This was my first and only pregnancy to date. During it, I made it a point to be positive. My mother-in-law always said that a grumpy and worried pregnant woman gives birth to a grumpy child, so that was not an option.

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Being a believer helped me a lot. I refused to let other people's bad experiences influence the way I was perceiving birth. I did my own research, from hospital resources, to my doula's advice, etc.

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"I refused to let other people's bad experiences influence the way I was perceiving birth."

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Around 40 weeks, my mother had come to assist us. We tried everything to get labor to start, but my little guy was really comfortable. On the morning of week 40 day 2, I woke up feeling wet like I had peed myself a little during the night. My mother and I weren't worried about it, only my husband was. I wasn't really feeling any type of contractions. Throughout the day though, I was experiencing this sensation as if water was leaking. So upon my husband's insistence, we finally went to the hospital. There, we found out my water was leaking!

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The medical staff judged that I had to be induced since I was having no contractions. I texted my doula who rushed to the hospital as soon as she got the news.

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"That support allowed me to enjoy the experience which was an 8-hours of pure joy."

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I have chronic back pain already, so I did not want to get an epidural. And that decision made everyone involved help me with pain management. My husband, my mom, and my doula who were in the room with me helped with breathing techniques, seated positions and more to alleviate pains. That support allowed me to enjoy the experience which comes to think of it as an 8-hours of pure joy. We finally met him as perfectly as we could never have imagined. And I am ready to do it all over again. My induced labor and birth was the most beautiful thing I have experienced.

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Birth is such an empowering experience. And I want to say to all the mummies-to-be out there: Decide, make plans of what you want, and how you want to be surrounded during birth.