Dear Jessica,

I just checked your website to catch up on the latest baby news. I'm glad
to hear that everyone is doing well. I'm typing this letter with one hand
as I hold my new baby, Ethan, in the other.

Tuesday, November 9-- I was making dinner when my water broke at around 5:30 pm. I wasn't having contractions, but my doctor suggested that I go to the hospital because I was already 4 cm dilated. I waited for my
husband to come home from work and we arrived at the hospital around 7:30 pm.

My doctor had beat us to the hospital and arranged for us to go directly
to the delivery room (no triage, no pre-labor room.) I was 4 cm dilated,
fully effaced and the baby was at -1. But no contractions. She suggested
that we start pitocin in order to get the contractions going. She said
that it shouldn't take much given my condition.

Within a half hour I started to feel the contractions. At first they were
bearable, but they became so intense that I asked for an epidural. It
reduced the pain to a level just slightly worse than bad menstrual cramps
and I was able to relax and rest little. About 6 hours after we had
started the pitocin I told the nurse that I thought the epidural had worn
off. She asked if I was feeling pain or pressure. I said pressure. She
checked me and said "the baby's head is right there--I'll call the
doctor."

The pushing was easier than enduring the contractions. Within about 20-30
minutes the baby was out. Ethan Maxwell Sokol was born at 2:30 am on
Wednesday, November 10. He weighed in at 7.5 lbs and 21 inches long--a
healthy and beautiful baby.

I want to tell you how much I enjoyed your class and what an important
role it played in my pregnancy. I really appreciate the friendship and
support of everyone in the class. After taking your class for 4 months I
felt stronger than I ever did before I was pregnant. I attribute my short
labor and quick recovery in large part to yoga. Thanks for everything.

Namaste,

Chia