On March 11, 2005 I was already 7 days over my due date. I had gone to see my Doctor earlier that week and he had told me that the amount of water I had around the baby was low and that possibly on Friday, when I came in for my second check-up, I should be prepared to go into the hospital to induce labor. I was praying that I would go before, so I didn't have to be induced.

I called my doula to let her know what the Doctor had said; she advised me to drink a lot of water to try and get my water level up before Friday. When Friday rolled around I still hadn't gone into labor; when I went to see Dr. Kline he luckily said I had enough water and that I had "bought my weekend"! That was all I wanted to hear!

Our Doula suggested that we try some natural inductions: a castor oil recipe that was from a Midwife and, if necessary, some herbs to get things going. She told me that not always these remedies work, but it was worth the try. We decided that I would first try the castor oil recipe: 4 oz. of Castor oil, with a few tbs. of orange concentrate and ice in a blender-UMM!

Around 6 pm my husband Edward whipped up the drink and I downed it as fast as I could! By 9:30 pm I started running to the bathroom, non-stop until midnight when we decided to go to bed. Just as I was settling down around 1:30 am I started to feel some slight cramps that felt like menstrual cramps; 15 minutes later I began to feel something a lot harder, perhaps a labor pain?? The castor oil had worked its magic. (I must say I was very excited and yet I felt a bit nervous) after just a few times the cramps kept repeating; we knew that it had to be, that I was going into labor!!

My husband suggested getting into the tub, since our plans were to stay at home as long as possible. (We didn't want to wake my parents, who were in the other room- quite yet) I labored in the tub until about 3am when my husband decided that we should call our doula Anna and Dr. Kline because of the intensity of the labor.

Around 3:45 am our doula arrived; by this time I was in active labor and the timing of the contractions were getting closer together and longer very quickly! After about 30 minutes of laboring in our bedroom with my husband by my side and my parents as well; Anna suggested that we go to the hospital immediately. We arrived at Cedars around 4:30am and I was taken to triage and examined immediately. I was already 5 cm dilated; at this point I was asked if I wanted to have any type of medication, my goal was to go all natural so I declined.

Shortly after the examination I was taken straight to our labor and delivery room. We arrived in the room with the view and were greeted by our first nurse who was finishing up her 12 hour shift. She gave me an IV for hydration since I was completely depleted of liquids.

By 5:30am I was 8 cmn dilated; the contractions were becoming more frequent and much harder. My husband held my hands as Anna massaged my back and my mom my feet. At 6:30am Dr. Kline came in to see me and was very supportive. At 7 am the change of nurses happened; in walks the sweetest most adorable young nurse Susan Roberts, she was bubbly, confident, sweet, and made us all feel so comfortable! Dr. Kline examined me and said that I was completely dilated and we could begin to push!

Wow, I never knew the term of labor until now. As the contractions continued I tried to find the position that was most comfortable for me. I had been experiencing tailbone issues my whole pregnancy, so it was very difficult to find a position. The positions that I thought would be most comfortable, like squatting, were not. The one I liked the best was semi-sitting with my legs a bit higher in stirrups. I worked very hard to push little Maya out, but I tried the best I could and ended up pushing for 3 ½ hours…everyone was so patient with me.

The encouragement from my husband, doula, nurse and Doctor was more than I could have wished for. Nobody asked me if I wanted any kind of drugs, no one mentioned the "C" word, they just allowed me to work/labor my baby until she was meant to be born. Maya finally entered the world at 9:41 am. She was immediately given to me and put on my chest, her eyes were wide open and she looked at my husband and then me.

I cried out loud, my husband and mother at my side. It was a very emotional moment one can't even explain with words, only that it is a very surreal experience pushing out a new life. She was a very big girl 7 lb 11oz., 20 inches long and her head was molded. They took little Maya straight in front of me to clean her up and then the nurse told my husband that he could hold her for the first time, I cried of joy and I will never forget this moment.

Maya never left our sight from the moment she was born. We feel very lucky that we had such a wonderful experience birthing at the hospital.
Maya is pure bliss, joy, love and a bundle of sweet innocence. We feel blessed that our baby is here, finally in our lives.