Where do I start .  Hmmmmmm.  Well I started having precinct actions on her due date (7-24) but they never progressed enough to take them too serious.  Then yesterday I again had contractions all day but they really were varying and even stopping for 30-40 mins at a time.  I started to get impatient so hubby and I took a walk and went for ice cream.  This was at 8:30 pm. When we got home I felt like that were completely stalling so I filled a bath and added clary sage essential oil hoping to get them going again but also hoping to relax to try and sleep.  I was happy with either situation really.  But they definitely started up and intensified quick!  An hour and a half later they were about 9 mins apart lasting 60-80 seconds.  I had been checking in with my doula and because it is my first baby she told me to try to go to bed and get some sleep.  I layed in bed for maybe 10 mins before I was moaning in pain with each contraction. My hubby was watching the progress so fast that he knew it was time to head to our birthing center-45 mins away. At 11:39 we were in the car headed out.  At 12:15 we arrived and by that time I had been screaming (low tones of course ;)) with each contraction.  I was miserable with back labor 😒😒.  We got settled in our room and I labored for about 2 hours before they checked me and I was almost at a 6. I then got into the birthing tub and labored for another 4 hours of intense contractions with horrible horrible back labor.  I knew I was in transition when I started have contractions back to back and I was crying in agonizing pain because of my back pain.  They check me again and I was at an 8...so more Contractions before I could push. I was questioning everything at that point because I was so miserable! I was waiting for the urge to push and never got it...so my midwife checked me again and I was at about a 9.5.  She push the last part of my cervix aside and told me to use my contractions to start pushing.  OWWWWWWWW. My back labor is everything is everthing I'd considered unbearable. I had a moment of weakness thinking my baby would never come out. With every push I truly felt I couldn't give it my all so I probably wasn't progressing. My midwife had to get stern with me to keep me going.  I was then asked to get out and try a new position to see if we could speed things up. I got out and couldn't even make it to the bed, so I had to squat and push through 10-15 contractions.  I pushed for 30 mins in squatting position and got her to crown.  They moved me to the bed and 30 mins later I had gotten her head out and with the next push she was here. It was so surreal and I was so exhausted!! She was born at 7:11am , about 8 hours after my labor really began.  My hubby was balling his eyes out and it was so sweet. 💗 she was crying as soon as she came out.  So healthy and sweet!  I couldn't believe she was ours!!! My placenta took a while to get out but as soon as that was over she scored a 10/10 on her apgar, she weighed in at 8.7lbs and 21 inches long.  Her head measured 14inches 😳.  She is totally perfect. This little girl has been sleeping all day after her journey into the world and I just can't stop staring. I can't believe I had my all natural birth.  She is just my world.