As I drive into work in the morning I often think about things I can blog about...topics about my pregnancy that can get people thinking, or commenting.  Last night the hubby and I were talking about a birthday party we were invited to in the beginning of February.  A mere three weeks away from the due date.  As we were looking over the schedule the topic of drinking came up.  I told him, well, we can go, but you are going to need to be sober.  (And no drinking is not an issue, but I encourage him to take advantage of it being a weekend and having a designated driver on hand if we are together.)  He looked at me kind of in disbelief and said, what, why?  My thoughts were well, I could go into labor, and I need a sober labor coach, oh wait and a sober drive to the hospital, especially considering we will be over thirty miles away....so driving myself doesn't seem like a safe option.  For people who don't know me, would probably find it hard to believe that I am a huge planner and control freak.  I may be disorganized, but I do need to know what is happening at all times.  I need my expecations managed.  So once I hit 37 weeks and could possibly go into labor at a moments notice here are my expecations, or limitations I think are necessary for my husband and myself.  What are your thoughts...too extreme?  Or comepletely normal?

1. Putting my phone call to voicemail is not an option.  Oh what you are visiting a friend and in the middle of a conversation?  Too bad.  My water may have just broken and our house is 30 miles from the hospital.  You answer that phone, and you expect me to say you need to get your butt home now.

2. I will not travel.  I am not going to be any further from the hospital than I need to be.  I will not be taking road trips to Milwaukee to see my family.  For those three weeks if they are dying to see me, they can come to me.  (I actually started this rule now...no more road trips for me.)  My husband has brought up the point that, Katie there are hospitals in Milwaukee.  Yes, I know that, but I picked this hospital for a reason.  I am comfortable with the staff.  I like my surroundings.  I know that the chances of my actual doctor delivering me aren't huge, but I would rather have the hope of having my doctor, than giving birth to my child somewhere unfamiliar to me.

3. Yep the husband is going to have to pass on any wild nights out for the month of February.  I think that one is self explanatory. 

4. If you blow off my contractions, I will hurt you.  My husband is not known for caretaking.  If I am sick I am told to suck it up.  If I call in sick, I am reminded that he nevers call in sick.  So I know when those contractions start he is going to tell me to suck it up-that I am being dramatic- and we aren't going to the hospital until my water breaks.  Granted, their will be a good chance that I am going into false labor, but I don't care if we have to go to the hospital three times and get sent home all three times.  Until it is his body, he does not have a say in how much pain I am in....or how scared I am.

5. No cell phones during delivery.  I swear to God if his phone goes off telling him that he just won an Ebay auction while I am mid push, I am not sure he will be present to witness the birth of his child.

6. If you are at work, you go directly to the hospital when you get that call.  He has admittedly said his time management skills are awful.  So I would appreciate him not stopping home to take a shower, check his email, etc.  He works an hour away from the hospital.  I may be in labor for 20 hours, and he may have plenty of time to do all of that, but I don't think that is a risk worth taking.

So I understand that I am a first time Mom, and all of the moms who have done this numerous times will probably say, relax Katie....I guess it is just the control freak coming out in me :)