In answer to countless, prayers, April's labor with Ada was uncharacteristically short and steady — only about nine hours. After having to be induced with her last baby, and seeming to be rather overdue for this one (we thought she'd be born on 1 March), this was a tremendous blessing.

Labor Begins

Contractions started about 5:30 the evening of 7 March. April wasn't sure she was really in labor yet, and only mentioned the contractions to Eric at 6:30 as he left with the three older kids for a gymnastics exhibition rehersal. While he was away, the contractions continued every five to seven minutes.

About 8:30, Eric returned and whisked the kids off to bed after a quick carry out dinner of fish sandwiches. April lay down for a while as the contraction continued while Eric hussled around the house organizaing supplies and making preparations for a home birth, with great help from Nate and Sam, who were called out of bed and most willingly pressed in service.

We put off calling the doctor until we were more than sure this was the real thing and the gears were really turning. We were in no hurry to have another person around, putting April under pressure and possibly slowing things down.

The Doctor Arrives

By midnight, the contractions were three minutes apart and 45-55 seconds long. April was skeptical about her progress, but Eric guessed she was farther along. At 12:45 a.m., April finally gave Eric permission to phone Dr. White, who arrived about 1:15 a.m. He examined April and reported the great news that she was already dilated eight centimeters.

The doctor took a rest downstairs on the couch while April continued to experience strong, regular contractions. During one of these she was leaning on the upstairs banister and let out a moan which prompted Dr. White to come upstairs and see how she was doing.

April moved back to the bed to lie down and give the doctor a chance to check the baby's heartbeat. We had a bit of a scare as he searched for it — it took him a couple of minutes to find it behind the strong beating of April's pulse in the placenta. A few tense moments for April and me.

The Baby Arrives

Dr. White went down to rest some more. About 2:15, in the middle of a very strong contraction, April's water broke — fortunately in the bathroom. The doctor came up to check things out and told us it was time to push the baby out.

Back on the bedroom, kneeling on the bed, April started pushing. Her first two pushing contractions moved the baby down a good way, and then she got a break of a couple minutes. The next contraction was a monster — and she pushed the baby out!

It's a Girl!

"You have a beautiful baby daughter," Dr. White told us. This was a surprise. We were sure this would be a boy, evening the score in the family. We didn't even really have a name picked out. But she was beautiful indeed.

The doctor tied off the cord and handed the baby over to Eric so that he could help April push out the placenta. Eric took his new daughter into his office to phone his mother to tell her the news (she had instructed him to call no matter the time).

Thanks to Dr. White

Among the many blessings we count surrounding this birth, the exptertise, patience and gentleness of Dr. William White is one of the chief. He helped to make this the best labor and birth April has had since Nate, our first, was born in 1992. He exemplifies all that a physician should be — a healer, a guide, a man of faith.

Only an hour after the baby was born (we hadn't yet decided on her name), Dr. White congratulated us and left us with our new daughter. We woke up Nate as a representative of the kids to meet his new sister. Finally, we all went to sleep for a few hours — baby, mommy and daddy lined up in bed.