Congratulations! And much the more for Mrs. Grishny for the natural labor. Quite an experience, from what my wife has told me. We've done two that way now, getting ready for number three in August. If you do decide to go through it again with a midwife, you'll find the experience much different. Of course, if you get a good doctor they will often utilize some of the same techniques, so maybe it won't be much different after all. At any rate, we liked it better and plan to repeat it with all of our future children, should there be another after this one.

A point on midwives, be sure to check out the legality of midwifery in your state. In Texas, where I live now, they are closely regulated, but are not required to be supervised by a doctor. I've never known this to be a problem because our midwife is extremely good and knows when things are beyond her capacity and she has to take someone to the hospital--had to do that with our first. But in Alabama, where I grew up, midwifery is all but illegal, and most midwives who practice outside the nursing profession do so illegally. Some states require them to be nurses, some require a supervisory doctor, others still require them to operate inside a hospital or a much more "clinical" facility than they otherwise would. And be careful because, just like doctors, there are some quacks out there.

May God bless you in nurturing and admonishing your son!

Shan--Doh! I'm going to stop typing that one of these days.
Mic-We're having a girl, in case anyone was wondering.-hael