Preterm Labor and Gestational Diabetes...

Over the afternoon, my contractions worsened.  They had got to the point where they were 8-9 minutes apart.  I called up to Dr B's office and then awaited a return call.  When S called, she immediately said "What's wrong?"  I was hurting so bad.  I was told to come right in and if Dr B was over at the hospital (he is on call today and apparently has 5 women in labor currently) when I arrived, they'd send me to L&D. 

Long story short, they did an ultrasound and checked Sydney, Roy, amount of amniotic fluid, and blood flow to and from the placenta.  Everything looked fine.  Roy was holding steady at his current size (Dr B said he was the size of a grapefruit) and Sydney was weighing in (give or take a pound) 3 lbs 9 oz.  I was in so much pain, we didn't take the time to take extra cute Sydney pics like we usually do, sorry. 

Then Dr B saw me.  My cervix was thick and closed, and Dr B said that Roy is sitting low and on the cervix, and is helping to prevent the contractions (which I was still having every 4-5 minutes) from making cervical changes.  They gave me something to help stop or slow the contractions, gave me my hydroxy-progesterone shot to help relax uterine muscle and help prevent preterm labor, and the first of a two shot steroid (Betamethasone) to help develop Sydney's lungs.  Whatever they gave me to help with contractions did help some by making them further apart, but they didn't go away altogether.  I go back tomorrow to get the second steroid shot for lung development.

Dr B was very reassuring that if Sydney came now, she'd be alright.  His goal right now is to make sure that no cervical changes occur, or that Roy continues acting as a cork, make sure Sydney is tolerating everything well, and to keep me comfortable.  He said if we can hang in there for another few weeks, we may be able to keep Sydney from having to stay in the NICU after birth.  He's prescribed me Percocet to help with pain and told me not to worry about taking it.  He's also prescribed Zofran to help with my nausea.  As the pain worsens, I get to feeling very sick.  It's just a terrible feeling. 

Dr B did say that cervical changes can occur at any time because the contracitons are fairly consistent and IF Roy starts to break down.  Apparently, the contractions can cause enough stress on Roy too that it can cause it to loose it's blood supply and cause it to break down.  Right now, it would have a long way to go.  Dr B wants me to stay off my feet and try to stay comfortable.

He also said that if the contracitons get back to 4-5 minutes consistently for an hour that I'll need to be checked.  In the meantime, try to relax.  LOL  Easy for him to say!  Then, he reassured me that he was on call tonight in case I need anything. 

As for the 3 hour glucose test... I failed it.  He told me I didn't fail by much and not to let it worry me too badly.  He's prescribed me a glucometer and all the crap that goes with it to monitor blood sugar.  He wants me to check a fasting level in the morning, and then check it 2 hours after each meal.  I'm suppose to document all of this and bring it to each appointment.  They are also required to send me to the dietitian and diabetic nurse educator, so that appointment has been made for Monday.

I feel like with this preterm labor and pain going on, gestational diabetes is the least of my worries.  I'm just ready to feel a little better and hope Sydney continues to do well.