Muriel is expecting.

Hi Paul, such things are difficult to explain logically. This isn't a grammatical issue.

Muriel attend means Muriel is waiting.
Muriel attend un bébé. -- Muriel is waiting for a baby. Or, as we would say in English, Muriel is expecting a baby.

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Thanks for your answer Chris, but that is not what I am asking. If I say to you in English, my wife is expecting, you would understand that she is expecting a baby. If I say to a French person ma femme attend, will the French person understand that my wife is expecting a baby?

No. I thought I had addressed that point by saying the Muriel attend means Muriel is waiting. I guess I wasn't clear enough. 

Thanks Chris. So I understand now that your advice is that a French person would not understand that my wife is expecting if I say ma femme attend. 

Yes, exactly.