CHAPTER 42Mandy and Elliot sat in horrified silence as the birthing video came to its conclusion. Mandy had read about having a baby, she knew the particulars. Her book had gone into detail about the hormones that caused the muscular walls of the uterus to contract. She understood that the mother’s body would naturally know how to expel the fetus.

CHAPTER 44Week 36: Your baby is likely between 17 and 19 inches long and 5-6 pounds. You may notice an increase in the number of contractions you experience. Many women experiencing Braxton Hicks head to the hospital, only to be told that they are experiencing a false alarm.

CHAPTER 46There are moments in life when you know that what you’re doing isn’t what you should be doing. For example, when you’re a kid, and someone puts on a movie that is inappropriate, everyone knows it’s supposed to be bad. But you don’t get up no matter how uncomfortable it makes you.