The contractions are now following each other a little faster and we decide to call the midwife. Nicolette answers, she asks how things are going and how long we’ve been busy. My sense of time is completely gone and I feel like we are about an hour and a half in. When she says she is coming and will be there around 11:45 p.m. I realize that it has been much longer. A good sign, time goes fast and we are doing well together. She also asks if Dorine can join her. She was at our last two checkups and it feels good. In the meantime, Raúl lit some candles, dimmed the lights and put on fine piano music. A relaxed atmosphere, just the way I like it. I feel good, calm. I connect the TENS to my lower back. With each contraction I put it a little higher, it moves the pain and feels nice. Half an hour later Nicolette comes in, a little later also Dorine. After I puff away a contraction Nicolette asks if I want to lie on the bed. Dorine touches me first. I hear a few medical terms passing by until Dorine says: 7 cm. Nicolette checks it too and says shortly afterwards: ‘we are going to make you very happy, you have indeed 7 cm dilation’. Gee, that went fast! As they walk out into the hallway to grab things, I quickly send my sister an audio message with the good news. In retrospect, very nice to listen back. All things are laid out and the maternity nurse is called. About an hour later, Nicolette asks if I can come back to bed so she can see how I’m doing. Still 7 cm… Nicolette indicates she can break my waters if I want. We’ll wait and see. The first centimeters have gone so fast that it’s best to wait a little longer with breaking my water. I go back on the CUB to catch the contractions. These are getting more and more intense. Raúl massages my back, the Christmas tree we learned from Annette during the course feels nice. I focus on my breathing and in my mind I hear my sister say, “hands open and jaws unlocked. Fine tip! After another few contractions and one pee, I lay back down on the bed to see how far along we are. Still 7/8 cm… I feel a slight disappointment but try not to dwell on it for too long. Nicolette and Dorine keep encouraging me and saying how well we are doing. That does me good and gives me even more confidence. Also, Nicolette says there’s going to be a stretch where I can’t and won’t, so intense. I like that she is so honest and clear. A little later, we get to that part. My body makes movements that I sometimes can’t control, and I try to sigh, puff or moan away the contractions. It feels so heavy on the bottom. Nicolette advises me to get on all fours to get the last edge off. I want to push so badly and feel tremendous pressure.