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WHEN I THINK OF MY 1-year-old daughter, I can't imagine a time when she didn't exist. She is an inspiration; she's an angel named Elissa.

My husband, Platt, and I had been trying to have a baby since August 2002, but God decided to wait until we were both deployed in Cuba (we are members of the Army Reserve) to bless us with a baby. I found out I was pregnant in February 2003 and returned home after two months. My husband remained in Cuba until September 2003; he came home when I was seven months pregnant.

When it came to information about pregnancy and giving birth, I knew the basics. I knew there were more options than having my baby in a hospital, and I knew drugs were not required (although, at the time, I wasn't sure I wanted to go without!). I also had heard of midwives and doulas. I decided to explore all of my options before choosing the kind of birth I wanted to have. Platt told me he would support whatever decision made me most comfortable.

I took a tour of The Greenhouse Birth Center in Okemos, Mich., near our home. I instantly felt as if I was among friends. The atmosphere was comfortable and I felt the midwives really cared about my family. I also had a separate consultation with a local obstetrician. After the meeting with the OB, I knew I didn't want to have my baby at a hospital.

I read up on natural birth and the effects of drugs during labor and delivery. When I read that everything that went into my system would also go into my child's, I resolved to bring my baby into this world the way she was made--naturally. I convinced myself I could endure labor without drugs and that this was the best option for my family.

When my husband returned from Cuba, we attended birth classes. I learned more about natural methods of pain relief and I was constantly reassured that I had made the best decision.

I started having contractions two days after my due date. They disappeared the next day but resumed a day later. The next morning, at around 2 a.m., my water broke. My contractions grew more and more intense; and at around 5 a.m., Platt and I left for The Greenhouse.

I spent the day laboring in my pajamas all around the room: on the bed, standing up, in the rocking chair and eventually in a birthing tub. I was in the tub for the last two hours of my labor, and Platt joined me 30 minutes before Elissa was born.

During my labor, I never felt alone. There were times when I wanted it to be over, but because of the support I received from Platt, two midwives, a doula (who also is my aunt) and my mother, I never felt as if I couldn't go on. I was never told how to labor or when to push; I just did what my body told me to do. I did what was comfortable for me.

At 1:46 p.m. on Nov. 19, 2003, my husband and I pulled our daughter, Elissa Margaret, out of the water. The three of us sat in the tub for a while, posing for pictures. After a few hours of rest, relaxation and a nice herbal bath, my new family and I loaded up into the car and went home.

Although natural birth isn't for all women, I made the best decision possible for my family. Now I know my body is capable of more than I ever realized, and I would definitely make the same choice again.

RELATED ARTICLE: Andrea Weinrick 24, MICHIGAN

Andrea's tips for having a natural birth:

>> Read, read, read! It's helpful to know the effect the birthing process may have on you and your baby. Try The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer (Berkley Publishing Group, 1999).

>> Rely on people closest to you in your life to comfort and soothe you during labor.

>> Take an alternative-birth class, such as Hypnobirthing, or a class that involves various techniques for pain relief such as Lamaze, Bradley, Birthing From Within or Birth Works.

Send your story and photos to: Fit Pregnancy Birth Stories, 21100 Erwin St., Woodland Hills, CA 91367. If your story is printed, we will send you a gift basket of Playtex Baby Magic products (total value $50).