As told by Susan Miller, Misty's doula

On the evening of December 26, 2003, Misty decided she would "help things along" and took Castor Oil. Well, it did the trick and labor ensued around 10:00 p.m.

Jackie, Misty’s midwife, and Debbie, a midwife serving as an assistant to Jackie, arrived between 1:30 and 2:00 a.m., and then I arrived around 2:30 a.m. Misty was in the living room semi reclining on the futon with Jackie at one side and John on the other and Debbie was sitting at her feet. Misty’s precious sister, Rachel, was also present. The children and in-laws were sleeping. We started joking about chanting, imagining her body was like a flower opening up during contractions, and other rituals people have during the birth of a child. The laughter was nice.

Around 2:40 a.m., after a couple of strong contractions, Jackie recommended Misty go upstairs and get in the birth tub that had been prepared to perfection by John. Misty changed into her bathing suit (well, half of it) and then stepped into an experience she will never forget.

The warm water was soothing for a little while, but what Debbie would later describe as a freight train, came through. Things progressed very quickly. Misty found laboring on her knees gripping John’s hand and mine and moaning LOUDLY worked for her. She also commented that whoever came up with the analogy of a woman’s body being like a flower was stupid! This was after swearing, (the c-r-a-p word), a couple of times. We all encouraged her that it wouldn’t be long and yes, we knew it hurt! But even during this intense time, Misty expressed her appreciation of the support and reverence of those around her.

The baby’s heart tones were monitored maybe once during the time in the birth tub. Around 3:10 a.m. Jackie found there to be very little cervix remaining. There was never any direction given nor any discussion of when Misty could push...something she had never experienced before. About 10 minutes later, we could see Esther’s head and at 3:22 a.m. on December 27, 2003, still in the caul, she slipped out into the warmth of the water in which she was accustomed and up into her loving mother’s arms. Soon John Christian would wake up to meet his little sister along with John’s parents to meet their new granddaughter.

Misty could not get over the difference of a home birth versus her previous hospital births.

She did it! And she has every right to feel empowered as she did a beautiful job bringing Esther into this world.