One night while watching a movie, I began to have what I thought were Braxton Hicks. They were very painful and were coming every couple of minutes for about an hour. Since my best friend was also pregnant I decided to give her a call and ask for advice. After the conversation I concluded that the pain was being caused by the weight of my uterus.

After a day out I sat down again the next night and watched a movie and after got ready for bed. I went to the bathroom where I felt and saw a lot of fluid, but my water was not broken. I called my doctor who told me I should go to the hospital.

I did and sat in triage for about two hours before they gave me an exam. As the exam started it was interrupted by the doctor calling for other doctors and ordering the nurse to give me shots of steroids. I was in shock. I didn't know what was wrong and, being my first pregnancy, I was very scared of what could have been.

After about five minutes of waiting in fear the doctor said that I was going to have my baby very soon and that I had to be rushed to the labor floor. I was 27 weeks pregnant and I couldn't understand why this was happening.

After an ultrasound revealed I was 4 1/2 centimeters dilated. I stayed in the hospital bed for six days before my daughter put her hand down the birth canal and they ordered an emergency Cesarean section.

When she was born she weighed 2 pounds, 10 ounces and was 14 inches long. After eight weeks in the hospital she came home.

She will be 6 months old tomorrow and weighs 13 pounds. Her name is Aniya, and she is the most scary and beautiful thing that has and will ever happen to me, and I thank God for her every day.