“The highlight for me was feeling his head after he crowned – that gave me the desire to keep on pushing!”

“The companionship I felt with Laurie and Pam in our home. It felt very normal. I could relax knowing they could handle what I might not expect. The pushing was SO much easier than it was with our hospital birth, since Laurie let me know I could rest and not push so hard.”

“I loved that we were able to have him at home, in the water, and that my husband delivered the baby [with the midwives helping], and that my older girls were able to see their brother born.”

“Pushing an 8# 12 oz. baby out without tearing/needing stitches!”

“We were able to choose the settings in our own home. We both felt very comfortable and relaxed. By being able to relax, I could focus on letting my body do what it had to do to give birth.”

“The extra bonding we had with the baby. Trusting the midwives to know and be understanding with the whole birthing process and sensitive with me and my family.”

“Being in the tub for pushing – it relieved a lot of the pain.”

“Holding sweet Jessica in my arms so soon after delivering her.”

“Looking down and realizing that the curled up little being was my baby, that she actually formed inside of me and finally came out to us. It was wonderful to have my mother, my husband, Patrice and Laurie with me and Sonya.”