I awoke this morning at 3am, just another early wake up. Then I realized that I was having some decent contractions. I laid there for a while and then decided to time them, they were 7-8 minutes apart. I timed for about 2 hours and they stayed the same length apart, lasting about a minute and very uncomfortable.

So I figured if I’m in labor, I had better get up and dry some clothes in the dryer that should be in my hospital bag already and take a shower. I figured it was early, so I took a long shower, using most of the hot water. I figured the hot water would replenish by the time my husband got up. I was wrong.

He got up and I told him that I thought I might be in labor. His response… “Uh huh. There better be hot water left.” Ah men… So what are the things a man should do when his significant other is in labor?

There’s a couple of things to note:

1. The woman has no idea when the baby is coming. Seriously, she doesn’t know, so don’t get frustrated when she thinks the baby might be arriving. It’s anxious anticipation on both sides, it’s just a waiting game.

2. As I’ve been told many times, all labors are different, just like the children that come out! For my first baby I was in an insane amount of pain for a long time, about 2 days or so. That doesn’t mean that I have to be in an insane amount of pain for this one to be officially in route.

3. Labor stops, starts and then stops. It’s not the woman’s fault at all. If we could control labor, then the act of having a baby would be a much different scenario.

4. Just be understanding and sympathetic. Most women want that all the time, but when there’s a baby coming, you need it even more!

So do I think I’m in labor? Probably not. But here’s to hoping.