Just before the experience I whispered in my husband (Paul's) ear 'pray'. I was too tired to even ask God to help me. I noticed he was crying. I had my eyes shut next and I saw my Maternal Grandmother sitting on a bench with two other people. She was wearing a red cardigan. (AT THIS POINT, I MUST MENTION THAT MY MOTHER HAD AN OLD BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO OF THIS SCENE WHICH I REMEMBER AS I WAS GROWING UP.) Back to the experience - the bench was around the edge of a children's playground and I could hear children chanting my name, as if they were playing a game.

Then I opened my eyes - I was still kneeling with my arm around my husband's shoulder. The pain had stopped! I felt such peace. I saw a nurse putting something on a table and heard it clink but it was so peaceful. I looked at my stomach but I could not see my pregnant belly.  The room looked a bit misty but I had such peace and freedom from pain. It felt like it lasted about a minute and then the scene was back to reality. But that moment just gave me enough of a break to be able to carry on and lose the feeling that I was going to die.

Asking my husband after this event if he did pray and he said he did. He remembers me being in severe pain one moment and then he said 'you just lifted your head and started to look around the room as if nothing was happening'.

I feel this was a 'partial' NDE which never developed because I was brought back from the edge by an answered prayer.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?         Uncertain            I felt so much in pain and exhausted and I was sure I would die as I couldn't take any more. I whispered in my husband's ear 'pray' as I was too tired to even pray and I felt it was the only chance I had.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?   Uncertain      I can't describe the peace I felt, it was so complete and I have never before or since, experienced it.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal    When the pain stopped for that moment.        The sense of peace that came over me seemed to waken me up and I was able to bathe in it's loveliness for the duration of the experience.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.    I could see the room I was in through a sort of mistiness. The nurse in the room walked around and was carrying on with what she was doing but even though it was misty and less colorful, I could see clearly.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.    Hearing was sharper and clearer. I heard the medical instrument being placed on a china table (over the bed) but even though I could hear clearly, it was so peaceful

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?    No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Comfort and Peaceful Contentment  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?           No      

Did you see an unearthly light? No      

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?            No   

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?         Yes    My Mother's Mother (Maternal Grandmother) who was deceased by then. Also her son, my Uncle Ronald who was also deceased at the time. Someone else but can't identify them.

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?    No      

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?          A clearly mystical or unearthly realm            It felt like a 'time out' that I desperately needed and even though I was always in the labor room, I felt that my pain and stress were not present and that I was in a sort of 'dream state'

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?     No      

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?            No       Even though the answer to this particular event is 'no', I have experienced something in childhood which I heard called 'Cosmic Consciousness' - I feeling of understanding everything. This happened in childhood for no particular reason.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No      

Did you come to a border or point of no return?       No      

Did scenes from the future come to you?       No      

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?        No      

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   Unknown            Since this experience, I have lost a son - not the one I was in labour for at the time of the experience. This has made me question a lot about life and has replaced this experience in it's importance to me.  

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?    No    

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?    No    

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes   I can't remember how long after the experience I shared it. Friends thought it was amazing. I don't know if it made any difference to them.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?            Uncertain     I can't remember if I had any knowledge of NDEs at this point in my life or if I became interested because of this experience.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:    Experience was definitely real    I feel if this had not happened, I may have died and my baby may have been at risk also.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time: Experience was definitely real           Even though it was many years ago, I can remember the total exhaustion I felt and the fear that I was going to die. I know it was instrumental in my ability to survive.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Uncertain            I am a caring person and I think I always have been but whether this experience changed my relationships, I really don't know.

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience? No   

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?  No   

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?    Uncertain    Possibly but it was near impossible to describe the peace I felt at that moment. I have never - before or after - experienced such deep peace.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     The whole experience, if it had not have happened as it did, I feel I may not have survived as I was so weak and afraid I was going to perish.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?        Even though this was not a full blown NDE, I truly believe that it was possibly a fore-runner of a medical emergency that may have turned into something more.