Insert your own witty title relating to speculum torture here...

First off, I'll be back to join in on Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Finesta next week. I've learned recently that when I write 2 posts in one day...one usually doesn't get read if you're linking from a blogroll.

Anywho, my blood sugar has been slightly elevated since yesterday morning - not too high, but I was told to call if I see any pattern of elevation. I'm supposed to be between 60-90 for fasting and 90-120 2 hrs after each meal. I have been staying right within except for some slightly higher fasting readings if I don't eat a big enough snack before bed or if I sleep in a little later. But yesterday, I was 96 (fasting), 131, 87 (huh?), and 153. This morning I was 110 for fasting and 137 after breakfast. So, I called my OB office and while I was on the phone also mentioned my concern about the "leaky" feeling I was still experiencing since last week. I know I was prob just being paranoid, but I was worried cause even though my U/S fluid check was fine last week - I kept thinking well, if it is a slow leak it wouldn't have been low the first day anyway.

So, the nurse called back after speaking to the Dr. He was concerned enough about my sugar readings that he was going to call in a prescription for me and I now need to take 2 pills a day to help keep my insulin in check. He also wanted me to go to L&D to get "swabbed" again for fluid. Apparently, at the hospital they have a definitive test that would definately show if I've had any rupture/leaking as opposed to the 3 tests he performed in the office. Luckily Chris was working at home today, so he was able to stay with Katie.

Interestingly, in speaking with the nurse in L&D and mentioning about my sugar - she asked me about my readings and when I told HER, she was like - oh, they're not bad -they're normal range...which leads me to wonder - why am I on medication then? I do know that pregnant women's "normals" are supposed to be lower than regular diabetics cause the baby is using a portion of the sugar and that is expected to lower #'s, but I would think as an L&D nurse she would know that. She also told me that of my 3 tests I had last week, the one I was positive on was the PH test, which could be caused by a variety of things - fluid is just one of several things that can upset PH.

I saw the same resident as when I went in for my fall a few weeks ago (I think before I began blogging). She seems very unsure of herself and let me just say... is NO expert on using a speculum. OMG!!!! Now, having a speculum exam is never comfortable - BUT - I have had them from certain doctors (my favorite at my practice) where I honestly almost don't feel it - just a tiny bit of pressure. It felt like I was the first person this resident was ever giving an exam to - seriously - I can't even describe how painful it was :(. Then, it seemed as if she had no idea what she was doing with the swab test...the nurse kept correcting her and reminding her of something else she needed to do..GREAT! I whimpered like a cry baby the entire time.

And the results..my fluid is absolutely not leaking and never was..however, it was a good thing I got checked - in addition to checking the swab specifically for fluid, she also examined it under a microscope. And what did she tell me she found? Apparently there's a battle going on "down there" between good and bad bacteria and the bad bacteria is starting to win...otherwise known as bacterial vaginosis. Not sure how long it's been going on, but likely it's what's been causing the "leaky" feelings. I was also having some big contractions while on the monitor which she said could be from the bad bacteria (Ironically, I wasn't feeling any contractions - which proves that I am NOT just a big cry baby and that she really WAS extra awful with the speculum.) I have to take an antibiotic for 7 days and then a cream after I'm done the antibiotic. In my "googling" adventures - I found that "untreated bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy can result in amniotic fluid infection, premature rupture of the membranes, premature delivery, low birth weight of the baby, and possibly pelvic inflammatory disease in the mother." It's, also apparently kind of common to develop during pregnancy. I think I may have even read awhile ago that gestational diabetes can increase the chances of it.

So, I guess it's a good thing I likely peed myself last week and worried for the last week and half that I may be leaking fluid, since it did result in getting treatment for this. Luckily, no ill effects from it since my cervix is still 100% closed, despite any contractions it may have caused.