The radiant Ruth Ann Glass, Jefferson (5), Edith (4), and Vivian (15 months)

Ruth Ann says that her faith is vital to her and she feels that each birth has exemplified her beliefs and shown her something about herself. Her first pregnancy went well and her delivery was fast and smooth, although precipitous at just 3 hours. During her second pregnancy, she was admitted to the hospital for a month due to preterm labor at 31.5 weeks. She was told that her daughter would come any day and to prepare for what might happen if we had her that early, but she felt that she knew everything would be fine. The doctors were hesitant about sending her home until she reached 35 weeks. She was eventually released and carried until 37 weeks and 3 days. "I had been walking around dilated to 6 and 90% effaced for 6 weeks!"

Edith arrived in under an hour but she wasn't breathing for over 2 minutes. Ruth Ann says that as they were working on her, she kept hearing a voice in her head saying, "I have promised you. She will be fine." And she was. They initially thought Edith might have an infection and started her on antibiotics but all the tests came back negative. She spent 7 days in the NICU because they had started the antibiotics and had to finish them, but she was completely and totally healthy.

Pregnancy with Vivian went well and she arrived in just under two hours without any complication.

Ruth Ann says that her children's birth stories have taught her the importance of her faith, listening to herself, valuing her body and what it can do, and that having children doesn't mean the end of you, but simply a new beginning.

"I want both my son and my daughters to see and know what real women look like, what a woman's body can do and that beauty comes in many forms. I want them to know that motherhood is raw and powerful, sacred and sweet, brimming with life's most beautiful and intricate mysteries."