One of our talented Surrogates, Jessica Fonville, created these adorable cookies!

I wish I could save the cookies for a rainy day but they are so yummy they are always gone within minutes at my house! – Randi

It was a pleasure joining these girls for dinner the other night.  Please join me in wishing Shannon many blessings for the joy she will be bringing to her Couple on Monday!!  And Jennifer is not too far behind.  Early July will mark the day she has helped her Couple complete their family.  Breann is looking amazing, as usual, but her delivery is still a couple of months away.   Positive vibes your way Girls for speedy and relatively painless deliveries!!

Score one for Technology!  Doctors 3D-printed an emergency airway tube that saved a 20-month old baby boy’s life.  Read more here:

http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/23/doctors-3d-print-an-emergency-airway-tube-to-save-a-childs-life/

I am in constant awe of the advances we witness in the fertility field.  And to see other areas of medicine making giant leaps for mankind is truly amazing.

One of the many things I love about Dr. May with OCWMG is his ability to make you feel like you are his only patient.  He takes his time and brings such comfort and warmth into the room.  I saw him at Jennifer’s OB appointment last week and he shared a story with us that I want to share with you.  We were discussing the process of the birth, literally, and he mentioned how the way the head is turned in the vaginal canal can affect the process in slowing things down, speeding things up and can even affect the amount of pain.  He shared that his wife attended a birth of one of his patients who was a close friend and was watching him closely as she had not been present while he was working before.  As soon as the head was present, he turned the baby’s head so he could suction the nose and mouth before the woman completed the birthing process of her precious baby.  Afterwards, she asked her husband, “How did you know which way to turn the neck?”  He smiled at her and said, “Knowing that is what I am paid for.”  Dr. May has delivered more than 10,000 babies to date and he is not slowing down!  Thank you, Dr. May, for your wonderful support of the many Building Families’ Surrogate Moms and Couples whom you have helped fulfill their dreams.

Is it normal to look more pregnant than I really am?

I often find Surrogate Moms comparing themselves to other pregnant women in our Group.  I remind them that there are so many variables that it is super difficult to determine what is considered “normal” size.  I found this article that I thought explained this very well. It mentions such variables as a woman’s height, how long or short her torso is and even how the position of the baby can affect how much she is showing from one day to the next.  One important thing to remember is that hitting the maternity clothing stores earlier than you expected doesn’t mean you’re destined to deliver a butterball!!   Read more here:

http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-normal-to-look-more-pregnant-than-i-really-am_10300252.bc?scid=preg_2_20130523:2&pe=MlVENk5wRXwyMDEzMDUyMw..

Alma and I showing off our 27 week baby bumps!!!

Today I am having my 1 hour Glucose testing. Every pregnant woman knows this process of drinking a flat sugary tasting orange or lemon lime beverage in 5 minutes then waiting an hour for a blood draw.

Another perfect OB appointment with Jennifer today.  She looked so fabulous, as usual, even Dr. May with OCWMG commented how he liked the cute flower in her hair.  I enjoy seeing her as she always has a smile on her face!  And now I will see her more often as her appointments are every week now.  It won’t be long before delivery day!

Having been a Surrogate Mother in 2004, 2006 and now in 2013 I have seen many advances in technology that benefits new parents after they get home with their baby.  But my Couple discovered a cool device for before their bundle of joy arrives.  It is called Ritmo.  It is a very comfortable device with 4 speakers that I strap around my tummy.  The baby hears the voices of his parents and music they have chosen. They have recorded hours of stories, talking to each other and talking to the baby in their own language.  As I relax each day, I attach the Ritmo so Baby V can hear his Mommy & Daddy.  – Breann