I have been high risk the whole time due to my age, BP, and the fact that my last baby died of a placental abruption, so I was watched carefully. Everything was looking good but my doctor said she thought induction at 40 weeks would be best, if I was willing.

We agreed, although I had a lot of anxiety about it. This was my seventh child and I have always gone into spontaneous labor, never an induction or C-section, so I was scared of the domino effect of intervention.

We arrived at 3pm, they broke my water at 5:00, I immediately went from 3cm to 5cm with strong contractions, and got an epidural.

I had a super relaxed labor after that. Watching Tv and chatting with my family members.

At one point I felt my body kind of bearing down with a contraction (no pain) and I asked my doctor to check me- sure enough- she could already see the head.

I pushed through four contractions, felt no pain, and out came Levi Samuel weighing 8lbs 9oz and 23 inches long. No tearing, hardly any bleeding. He was born at 10:17pm, so it was an easy five hour labor.

Everyone cried tears of joy at our rainbow baby.

We waited so long for him.