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Mom-to-be Mother's Day

An Alphabetical Recipe for a Happy Day

By I.J. Schecter

Mother's Day is approaching and you want to make your pregnant partner feel special without "jinxing" the pregnancy by purchasing every piece of baby equipment on the market. Stay calm. In honor of the fact that you'll soon be learning the parenting ABCs, here are 26 ways to help make your partner feel adored without having to add a single piece of furniture to the nursery.

1. Assurance. The average woman worries more about whether she'll be a good mom than about whether the crib will look good. "My providing moral and emotional support seems more important right now than anything else," says Ira Smith from Ontario, Canada, who is expecting his first child soon. He's right. There's no greater gift you can give than telling your darling how great a mom she's going to be. Just be ready to answer when she asks why.

2. Back rubs. Even the most uneventful pregnancy is plenty uncomfortable. Give her a certificate redeemable for any number of back rubs, valid until midnight. She and her muscles will love you for it.

3. Cards. Whether it's the most sentimental one Hallmark has to offer or a homemade special, a card – no matter what else you do – is mandatory.

4. Demonstration that you're as much in love with the baby as she is. At some point when you know she's about to enter the room, be gazing at a recent ultrasound snapshot or mulling over the most recent list of baby names. Manipulative? A bit. Worthwhile? Without question.

5. ESPN. Stay away from it, The Simpsons and all your other favorite shows in deference to TLC, The View or whatever else she'd like to watch.

6. Foot massages. Is it an accident that two different types of massages are listed in the first six items (see No. 2)? Not by any stretch.

7. Gratitude.

Want to see more?

• A Day to Impress: Ways for New Dads to Make Her Mother's Day Special
• A Mother-to-be Afternoon Tea
• What Moms Really Want for Mother's Day
• Talk about it!