This is my 8th month of pregnancy and although I'm not due for a few more weeks, I know that babies can come early. I was born 6 weeks early and my sister had my niece 3 weeks early so I'm ready in case baby girl decides to come before her due date.

My question/concern is regarding the skids. DH shares 50/50 custody with BM although if you read my previous blogs you'll know that in reality we have the kids way more than the 50%. During the 3 plus years I've been with DH, he has never once asked BM to keep the kids during his time but BM does it all the time. At least once a month, she asks him to either get the kids a day early or keep them on her weekend, etc.. BM lives 45 minutes away but the kids go to school in our district. As we're preparing for the arrival of baby girl, DH and I are stuck on how to handle it with BM.

Should we talk to BM before hand and see if she'll agree to take the kids if I go into labor during DH's custodial time? All of DH's family is overseas so they can't really help us. My mom is here, we have a few church friends and family friends who are willing to take the kids if we have them when I go into labor. BUT knowing DH, he probably won't be too focused on me if the kids are with family friends. Also both boys have never spent the night anywhere else(that we know of) besides our house and BM's so it may not be a good idea to let them spent a night or two with family friends. I want to leave them with my mom but since this is my first child, my mother insists on being there the whole time (which is not a bad thing since she hasn't really been there for me most of my life).

Given how much BM has gone out of her way to make my life harder since finding out about my pregnancy, I would prefer that she find out only after baby's here. And I have a feeling she'll say no if asked to take the kids on DH's day-but then again maybe I'm wrong.

Anyways, what would you do? The skids are 5 and 6. Stories and suggestions are highly appreciated. Thanks.