These pictures are of a baby girl's birth at the old FT Myers Family Birth Center. The family prefers to remain anonymous, but hopes you enjoy the pictures.

The birth took place in the Jacuzzi tub in the Angel Room. With each contraction, a little more of the baby comes out.

Born into water, at home

June 12, 2006 at 5:49 PM

8 lbs, 14 oz, 21 inches

In retrospect I think I knew that today was the day. I woke up around 12:30 AM having stronger surges then I had had yet. I had been having pretty strong contrations for a week or so, but nothing like these. So I went back to sleep, just in case. Woke again around 2:30 to strong surges, again. I had a feeling. I was so excited, but forced myself back to sleep for a bit, knowing I would need the energy. I woke about every hour or so after that, and every time the surges were still there.

Finally my husband's (Mike) alarm went off at 5 AM. I was wide awake at that point and he asked me how I was doing, and I remember saying, "I am in early labor!" Yippee! He said, "Awesome, should I go to work?" I told him to go and if things started to get crazy, I would call him. He decided to go in until about 8 when he had his other counter person coming in.

So, I got up and started running down my "birthday" list that I had been making for the past few weeks. Then I went to the computer andsat on my birth/ yoga ball for a bit and went through my emails and stuff, just trying to take it easy. I made sure all of our birth stuff was in order and tried to have a normal morning. Gabe (ds1) got up around 7:30 and we hung out. My mom called, as she does EVERY morning, and I told her she needed to be "on call" for the day. She was pretty excited, to say the least! It was really happening! Mike got home a little after 8 and the surges had picked up a bit – but still totally OK at that point. I made a nice cup of Red Raspberry Leaf tea and really, really tried to make myself stay calm!

We called my midwife, Samantha, around 10 a.m. to give her the heads up – the surges were about 6-8 minutes apart at that point and she said to call her when they were more 4-5. We got the birth pool inflated, changed our sheets, played with Gabe and did some hypnobirthing stuff. Around 1 or so, the surges had picked up, and I had my mom come and pick up Gabe. I didn't know it at the time, but he would not be there for his brother's birth, which was probably for the best for everyone, as I had been very vocal when I birthed Avery (LOUD!) It probably would have been too much for him. We called Samantha at 1 p.m., and I decided to take a shower.

Ahhhhh, that was one great shower. I probably wouldn't have gotten out except I wanted to make sure we had enough hot water for the birth pool. Everything at this point was so surreal and wonderful. After the shower we did some more relaxation stuff; I was really having to work through the surges now and after a bit I made him fill up the birth pool. I was really focused on how great the water would feel and I needed to be in that pool ASAP! I was in the pool when Samantha arrived – My surges had been coming on strong, about every 2 minutes or so. My midwife's assistant, Tabitha also arrived soon thereafter. It was about 2:30 p.m.. It was getting really intense for me. I was really using my hypnobirthing breathing which helped tremendously. I got out of the pool and had to immediately assume the "polar bear" position on my bed – I did this for quite awhile. This was the only position that was even remotely comfortable at that point.

Though it was a challenge, this birth was one of the most beautiful experiences in my whole life. I felt like I was surrounded by love and support from everyone in the room, especially from my husband. My husband was so great throughout my labor. While I was pushing, he encouraged me by holding me and whispering in my ear about how I could do this, and that he loved me. When Benedict came out, he became the most beautiful person in the room. Benedict was so calm in the water. He was talking and peeping right away.