With my first baby I was in labor for 30 hours and ended up with a Cesarean section for failure to progress. This time around I wanted to have a VBAC and spare myself the long recovery and feelings of inadequacy I had the first time.

I read all of the books I could get my hands on, followed all of the advice of my midwife (which included drinking gallons of red raspberry leaf tea) and mentally told myself I could do it.

Three days overdue, I woke up at 8 a.m. when my water broke. By noon I was having strong contractions. My midwife arrived and checked me. I was already at 4 centimeters dilated (farther than I had ever gotten with my first). I was encouraged by that news.

I labored at home for the next few hours, changing positions often. I was told that helped. At 3 p.m. I decided I wanted to go to the hospital.

When we arrived there I was at 6 centimeters. The pain was intense, but I was thrilled to be that far along. I had the help of a wonderful doula and my husband. I really think that they helped me relax enough to be able to progress and let my body do what it had to.

At 6 p.m. I was at 8 centimeters and had started transition. Boy, was that insane. I did manage to make it through.

At 7:30 p.m. I started to feel the urge to push. Sure enough, when they checked me I was fully dilated. I had made it this far. It was time to go.

Pushing was a new experience, probably the hardest work I've ever done. (I should mention before I go any further that three days prior I had a fetal assessment to estimate the weight of the baby. My first was 9 pounds, 9 ounces. They guessed this baby to be about 7.5 pounds.)

Anyway, I pushed for what seemed like seconds (actually about an hour and a half). Finally, there was the head. I was doing it. I couldn't believe it. I had actually managed to do this. With a whoosh out she came. We were thrilled it was another girl.

Hannah Grace was born at 10 pounds, 1 ounce at 9:10 p.m. February 8, 2003. They guessed 7.5 pounds. Boy, were they wrong.

I had done it. I had a successful VBAC. Never have I been more proud of myself. If I can have a successful VBAC with a 10-pound baby, I hope others can have the same happy outcome.