You read the books. You paid attention in Lamaze class. Your bag is packed and now you're ready to have a baby (or at least, give birth). But sometimes, absolutely nothing goes as planned.
On Sunday, a woman gave birth in the bathroom at BWI airport shortly after getting off her flight. Because, really, holiday travel isn't chaotic enough? And, earlier this month, a woman in Cincinnati delivered in her brother's Volkswagen when she couldn't make it to the hospital. The baby's grandmother joked that the baby boy should have been named Julian Jetta.
Mom Elizabeth wasn't laughing; she said it was the scariest moment of her life.
And, it doesn't stop there. Elizabeth joined the ranks of women like Melissa Thompson, who gave birth en route to the hospital in October, and Amanda McBride, who had her baby while driving herself to the hospital.
Though research shows that half of all pregnant woman could safely give birth at home, maternity wards are the preferred place to welcome a new baby -- in the UK only one in 40 women choose home births (down from one in three 50 years ago). But, it's clear that not everyone makes it there.
Here are the ten of the craziest birthplaces we've heard of... yet. Click through and let us know if you had a shocking birth experience in the comments.
Loading Slideshow
In A Tree
In 2000, Sofia Pedro <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2000/mar/02/mozambique1" target="_hplink">climbed a tree</a> to escape the floodwaters in Mozambique, Africa. The brave mom held onto branches as she delivered her baby Rosita. A few minutes later, they were rescued by a South African helicopter crew, umbilical cord still attached.
At McDonald's
In 2007, McDonald's employee Danille Miller -- who didn't know she was pregnant -- felt a sudden urge to run to the bathroom during her shift. A few minutes later, she <a href="http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2007/12/30/baby-born-at-mcdonald-s-mom-didn-t-know-she-was-pregnant.aspx" target="_hplink">gave birth to baby Austin</a>. Sources were unable to confirm if she changed her greeting to, "Would you like a baby with that burger?"
In A Library
Dominique Trevino was on the way to the hospital by bus in 2009 when she started <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_11573019" target="_hplink">having contractions</a>. Another passenger, who worked at the hospital, told her to get off at the library. Once inside, library security pitched in to help deliver her baby girl. She only had to push twice.
At A Post Office
Sonia Marina Nascimento stopped by a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cambridgeshire/8050190.stm" target="_hplink">post office in England</a> to buy a mobile phone credit -- but got more than just a top up: she went into labor and gave birth to a baby girl right there.
The post-master, who put the baby on the scales (and handled her with care?), said she weighed "the equivalent of an £8.22 first class parcel."
On A Sidewalk
In 2009, Tiffany Kohls gave birth a few <a href="http://www.wkow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11431007" target="_hplink">feet away from a hospital</a> in Wisconsin. She said there was no stopping her son Kellen's arrival. Security guards and a nurse helped delivered him.
In A Car (That She Was Driving)
In 2010, Amanda McBride felt like she was <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/minnesota-woman-gives-birth-while-driving-herself-to-the-hospital/1" target="_hplink">going into labor</a>, so she picked up her husband -- who suffers from seizures -- and headed towards the hospital. While en route, her water broke and her husband took the wheel. "And then, all of a sudden, I heard this little waa-a-a-a (cry)," he said.
On A Highway Shoulder
A New Jersey couple was on their way to the hospital when mom Alshesirca started having contractions on the <a href="http://www.northjersey.com/news/transportation/011011_Woman_gives_birth_on_parkway_husband_delivers_child.html" target="_hplink">Garden State Parkway</a>. Dad-to-be Nelson pulled over and delivered his baby on the side of the road with a 911 operator guiding him. "I was just glad we were driving our truck and not our Civic," said mom.
At 40,000 Feet
In September, Aida Alamillo was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/21/baby-born-on-plane-nation_n_973437.html" target="_hplink">flying from Manila to San Francisco</a> when she went into pre-term labor. Three nurses on board and cabin crew members helped deliver baby Kevin Raymar Francis Domingo --"Francis" because they were en route to San Francisco.
On The Internet
OK, so she was technically at home, but Nancy Salgueiro set up a high-definition video camera in her living room in Canada to <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/10/17/ottawa-live-birth-online.html" target="_hplink">livestream the birth of her son</a>. More than 2,000 people registered to watch online. Her two-year-old son cut the umbilical cord.
In An Art Gallery
Performance artist Marni Kotak <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/marni-kotak-performance-a_n_1032365.html" target="_hplink">made headlines</a> earlier this year when she announced her plans to give birth inside a New York art gallery because it is the "highest form of art."
With approximately 20 people in the room, she delivered baby Ajax in late October. Footage of the birth will be added to an upcoming exhibition at the Microscope Gallery in Brooklyn.
Loading comments… 
The Huffington Post Jessica Samakow First Posted: 11/28/2011 6:51 pm Updated: 01/25/2012 12:05 pm