My Birth Stories...

¤My first birth was an OB managed hospital induction. Sure, I had a beautiful baby girl when it was all over, but most of my wishes were ignored and the event was too "medical". I sincerely wish I would have hired a doula!
¤My second and third births were midwife assisted waterbirths at home. As my mom says (she witnessed all three births), homebirth and hospital birth are like night and day. :)
¤The Midwives Model of Care is wonderful. I loved that my midwife respected me and my choices. She didn't do things because "it's always been this way". For example, for over ten years it has been a published fact that episiotomies are recommended in only very rare situations, yet some OBs have their own policies such as all first time moms get one.
Induction is at an all-time high, despite the cascade of interventions this causes and the nationwide c-section rate is 30.2%- that means almost one third of babies born this year will be born via major abdominal surgery and VBAC is going out of style. Below I will list a few book titles that I highly recommend that all pregnant mothers read.
If you are planning a hospital birth, I highly recommend that you hire a doula. If you've considered a homebirth but were unsure of the safety and validity, take a peek at the BMJ abstract that hows homebirth is as safe, or safer, for low-risk moms.

¤Ellie's Birth- hospital birth, January 2001
¤Jeremy's Birth- midwife assisted waterbirth @ home, April 2003
¤Audrey's Birth- midwife assisted waterbirth @ home, May 2006

Recommended reading:
The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth by Martha Sears, William Sears
Birthing from Within by Pam England, Rob Horowitz
Having a Baby, Naturally by Peggy O'Mara
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn Penny Simkin
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer