[Deb]

Dear Deb & Nikita,

I have been wanting to write this ever since my recent birth as I was on such an emotional high and felt many things I used both for my birth and how I was able to cope I owe to the months spent working with you at PYC.

I went into early early labor late on Monday the 14th of December. After a full day and a yoga class with Nikita where I just "felt different" & I couldn't help but wonder if today would be the day.

Then that night at about 12:30am I knew I was in active labor and it was definitely going to be the time. At first I was shocked again by the contractions but I kept thinking about breathing, using my positions and you guys reminding me to go into myself, pick a mantra and that Deb as you had said many times anything was possible for a period of time and this too shall pass.

My squat and the toilet seat were favored positions / places and boy did I find my voice. Thank goodness again we had practised sounds and even before I forget in the story - YEA for all the ab work!!!!! It completely helped get this baby out.

Well after a couple of hours I phoned my midwife who agreed to meet me at the hospital. Contracting the whole way there I kept praying I wasn't going to be too early while remembering Deb saying she always told her clients not to sit back in the cab...I held on forwards (didn't turn around), resembled something more like a roaring crazy woman than sane, chic NYC lady and fortunately had an extremely sympathetic cab driver.

Alas we arrived at St. Luke's / Roosevelt around 4:20am. My midwife arrived, checked me and what I took as her surprised reaction to be that I was too early was actually her surprise that I was completely dilated, just my water hadn't broken.

We moved to a room, I tried a few pushes to break my water without luck so we decided she should break it - great relief - and then sure enough I wanted to push. Ok here I had to be reminded (as you both would have said) to make deeper sounds and I was a bit shocked at the pain (as a VBAC hadn't had this before...) but at 5:29am a beautiful, healthy baby boy was born weighing 7lbs 5oz. So just a little over an hour at the hospital.

I couldn't have been "higher" being a successful VBAC, who went without drugs and had to only experience about 5 hours from the start of real labor to birth and didn't tear. While my husband and poor sister who had taken the bus down from Boston only to miss it by 10 minutes were falling asleep in chairs I was babbling a way, soooo pleased to have done it vaginally and bursting with pleasure holding this new little guy.

Alas almost soon there after I wanted to ring you guys to share the good news and my great thanks for what I felt was your large part in helping me prepare and get to where I wanted to be with this birth. Then I realized it was still only about 6 - 6:30 in the morning!

So now we are home relaxing, growing and happy as can be. Rory continues as a great little guy and his big brother a champ. In a few more weeks as we are stronger and ready Rory and I can't wait to come take part in some mommy and me and postnatal classes.

Until then I send you all the very best for 2010 and my sincere gratitude and joy for what PYC helped to give me!!!

Kresta Tyler Johnson