It was the end of May and I had been contracting all month. I was due May 30. My body was getting ready for real labor and I couldn't wait!

This was to be our second child and we had chosen a VBAC this time around.

May 20 came and my contractions started up again and were about five minutes apart. I was at my mom's house with my mom, best friend and sister. We were having a girls night with movies and take out.

During the movie I couldn't sit still anymore. I had to get up and walk, so my sister and best friend and I went walking. I was positive this was real labor.

When we got back to my mom's I hopped in the shower while my sister called my hubby. In the shower I was sure my water had broken so I got out and we all went up to the hospital (only to find out later I had just peed when baby kicked me).

They hooked me up and my contractions kept coming every five minutes until 4 a.m. and then they just stopped all together. I was so upset. My doctor said I could stay and they would start Pitocin but that was the last thing I wanted. I did not want to be induced because then I'd be hooked to an IV. So we all went home.

May 30 came and went and I was still contracting on and off but not the real thing because they'd stop.

So on my due date I went in for my checkup and my doctor (who was a wonder!) said that I was to be induced on June 2. Leaving my appointment, I was a little sad. I wanted my body to start on its own.

The next night was prayer night at my church, and I told them I wanted prayer to go into labor because I didn't want to have to be induced. So the women of the church all laid their hands on me and started praying over me and my baby.

Wouldn't you know it, later that night, early morning, I went into labor. They were coming every now and then until about noon on June 1. Then they started coming every 10 minutes.

By then I had one friend over watching the kids and cleaning my kitchen while my sister rubbed my back and my best friend showed up for support too. One of them called my husband, and another called friends.

I stayed home as long as I could. By 4 p.m. I knew I was ready to go in. James had just gotten home, and we all headed to the hospital.

When I got there I found out I was at 4 centimeters dilated. I got into the shower with my hubby and labored in there for about 45 minutes. The doctor came in and told me to come out so he could check me. When I got out I was at 7 centimeters!

I was doing well and thought I could handle it – that was, until he broke my waters. They seemed to suddenly be right on top of each other. I had some Stadol but it did nothing for me whatsoever.

I knew I didn't want an epidural because I had seen my best friend get one when she was in labor and it took them over a half hour to get it in. There was blood all over from it and she had been in a lot of pain.

So my family started to pray over me, and one hour later I was at 10 centimeters and ready to push. I pushed only for 23 minutes and little Ashley Nichole was born weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces.

I can't tell you how amazing her birth was to me. I can't even describe it.

I'm so glad I went VBAC this time around because I'll never forget the satisfying feeling I had knowing I worked that hard and got her out. But I give glory to my God because without him I could not have done it.

Good luck to all new moms reading this, and if you are contemplating VBACS I say: Go for it!