A) is our first born and first baby girl.

When I went into labor with our first child I did everything I was told. I thought that the staff must know what was best for me, my baby, and my body. This led to an IV antibiotic for Group B Strep, 2 shots of Pitocin to speed things up, 2 shots of Nubian to calm things down.  I laid in bed and had nothing but ice chips for about 8 hours. I delivered with my feet in stirrups. with a hospital midwife.  In the end we had a beautiful baby girl who was born with meconium and was whisked to the nursery and I didn't get to hold her for 2 hours. Breastfeeding was a struggle. 

(EZ) is our second born and first boy.​​

Two years later we had EZ, same hospital, same midwife, different birth. I was induced a week early with 5 bags of Pitocin and 1 shot of Nubian. I was again given  IV antibiotic for the Group B Strep that I did not have, and yes delivered in stirrups. (I didn't know there was any other way to deliver, nor was I given any other option). I delivered a healthy baby boy, and  went home to find that I had Thrush from the antibiotic that I did not need, and again struggled with breastfeeding.

(AP) is our third born, and second baby girl

This time 4 years later,  I did a lot more research and knew that laying around,  delivering in stirrups, and not eating or drinking would slow things down. We traveled, while in labor, an hour and a half to another state to deliver with a home birth midwife in a motel room. ( I did not added that for shock factor but so that you see my absolute desire to have the birth I wanted). I walked, sat on the birth ball, took baths and delivered a healthy baby girl naturally with no medications.​ Breastfeeding was getting better but still a struggle.

(R) is our fourth born and second boy.

 Three years later I was expecting again. After a 6 week search I found a midwife names Carrie that would come to Nebraska to deliver my baby. With this labor I sat on a birth ball, ate, walked around, rested, and delivered (R) in a squatting position. My water broke as he was delivered. I was unmedicated and felt amazing. (R) was my best labor and delivery. He nursed well, and yet there were times that I still struggled.

(V) is our fifth born and third boy.

Well we were done, that is until 4 years later when I got pregnant again. We had moved to South Dakota and Carrie now lived in Idaho. I delivered at the Black Hills Birth Center. The day I went into labor we drove 45 minutes to the birth center, and I finally got my natural water birth. The experience was amazing and (V's) birth was a close second to (R's). It was during my visits that my midwife encouraged me to becoming a doula. Breastfeeding was much better this time around, but I still feel that more support would have helped me earlier on.