I had Bradley classes with my first baby and was really committed to having a natural birth. When we took the hospital tour and the nurse told me she would take the baby away and give it sugar water I cried and left the hospital stating to my husband that I would rather have the baby in the car than in that hospital!

When my labor began I used my relaxation techniques learned in Bradley. I even drove to the store 4 hours into my labor for pancake mix. My husband made the pancakes and fed them to me in a warm bathtub.

After the bath I was so relaxed I went to bed and slept through my transition. I woke up, sat in a chair, my water broke and I got up thinking I had to go to the bathroom. I sat on the toilet totally inside of myself, pushing and then reached down and felt the baby's head starting to crown. I told my husband "I feel the baby's head." He freaked out and yanked me off the toilet and threw a nightgown on me and made me walk out to the car while I was holding my hand in between my legs holding the baby back.

My mother was driving the car and I was pushing in the back watching the telephone poles go by. My husband caught the baby and put her on my stomach and I will never forget seeing her look at me for the first time. All I could think was how he was in a panic and should have left me in the house and let me have the baby there. But it was our first and he learned his lesson.

The next birth was a planned home birth and I had her in 2 hours and squatted during expulsion. It was so much easier to push in the squatting position. He also caught that baby girl and I didn't even tear because he supported my bottom and did perineal massage. We even registered our own birth. Our town didn't even know how to do it. They had to get papers from the town where the hospital is and learn how to do it.

My first girl is 12 and the second is 8. I still smile when I think of my births and am proud that I tuned into my own body and let the births happen naturally.