Hi Everyone!
What a lot has been happening - I've just been so exhausted and busy since finishing work, then had my Grandma staying for a week that I haven't had a chance to check in properly. I don't seem to have posted in 3 weeks so this may be a bit of an essay!
JBell - DH did pretty well with the Spanish in the class actually. It was funny, most people looked petrified and didn't even crack a smile when my Gyn discussed the differences for a first time mum, a second time mum and a fifth time mum who would have a "vagina like a bull ring", DH was following perfectly and gave a great big laugh!
I hope you feel emotionally a bit more stable now, though I don't generally blow up at people but little things I can usually handle, such as my car battery failing whilst I was double parked, DH was out of the country, on the day I had to collect my grandmother would usually not phase me but had me in floods of tears!
BH contractions! OMG - I have been having so many this time. DH is considering changing MIL's flights because of it but I am sure that I wont be more than 2 weeks early.
Hope all went well with your MIL's move and you managed to cope with your SIL!
Missus - Sorry your first class wasn't very useful, what was it about? I am glad the second one was better. Have you resolved your nappy dilemma? Why not begin with a starter/trial pack for re-usable and also have disposable until you see which works best for you, you'll be getting through ~12 per day at the beginning. My DD pooed during every single breastfeed and to start with those were every 2 hours!
Reusable ones are so hard to get here that I use disposable ones though I wanted to use reusable ones. Knowing how many I got through, I have to admit that if I was in the UK, I would probably begin with disposable for the first ~4 months (or at least get a nappy laundering service), then go onto reusable ones.
Mammy - Fresh air and drizzle, hurricane force winds and torrential rain... Anything that's not hot and still will do for me, the wilder the better! It's variety that we lack here all summer but we're rapidly leaving it behind now. Temp seems to drop by ~5deg every couple of weeks now and we're finally seeing some cloud and rain. I never thought I'd miss it like I do!
I can't believe how soon your baby may make an arrival. If you do have to have the pitocin, don't be scared to consider having an epidural. I was terrified of the idea of an epidural but it wasn't bad at all and delivering DD was a breeze with it. I would just recommend having it as late as you can so you can still move around. In Spain I don't think they allow induction without epidural - at least that's why I was given mine though I didn't need the pitocin in the end. Apparently I suddenly relaxed when the choice was taken out of my hands and out popped DD!
I also feel like I have no more room to give! Sometimes my belly button hurts a lot!
I'm under strict orders not to take ANYTHING! Having searched high and low for someone who will do natural birth in Madrid, I found the "pioneer" and she won't interfere with nature at all unless there is a need to. She is great though.
9th Oct!! So soon, fingers crossed that you get some good news when you go! I'm glad that the baby engaging has given you a bit of relief and only go for it if you're happy to.
Sasha - did you manage to go around the hospital? I am so sorry you have been having such a hard time with the swelling and BP. I hope that the induction goes well whenever it happens. So cool that you got more 3D pics!! Well done with the BF course, I hope it helps you get started and that you can get help afterwards too if you need it. Muddling through was quite tough and very painful for me for the first 3 weeks but after that it was easy. I didn't know then that the clinic where my gyn is from also have a lactation consultant - I could have used the help before I even left the hospital.
Good luck for your appointment on 10th too!
I do hope you'll be able to wait for your MIL.
Bambola - Loved the photos and I am glad you're feeling so good. Don't worry about not feeling nervous. I didn't last time at all, even after my waters had broken I was excited rather than nervous! The calmer you can be during early labour, the better your body relaxes and the more effective the contractions are according to my doc! I don't have a special going home outfit for the baby to be honest, just a babygro, hand-me down white hooded cardigan that belonged to DD and his lovely new blanket!
AFM - right, finally caught up with the 3 weeks!
I started maternity leave on 19th Sept and went on hol for 3 nights to the coast. Then cleaned like mad as my Grandma come over on a last minute visit for a week with a pile of clothes from her and my mum, she left last night so my ears are recovering!
I have got the travel system all ready for a baby, got the old clothes out and washed all the new things. I have packed my bags and in doing so discovered I didn't buy a neutral set of baby gros when DD was born, just two girls' sets so I have to go and do some more shopping! Such a pity!
I'm having a lot of pain in the back of my pelvis on one side, I had some physio which really helped and need to go back again as it gets bad the minute I do things in the house and then doesn't recover. Now I also feel sore or bruised around the groin, though not on the pubic bone.
My baby keeps grinding his head into my cervix too, feels like he's going to break my waters or push his own way out when he does it, it is so painful it doubles me over - I do wish he would stop though I also hope it makes things ready so they move along better than they did with DD.
I feel terrible, I told my mum she could only come out for a couple of days if she comes out after the birth and she keeps saying she's not useful (which is extremely true). I said she had to be useful and do more than just sit there for photo opportunities or nag about going out around Madrid like last time when DD was born as they caused me and (more so DH) a lot of work I didn't need and this time I'll have a toddler to see to as well. I also feel quite righteous having said so - why should I have visitors who do absolutely sweet FA when they come to see me? Either way, it doesn't stop me feeling like a horrible daughter!
I found out the other week - thankfully - that the Doc now has her delivery rooms at a different hospital! We've been doing runs to try and find a good way there, it is a little closer but there is no parking and it is hard to find a way around the traffic. They were also installing a support that must be something like this as it allows you to be supported in positions that really open up the sacrum at the back of the pelvis for an easy pushing stage. It seems a little scary!
My second class was on relaxation by a midwife and mostly a waste, my other one on pain management will be by my gyn again and keeps being moved as she keeps being called in for births. It is now on 9th Oct and I am looking forward to it.
I start my foetal monitoring on Monday - I'm looking forward to sitting down with a book for 1/2 hour each week!
I'm also ENORMOUS! I have a bump like I'm sure my mum had when she was pregnant with my twin brothers. I don't know how three and a bit more weeks of growth can continue in there! The photo is in the usual place but I've uploaded it here too. I'm starting to think I just get unusually big, I get so many unbelieving reactions from people who have children when they see me!
you've had a lot of worry over this pregnancy! 
assessment tomorrow so I'm hoping it at least did something to help my cervix along. Emma - I haven't slept more than 3/4 hrs in 4 months now and have been in constant pain which only gets worse as time goes on. I'm desperate for it to be over with now. 
