Simon

It's a boy!  March 29th God blessed us with a healthy beautiful baby boy.  Predictions from my patients, friends and family were split 50/50.  Mark was sure we were getting another girl, and I didn't have strong feelings one way or another.  
As I had mentioned in an earlier post, Bethel is set up to function more like a birthing center in that women labor naturally; there is no option of an epidural.  
I must admit, I was a little nervous about having my baby in Bethel.  Even though I delivered my second baby naturally in a birthing center and had a great experience, my first delivery in a hospital was nothing I wanted to experience again.  I worried my delivery in Bethel would be more like the hospital, bound to a bed by a fetal monitor and blood pressure cuff, but without the option of an epidural.  I had nothing to fear.  My experience delivering Simon here was perfect; in many ways even better than the experience I had delivering at the birthing center.  

My labor took off quickly and progressed quickly.  Thankfully I was the only woman in labor at the time, so I was able to take advantage of the jacuzzi tub.  We couldn't have gotten a better, more attentive nurse.  She was with me the whole time, coaching me through every contraction.  My doctor was not only my boss, but also a friend, and it was such a comfort her being there.  After 4 hours of labor Simon was laid across my chest and allowed to remain there until he was finished nursing.  The whole experience was wonderful.