 1.5, and sent me home with instructions to rest. I lied on the couch and tried to read quietly while my husband put a few final touches on the nursery. By 6 p.m. the contractions were five minutes apart, so I called my doctor. He told me that I'd be better off at home until I was really uncomfortable. So I tried to watch Melrose Place, pacing around our living room and doing my Lamaze breathing. Before the show ended I called my OB back and said, OK, I'm really uncomfortable now! We're on our way.

The contractions were getting more painful and I was having a hard time. I had really wanted a natural birth, so it took both my husband and the labor nurse to convince me to have an epidural. But I'm so glad I did! After it kicked in I could relax and concentrate. And I could still feel when I needed to push. I pushed for about an hour, and finally, at 2:52 a.m. on September 22, 1998, our beautiful son, Emerson, was born. He weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces.

We're looking forward to our next birth story, coming in March 2001!