The Long and Winding Road

Birth Day!

Our day began early (5:00 am) with my water breaking at home.  We called the nurse line on our way to the hospital so she could let the hospital know we were coming.  We arrived around 6:30 am and checked in at triage - after passing the temperature

Surprise! 38 Weeks + 4 Days!

I woke up Tuesday, 5/26/20, feeling a little "off."  I tried to do an elliptical workout and ended up quitting (twice) because I felt nauseous.  As the day progressed I felt a little better physically but still not great emotionally.  Eric brought his work upstairs to keep an

38 Weeks

At 38 weeks, the baby is the size of a winter melon (19.5 inches long and at least 6.8 pounds).  According to my ultrasound on Wednesday, Muffin was estimated to weigh 7 pounds 14 ounces, give or take one pound. Muffin is continuing to shed the vernix (waxy

37 Week Appointment

Today I saw Dr. Kaufman again.  Last week, Dr. Bedia was a little concerned about my lack of weight gain and my belly measuring a bit small.  So today I had an ultrasound prior to seeing the doctor.  According to the ultrasound, Muffin is weighing approximately 7 pounds 14 ounces.

Maternity Photos

This evening we met our family photographer, Michelle Lovell, at Raccoon River Park to shoot our maternity session.  Michelle took maternity photos for us when I was pregnant with Gavin, and she shot his baby photos at 9 days old, six months old, and one year. We had originally scheduled

37 Weeks

This week Muffin is as big as romaine lettuce (approximately 6.5 pounds and 19 inches).  At this phase, the baby's weight should be increasing by about half an ounce per day.  After my most recent OB appointment, we are uncertain whether Muffin has been keeping this pace, so we

36 Week Appointment

Today I had a routine OB appointment.  Due to COVID-19, I was not seen at 34 weeks, but I will continue to have weekly appointments from here until Muffin's birth.  In the four weeks since my last appointment, the office has changed the policy from one visitor to no visitors.

36 Weeks

Well, we are officially nine months pregnant!  And we have 4 weeks until my due date.  It's hard to believe we will have a baby here with us in the next 28 days!  This has been such a long-awaited and anticipated event and we're finally in the countdown stage. This

35 Weeks

This week Muffin is the size of a pineapple (18-19 inches and 5-6 pounds).  The baby will not get much longer, but will continue gaining weight until birth.  Now Muffin's hearing is fully developed, he or she has moved into a head-down position (we know this is true from our

34 Weeks

Today marks 34 weeks pregnant!  I read this morning in an article from Baby Center that "babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine."  So while we haven't crossed into a new month or had another ultrasound, 34 weeks still feels like

33 Weeks

This week the baby is the size of celery (17.2 inches and over 4 pounds).  We actually know that Muffin weighs 5 pounds because of our ultrasound on Tuesday.  We'll continue to hope for appropriate growth and gradual weight gain - for Muffin and for me!  (What to Expect

32 Week Appointment

Today we had our routine 32-week appointment and we also had an ultrasound to check Muffin's size.  At our 28-week appointment I had expressed my concern to Dr. Kaufman about the potential for Muffin to be bigger than Gavin at birth (and for that to cause problems).  She said we

32 Weeks

This week the baby is the size of a squash (about 16.7 inches long and 3.8 pounds). He or she will be turning into a head-down position anytime in the next several weeks. With the exception of the lungs, all of the baby's organs are fully developed and

31 Weeks

This week the baby is as big as asparagus (over 16 inches long and over 3 pounds).  This growing baby is crowding my lungs and diaphragm, and I'm starting to notice.  I'm more easily out of breath when exercising and sometimes even lying in a certain position on the couch

Nursery Furniture

When Eric changed Gavin's bed into a full-size bed, we moved the glider into the empty bedroom.  Since then, the empty bedroom has been dubbed "The Nursery" and has been collecting small things as we prepare for Muffin's arrival.  As of yesterday, it held the glider, a 3-cube organizer, my

30 Weeks

At 30 weeks, the baby is the size of a zucchini (almost 16 inches and 3 pounds).  Muffin's skin is getting smoother and losing lanugo - the protective coating.  The brain is getting bigger and more wrinkly.  This allows for more an increased amount of tissue to form.  The baby's

29 Weeks

This week the baby is as big as an acorn squash (about 15.5 inches long and 2.5+ pounds).  It's hard to believe the baby will triple in size before birth.  That seems crazy (and is it really necessary?)! Muffin is developing more fat and his or her wrinkled

28 Week Appointment

Today was my 28-week OB appointment with Dr. Kaufman.  I hadn't seen Dr. Kaufman since my 16-week appointment (at 20 weeks I rescheduled and saw a different doctor at an earlier time due to a snowstorm and at 24 weeks I saw a different doctor who could see me and

28 Weeks

Today marks the beginning of the third trimester!  This week Muffin is as big as an eggplant (15 inches long and approximately 2.25 pounds).  He or she is practicing breathing, sucking, hiccuping, coughing, and blinking.  Babies also experience REM sleep at this stage, so Muffin may be dreaming! I

27 Weeks

This week Muffin is the size of a head of lettuce (about 14.5 inches long and around 2 pounds).  He or she is breathing amniotic fluid and showing brain activity.  As the lungs develop, there is also an increase in the likelihood that we will feel baby hiccups! This

26 Weeks

Today Muffin is as big as kale.  He or she is probably 14 inches long and around 2 pounds.  Muffin is taking breaths of amniotic fluid to practice using his or her lungs.  The baby is also soaking up my antibodies to prepare its immune system for life outside the

25 Weeks

This week Muffin is as big as a cauliflower (13.5 inches long and almost 2 pounds). The baby is gaining a sense of equilibrium and a startle reflex.  He or she is also gaining more fat and hair.   And his or her nostrils are opening up and the baby

Fetal Echocardiogram

This morning we had what will potentially be our last ultrasound.  We went back downtown to the perinatal center to closely check on Muffin's heart development and functionality. The ultrasound tech did a fantastic job of explaining what she was looking for and why those features are important.  She started

24 Week Appointment

Dr. Kaufman was out of the office this week, so I saw Dr. Gable today instead.  I had a great experience!  I really love Dr. Kaufman, but if she were not available, I would happily see Dr. Gabel again.  My appointment was at 7:30 and I planned to be

24 Weeks

According to The Bump, the baby is as big as a cantaloupe this week.  ?  (A small cantaloupe, I presume.) . Muffin is almost 12 inches long and about 1.5 pounds.  His or her face is fully formed - complete with white eyelashes, eyebrows, and hair.  The baby's hair does not