Things To Expect When You're Expecting

First of all, be prepared to be told all the things you can't do because of your 'delicate' state and have your witty replies ready. Plenty of people will express shock that you're still working, or that you haven't stopped playing tennis or squash, or that you feel like going for a bicycle ride, and they'll be quick to tell you that you should be taking it easy, resting and avoiding any situation where you could get the tiniest bump or scrape. There's no need to become a couch potato - exercise and activities are good for you and your baby. Of course, high-risk sports or jobs that have hazardous health risks should be eliminated, but that doesn't mean you can't lift, run, walk or do all the things other people do. You could just as easily trip on your own stairs and fall, or slip in the bathtub, but no one's suggesting that you stop going to your bedroom on the second floor or stay dirty for months!

Once your stomach starts to grow and you can't hide evidence that baby will soon be here, be prepared to be touched. Many people want to feel your baby move or unthinkingly separate you and your belly into two separate identities, as if you don't own your body anymore. Complete strangers may ask to touch your stomach or will even reach out to pat your round belly! There's never any harm intended with touching and it's much as if everyone is tempted to show baby that he or she will be welcome in the world. There's two ways to handle this situation, depending on your personal comfort level. You can encourage people to help love your baby and let them touch your stomach to feel the movements, or you can politely say that you find your skin too sensitive to endure the touch (or some other wonderful excuse that will get you plenty of sympathy!).

There are some pretty wild stories out there about how the shape and size of your stomach or how low down you're carrying will predict the gender of your child. What's even funnier is that while one person will tell you that carrying low means a boy, another will swear you're having a girl. These old wives' tales are nothing more than that, and there's no sure way to guarantee the sex of your baby. Others will comment about how you're skinny as a rake or bigger than their living room, but your doctor is the best source to tell you if you're at your ideal weight or not.

No one means to scare you or hurt your feelings, but people can sometimes do so unintentionally. Take everything you hear with a grain of salt and inform yourself about old wives' tales so that you can set the record straight when friends and family come up with stories that just aren't true. It's easy to avoid many conversations by simply changing the subject with a smile if you're not sure about what you're being told, and you can always check with your doctor to get reassurance on matters you worry about. Do remember that everyone means well, and people are sometimes just looking out for you in their own way.

100 Promises to My Baby

A lyrical ode to maternal love -- and a universal expression of every mother's hopes and dreams for her child

I promise to love you with no conditions. I promise to try to teach you through example, not words. I promise to help you develop a love for your culture and heritage. I promise to show you that there are infinite possibilities in every moment. I promise to help you see and develop your unique talents. As she eagerly awaited the birth of her first child, Mallika Chopra began to craft a unique gift that would express her profound loving commitment to the baby growing inside of her.

100 Promises to My Baby is that gift -- a covenant with her child that reflected her own deepening awareness of the sacred responsibilities of parenthood. Here the author shares the vows she made to help her child grow up feeling cherished and secure, look at the world with wonder and curiosity, and learn spiritual values that would enrich her own life and contribute to making the world a better place. This audio will inspire listeners to think about their own lives, values, and beliefs, and what they would like to pass on to their children.