Plot

When Bernadette won't go into labor, the gang try different tactics to get things started. Also, Wolowitz confronts Bernadette after Amy accidentally reveals she's already chosen their son's name.

Bernadette's due date has come and gone with no sign of her and Howard's baby boy anywhere close to being in sight much to her chagrin. While Howard, who has already done his part to induce labor, figures he has all this extra time and thus is finishing work with Amy on their project proposal, their friends do whatever they can both to keep Bernadette company and to see if they can do anything to make the baby arrive faster. It is during his time with Amy that Howard learns some news about a decision that Bernadette has made unilaterally which may negatively affect what should be one of the happier moments of their joint lives.—Huggo

A very pregnant Bernadette wakes up Howard to tell him that she is heading to the hospital despite no contractions because "this crap has to end". Howard tells her that Halley was two weeks late, which doesn't amuse Bernie. She tells him to go back to sleep until she suggests that having sex can induce labor. Howard instantly volunteers to help her out.

Having lunch at Caltech, Sheldon exclaims that it is Bernadette's due date since it is forty weeks from her last period. Howard describes the hard time that Bernadette is having though he did get to have sex twice the previous night. Sheldon then boasts that his coital tally is up to four though Leonard tells him that that is not bragging. Amy stops by and wants Howard to finish some drawings for their financial grant. He agrees as the others volunteer to help keep Bernadette company.

Penny wanders into the Wolowitz House and finds Bernadette resting on the stairs from her descend from the second floor. Penny offers to help, so Bernie tells her to get a rubber glove and start pulling the baby out of her. Since she grew up on a farm, Penny'll be glad to help. According to Penny's pregnant yoga instructor, she has some yoga poses that put her into labor. First Bernadette gets upset that Penny is exposing her really flat belly. Then she tries a deep knee bend and can't get up, so Penny takes her picture.

Raj next tells her that there is an acupuncture point right above her ankles that can induce contractions. Bernadette warns him that she has swollen feet that really surprise Raj. Her ankles don't look to him like he just popped open a can of crescent rolls he lies to her.

Leonard explains that his mother feels that if she isn't mentally prepared, that her body won't go into labor. Bernadette objects that that could mean that it is her fault.

Sheldon is at the door not to help her go into labor, but to keep her company by playing to most complicated board game ever "Campaign for North Africa". Bernie looks down and tells the kid that if he comes out, she'll buy him a pony.

Running out of time on their grant proposal, Howard substitutes one diagram with a picture of Doc Brown's flux capacitor from "Back to the Future". He really wants to be there when Amy presents the proposal. Amy feels that he should spend more time with Michael. Michael? Amy says that that is his son, though Howard insists that they don't have a name yet for him. He gets upset that Bernadette knows that he doesn't want to name him after his father-in-law.

Sheldon has the game laid out all over the living room rug. Bernadette is not happy especially since Sheldon tells her that it will take 5-8 weeks to play the game. First they have to determine the weather. Bernie figures that the desert will be hot. After some game play, Sheldon concurs. Howard comes in with Amy complaining about her picking out the kid's name. Bernadette deflects him that she was now in the middle of a game.

Howard goes into the kitchen to talk to his wife who takes a long time to waddle into the room. Howard does not want his son named after his father-in-law. Bernadette quietly says that he is dying - well someday the way he eats. He wants them to agree on a name. Bernie says that is fine though she carried it for nine months, stayed in bed for four months and sacrificed her job for the kid.

Amy is worried that she got Bernadette into trouble, but Sheldon doesn't want to leave since they were playing a game. Leonard, Penny and Raj walk in with Chinese food. Sheldon invited them over, but he just wanted them to help play the game which is better with 5-10 players.

Still discussing the boy's name, Bernadette wants to know what name Howard likes. Howard likes Harry Potter or Harry Houdini? Harry, Al, Max, Ted or Kevin? Unfortunately, they are all the names of some of Bernie's old boyfriends.

Later everyone is discussing names. Penny likes the name Christian. Howard thinks that that sounds a little too uncircumcised. Bernadette suggests Greg while Sheldon can't stop playing the game. Sheldon mentions General Sherman so Raj suggests Sherman Wolowitz. Leonard figures that that is a kid who will take his mother to the prom like Howard. Bernie suggests Paul whom Howard likes until Raj goes as in "Koothrap-Paul-li". Sheldon asks Penny for her opinion as logistics commanders to which she immediately surrenders. To get everyone back to playing, Sheldon suggest Ranatanata, Ozymandias and Bysshe. Bernie has a contraction so they decide to head to the hospital because she doesn't want to hear Sheldon saying "mucus plug" a second time.

On the way to the hospital Bernadette feels a bit woozy, but she can't wait to meet their son. Howard is also excited. He is also even ready for labor except where his wife squeezes his fingers till they turn blue. Bernadette apologizes and admits that that must be very painful. Howard realizes she is quietly being sarcastic as another big contraction hits. Then she is sorry about sneaking in a name for the baby. He is really part of both of them and will be amazing, funny and smart. Though Howard adds that if he is taller than five foot six, it will be a miracle.

Back in the living room, Amy and Leonard are arguing over who gets to use the name Elliot. Penny wants to know when her husband picked out their kids names. It was not long after Leonard first met Penny. Sheldon surprises Amy that he has thought about their kids and he knows that they'll be exceptional. Raj asks how many they want. Simultaneously, Amy: Two; Sheldon: Fifteen though he is willing to contract some of them out. Penny refuses to help.

Later everyone is asleep when Sheldon wakes them up with bad news. They made miscalculations in the game and they have to start over where the tanks started moving. The time was now 2:30 AM, so Raj calls to check on Bernadette. Howard reports that his son was born an hour ago and that he didn't call Raj because he was visiting with his son, Neil Michael. Neil for Armstrong, Gaiman and Diamond. Michael because Bernadette had to have six stitches. But Bernadette shouts that they are calling him Michael and Howard isn't going to fight her. The kid's head came out the size of a cantaloupe.

Title reference: The naming of the Wolowitz son before he is born.