When you last saw the leggy Italian beauty Elisabetta Canalis she was probably doing a pirouette with her dance partner on Season 13 of Dancing with the Stars. Too bad she didn’t make it too far in the competition, which included currently preggers Kristin Cavallari. Some have joked women were jealous that she had once dated George Clooney for a couple of years.

In any event, the actress and working model has moved up and on and these days can be seen looking fabulously preggers. She and her orthopedic surgeon husband Brian Perri are expecting their first child together.

Bellyitch nabbed an exclusive chat with the brand new Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Italy to check in on her before she gives birth in a few weeks.

So far, she and hubby have not yet picked a baby a name and will do the unconventional thing and wait until they see her to decide.

Canalis and husband Dr. Ben Perri – Instagram

“We have changed the name so many times” Canalis states. “My husband and I have different taste so we will decide  after looking  at her little face!”

Sounds like a plan and fortunately, from scanning her Instagram pics where she shares pregnancy with fans and followers, she looks like she is managing weight gain despite the fact she is craving “carbs and sugar.”

No one ever is lucky enough to crave something healthy like carrots and wheat grass, but Canalis is managing the cravings pretty well.

“I accept my cravings but I make compromises. If I eat cookies, tarts, cakes or pizza I cannot eat other carbs. For me, personally, I am happy this way. If you crave more pasta than other stuff, don’t eat sugar. Drink water!” she advises.

Staying healthy and fit on the Reformer in a Pilates Studio – Instagram

It may not matter anyway because Canalis stayed quite active during her first pregnancy and that’s usually a guaranteed way to drop baby weight. In IG pics she’s seen rowing and being pretty consistent and religious with Reformer Pilates, a machine we here love at Bellyitch.

Canalis stays fit on a reformer, a pilates exercise equipment, keeping fit – Instagram

She also tells us she goes to the gym twice a week, hikes, drinks plenty of fruit and veggie juicesto stay healthy, adding “I found that reducing the salt gives great benefits too!”

On handling unsolicited advice, Canalis says she takes it all in but will adhere to only certain ones, depending on the source.

” I get so much advice and I am happy to have friends who can tell me what is the best thing to do in any case,” she says. “For sure I will take the advice from friends whose children are raised to the way I want to raise mine. I had the chance to see  accomplishments and mistakes that many of my friends made  with their kids and I will use their examples.”

Showing off her baby bump with her mom. – Instagram

Friends’ stories can also pile onto existing fears and to avoid stressing over the horror stories Canalis recommends you stay away from YouTube.

She did watch “The Happiest Baby on the Block” and recommends at least one baby book though you’d have to understand Italian (or get a translated copy).

“There is a book I am reading that has been a blessing for some friends of mine, it is about understanding the difficulties that newborns generally have falling asleep and what the parents shouldn’t do! The names of the writers are Eduard Estivill and Sylvia de Bejar (Italian title Fate la nanna).”

It’s very common for children of celebrities to follow in their footsteps.  Canalis says won’t discourage her soon-to-be born daughter (who we know will be gorgeous) from going into the entertainment field.

Looking great while chilling at Manhattan Bridge in New York -Instagram

“She will have to study first then she can try to do whatever she likes,” Canalis says then jokes, “she will have 2 kinds of examples at home, mine, working in the entertainment business, and her dad’s example of doing a serious job “.

She must not be serious because, although fabulous, the life of an actress and model can be taxing.

She has no time to chill and has to get back into shape soon after giving birth.

Posing an an awesome shirt earlier in her pregnancy – Instagram

“I will start to work out and eat properly as soon as I’m be able to. I have to shoot a fashion campaign 2 months after I  deliver so…I won’t have that much time!”

Canalis has a very healthy attitude about sharing her pregnancy with her fans and followers on social media, she tell us:

Sometimes I just don’t want to bother people or my fans by saying how I don’t feel great during these 9 months for this and that…. Talking about back pain, carpal tunnel or about all the bad sides of pregnancy makes this moment only harder and…. there is always someone who feels worse than you.  I don’t even like the idea of taking sexy provocative pictures right now…But this is only about me. Demi More was stunning when she posed naked for a magazine cover during her pregnancy…. I would only look goofy trying to be like that!

Bravo! Bellissimo!