I gave birth to my daughter almost two years ago on August 25, 2001.  The Lord gave me a dream before I became pregnant.  In the dream, I learned that I was to have a baby girl and name her Shaela, that she would be born in the summer, and that I was to follow these instructions:  stretch and exercise throughout my pregnancy, do not get an ultrasound, take only a natural childbirth education class (not the ones offered at the hospital) and get myself prepared for a four hour labor with a natural waterbirth.

Of course all the unbelievers in my life thought I was insane when I presented this to them.  But I didn't care.  This was what my Heavenly Father had spoken to me and I was standing by it.  Sure enough, a few months later I found myself pregnant without actively trying.  She was due in the summer.  I never had an ultrasound because the Lord assured me everything was fine and one was not necessary.  I was having a girl and that's all I needed to know.  She visited me in dreams. 

On Friday evening, August 24, my labor started.  I felt crampy and thought I might be getting sick because all of a sudden I couldn't stay off the toilet long enough to do anything.  My husband came home from work and asked me if my cramping was coming in waves.  I said yes, and he said, "I think you're in labor."  I assured him I was not, for I had been told I would "KNOW" when I was in labor and I did not "KNOW" it, so therefore I was NOT in labor.  Two hours after the cramping began, I had my husband call our midwife for some insight.  By that point I was sitting in my bathtub throwing up all the water I had just drunk.  My midwife had me explain the cramping to her and told me it didn't sound like I was in labor and perhaps I was just dehydrated.  Off we went to the birth center to get me rehydrated.

The cramping continued and got worse.  I became a little frightened because I just knew I wasn't in labor, because it was nothing like what everyone had said it would be.  But the cramping was getting stronger and more constant.

When we arrived at the birth center I again had to use the bathroom.  I called my midwife in when I saw blood on my toilet paper.  She said "Hmmmmm, um, if you don't mind, maybe I should check you when you're all done."  Okay.  At this point I started phasing out of consciousness into what seemed like a half-sleep other-world, but I managed to mention that every time I felt the crampy feeling I felt the urge to push (still thinking I'm not in labor).  My midwife gave me an internal, turned and mumbled to the nurse, and again I was hit with fear when she said to me, "Abbie, would you be terribly disappointed if you didn't get your waterbirth?"  I was trying desperately not to fade out again as I prepared myself to hear that something was terribly wrong and I was about to have a cesarean section.  "Why, what's wrong?" I asked.  "Well, nothing's wrong.  But you're fully dilated.  You're having a baby."

"Soooooooo, everything's okay then," was my response.

PRAISE GOD!  I'm not dying!

I told her to fill up the tub, as I was going to let this baby descend down my birth canal on her own.

Two hours of listening to worship music, singing and sipping water in between cramps, and swimming during them, and Shaela was ready to be born.  I stood up so gravity would help with the actual birth, and one push later I was holding my beautiful baby girl in my arms.  Needless to say, I was the talk of the ward.  They rarely see such a beautiful, peaceful, easy birth.

I would not call what I felt pain.  It was not tickling, but it was a natural feeling that was strong enough to warrant all of my attention, as it should, because birthing a baby is no easy task.  It takes concentration and teamwork and grace.  My birthing experience was the best thing I have ever done in my entire life, and I am looking forward to the next time I can give birth.