I'm writing this to all of you from a husbands point of view. I hope you don't mind.
My wife Terry had our little Sarah Bonnie about a week ago on 3/7/2004 at 11:12 AM after 26 hours of labor. It is Terry's first baby. She is 42 years old. Terry has had an ovary out years ago so the thought of children never was in the picture for us. Terry would go a couple of months without a period before. So this time she said she was feeling different and wanted to take a pregnancy test. It came back positive. So the next day she went to her gynecologist to confirm. Then by a huge surprise Terry called me at work and said she was 5 months along. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There was a little concern with us and her age. So the following day she was getting an amnio done to check the condition of the child. We were so new at this we didn't even know what an amnio was.

Terry and myself weren't feeling very comfortable with this particular doctor so a friend of mine recommended the midwives in Hackettstown. We went for a consult and my and especially Terry's mind was set at ease. These woman over there were so reassuring, patient and understanding. It was truly a pleasure. We met with Roxi, Cindy and Lisa alternating every visit. They are all very loving women and highly recommended. Terry went to a breastfeeding class that Lisa taught and told me that she learned a lot from her. Terry got real close with Cindy. And started to feel a bond with her. I can't say enough about this woman. She set Terry's mind at ease and myself. She is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well we had 4 months to go so there was a lot of planning to do so one of the first things Terry and the midwives talked about was the natural childbirth. We went to a birthing class at the office with a wonderful teacher, woman and now friend named Teresa Fischer for about 6 weeks. We saw lots of video on water birth and then Terry made up her mind she wanted to try it. She was a little nervous about the pain and epidurals and all but wanted to try natural.

On Saturday morning 3/6/04 at 4:00 am. Terry woke up and told me that her mucus plug came out. I went to work at 6:00 am. Terry called at 9:30 and told me that she talked with Cindy. She said the pain was feeling like a period cramp every 4 minutes or so. Cindy told her it was early and try to relax. Terry called me again at 10:30 and said that the pain was getting a little worse. So I decided to get home as soon as possible.

I got home and started timing contractions. They were every 2 minutes. Terry wanted to call Cindy again. Cindy said draw a bath and try to relax. Terry did for about an hour but was feeling a little nervous. I think she wanted Cindy for support. So we called again at 12:30 and Cindy wanted to meet at the office at 1:45 to do an internal on her. Cindy said that Lisa was on call. Terry asked if Cindy would deliver and she agreed. Remember that bond thing?

When we got to the office Terry had a contraction right outside the office and Cindy came out to greet her and comfort her. She said that Terry's water must have broken around 10:00am and was leaking slowly but she was not opening at all. So she said that Terry could go over to the hospital and get admitted and also get something to put inside her to let her cervix open.

We got Terry in the pool for a while to relax and labor. Terry loved it because when the water went over the belly it lifted a lot of pressure off her. Now about an hour and a half went by so she got out to check if she was opening but nothing again. Cindy recommended pitocin to help open her so she did. I think this was about 6:30pm. At 8:00 Cindy checked her still nothing. And then boom opened to 4 centimeters. At 9:00 Terry was really laboring hard. Every 2 minutes faithfully. Not screaming but just closing her eyes moaning and getting into this zone. It was amazing to see. She was really concentrating on the contraction and getting through it with me rubbing her back and massaging every contraction.

At 9:00 pm Cindy checked her again. Now it was 6 centimeters. So she told me to call Teresa Fischer our birth class teacher who I hired to take photos and video. When Teresa arrived we were back in the pool laboring. My wife looked so gorgeous through this whole experience. Cindy was right by her side checking vitals and rubbing Terry also. She wanted to get her out of the pool and see what the cervix was doing. Cindy said Terry could be pushing by midnight.

Well at 12:30am she checked inside and said Terry was 9 centimeter and there was a little lip of cervix left. She also said she thought the Sarah's head was turned. So instead of the pool we would try to use a labor ball and the toilet to see if she would move to get in the birth canal. Now remember that my wife was doing every contraction like a trooper. Concentrating and moaning out the pain every time with us massaging her through it. Terry started to push every contraction for about an hour and a half.

At 2:00am. Terry's contractions all of a sudden started going to 6 minutes apart. We all looked at each other in amazement when Cindy realized that the pitosin IV fell out. Terry said that she was tired and wanted to rest. Cindy explained that if she put the IV back in that the contractions would start again and she would be pushing for a while probably till 5:00 am or so. Or she could give Terry something for the pain so she could sleep but she would wake for the highlight of the contraction. So she did. I tried to sleep for about 45 minutes or so. Teresa who I felt so bad for keeping her there so long went to a free room for an hour. When I woke Cindy who I also felt bad for was on a stool with her hand on Terry's back nodding off. Then Terry woke up at 4:00am. So Cindy put the IV in and it started again.

Now Cindy, Teresa and myself were taking turns rubbing Terry while she pushed. Cindy checked inside Terry and said that she was 9 and a half centimeters and that little lip of cervix wasn't softening. So she would put her hand in and open it herself while Terry was pushing. The head would start to turn and come through. So Cindy would take her hand out and on the next push the head would go back in and turn sideways again.

This went on for hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I felt so bad for my wife. No screaming just moaning. So Cindy told her to concentrate the push to her cervix not out the mouth and no where else. And that's what Terry was doing. It was so awesome to see the special bond with Cindy and Terry. Terry did every thing Cindy asked. No complaints, just determination and confidence. She was doing such a great job. She is my hero and inspiration. She looked so beautiful and determined to get this precious little creature out into the world to meet her.

So after 6 long hours of pushing with head turned and the cervix not fully opened it was 9:00 am. Terry finally said that she was too tired and sore to keep pushing. I could tell by Terry's look and demeanor that it was over. A woman knows her body and she was done. So the only alternative was a c- section which also involves an epidural. Remember this is not what Terry wanted but the baby was stubborn like her father (ME).

She went into the OR at 10:30 and at 11:12am. 26 hours later our little Sarah Bonnie was brought into this world. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. She was perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then the tears from me came. I got to hold her and bring her over to the table to meet her most Amazing, Beautiful mother Terry. It was very special. The feeling is very hard to describe: Joy,relief,concern,love and every thing you could imagine.

I then took Sarah Bonnie to the nursery to get cleaned up. My folks, brother and Terry's sister got to look through the glass to see the joy in my watery eyes at this miracle. It was very special to let them see that. That was very nice of the nurses at the hospital to let them see that. But the first person I wanted holding her was her Mom. We spent an hour letting Terry bond with Sarah and it was so special. The Tears and Joy were great. Sarah latched right on to Terry and has been breastfeeding perfectly ever since.

It was the most spectacular thing that has ever happened to Terry and me. It came so quick and none of this pleasure would be possible if it weren't for Cindy and the midwives. Also Teresa Fischer. Once again I want to thank Cindy so much for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is aces in my book.

I want to encourage all you women that read this that even though Terry did not complete the natural child birth, I really think that you should try this and enjoy the pleasure it will bring to you that you can. I mean it. You can do this naturally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And one more thing. All you women have the most utmost respect from me to you to be able to accomplish this precious act of creation. There is NO MAN that could do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for letting me share our story with you.

Lots of Love,

Terry, Billy and Sarah