[phathui5]

I talked to my midwife's office yesterday because I needed them to mail me the prescription for Rhogam. (They can't do it in the office, so I have to go to the labat the hospital) When I was on the phone with the receptionist, I told her that I didn't need a lab slip for the GTT because I've decided not to do it this time. She sounded unsure about mailing me just the lab slip for the other stuff, asked if the midwife knew what I was doing.

Now I'm starting to wonder if they're going to give me a hard time about this. I just don't feel like it's a neccessary test for me. I tested for it with ds and dd and it was fine. I don't have any of the risk factors. Plus, I have to take both kids with me and it's way too long to hang out with them in the lab.

Did anyone else not take this test? What made you decide not to and how did you deal with your midwife/ OB?

 

[Elphaba]

.

 

[SunnyDay]

I didn't do it either, but I'm doing a HB, so it wasn't really even an issue. The mw did prick my finger to check my sugars (I had had a smoothie about an hour before, so that was even better!!). She said that if I was experiencing gdd, there would be plenty of symptoms w/o having to do the test!
Soooo glad I didn't have to do it like I did with my first--that stuff was nasty!

If it's a problem for you, you'll know it!
Michelle

 

[chiro_kristin]

I didn't do it, and my MWs (2) actually prefer not to do it unless there is a big reason to do it. They agree with me that it isn't an accurate assessment of glucose tolerance.

 

[indie]

I'm not doing it this pregnancy. Here's an interesting article on the subject:
Gestational diabetes: a practical approach

 

[phathui5]

Quote:

She said that if I was experiencing gdd, there would be plenty of symptoms w/o having to do the test!

Can you tell me what the symptoms are?

 

[chasmyn]

I chose not to do it and my midwives were fine with that. After reading many articles like the one above, and realizing that the test is very often inaccurate, and also not wanting to expose myself of my baby to that much sugar (I eat a very low sugar diet anyway), I just said no. All I had to do was sign a form saying I decoined and that was the end of it.

 

[alegna]

I didn't do any testing thanks to alot of research (esp. Henci Goer) After all my reading I'm not sure GD is a condition at all AND everything I read showed no improvement in outcomes when "treated" SO, I refused to test for it- and I got dumped by my mEdwife at 28 weeks. Best thing that ever happened. I found a better midwife and had a wonderful homebirth. -From the everything-happens-for-a-reason file- If I had had my original midwife I think she would have wanted me to transfer in labor (long irregular labor) and if a hospital got ahold of me they would have done a section.

I'd absolutely do the same thing again.

good luck!

-Angela

 

[Pinky Tuscadero]

I don't do it either. The only test I have is the initial blood test to check for anemia because I am tend to have low iron levels anyway. Pregnancy makes them drop really low for me and I like to be aware of where I am starting. Beyond that, I get weighed, pee on a stick and have the heartbeat listened to with a fetoscope, not a doptone. It almost seems silly to pay all this money for prenatal care when I like a "hands off" approach.

Suzy

 

[DreamsInDigital]

I declined with DS #2 but for some reason my midwife said it's mandatory this time because he was over 9 lbs. I'm hypoglycemic so I highly doubt I have GD but I've heard that hypoglycemia can sometimes turn around so I'm sucking it up and taking the test this time.

 

[OnTheFence]

I did not do it and discussed it with my doctor before hand. Another doctor in the practice and three nurses harrassed me over it and finally she told me them to leave me alone about it. I have had two other pregnancies and did the test and passed it, so she felt there was no need to do it.

 

[MrsMoe]

I will be declining the test, as I had it with my my first pregnancy and threw up all over the place, making the test invalid. They made me drink the most disgusting orange flavored solution. That is the one flavor I have no tolerance for because as a kid I gorged myself on orange candy right before I came down with a nasty stomach flu. Ever since, I can't take orange soda or orange candy. And the goop they make you drink is beyond horrid.

They told me I would have to retake the test, and I told the doctor no way am I ever going to do it again. I don't have blood sugar issues, and I'm not worried about it.

 

[phathui5]

My midwife just called to say that she personally is fine with me not doing the test because I don't have any risk factors, but since they are a hospital based practice, if anything "happens" during the birth that would lead the hospital to believe that the baby's blood sugar is low and I don't have a negative GD result on file, the peds at the hospital will be pushing to put the baby on an IV, do a glucose workup, etc.

I caved in and agreed to do the test. However, I'm going to the tour at the birth center an hour away on the 13th (and said I'd do the test on the 20th). If I decide to go with the birth center, I'm not going to do the GTT. And I'm really leaning toward the birth center, even with the drive. I just don't want to deal with "hospital policy."

 

[alegna]

Stay far away from the hospital! FWIW they can push all they want- it's your baby- you can say no.

-Angela
(who avoids hospitals and says no to everything...)

 

[allgirls]

nope...refused it and no one batted an eye...

 

[amydidit]

I refused and my midwife told me I could no longer deliver in the birth center... so I dropped them and am going with a HB.

It's a ridiculous test to find something I don't believe is real anyway.

 

[JeanetteL]

I didn't do it either, and my mw gave me no trouble about it - but I have the same hb midwife as amaydidit

 

[ktmama]

I refused it too, because I have no risk factors. However, I did do a finger stick at 28 weeks and blood sugar was one of the things my mw checked. My plan, if it was high, was to do some preventative things and retake the finger stick. I really think the GTT is a last resort. My mw absolutely has not pushed any "testing" on me, but I think I would stand firmly behind my decision not to take the GTT no matter what, because I have no risk factors (except being old

) and no symptoms.

You asked about risk factors, here are a few I found on the web:

* have a family history of type II (adult-onset) diabetes
* are over the age of 35
* are obese
* have previously given birth to a large baby
* have previously given birth to a baby born with an abnormality
* have previously had a stillbirth late in pregnancy

Here are the symptoms:

* Increased thirst
* Increased urination
* Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
* Fatigue
* Nausea and vomiting
* Frequent infections including those of the bladder, vagina, and skin
* Blurred vision

These symptoms are really serious and you would know if something was wrong. Good luck!

 

[Worldshakerz]

I'm thinking of refusing the test this time. I have a feeling that the birthing center will drop me if I do though. It seems they have tightened their policies on such things since last time I birthed there. When I was tested in the last pregnancy I was considered "borderline". So I wasn't actually labelled with GD but was given the Diabetic Diet to follow (which by the way is rediculously high in carbs if you truely have a BS problem!). I follow a lower carb diet and they didn't even retest my BS again that I can remember. What I hate is that even with the "borderline" thing, I ended up with 2 more ultrasounds to check the size of the baby way after 22 weeks so it was completely inaccurate ("Oh, the baby is anywhere from 7 to 10 pounds right now at 34 weeks, you might have a really big baby!"). Jakob was 7lbs, 6oz..which I think is a pretty average size baby.
I already called and asked if there were other options than the GTT and they said no...they wouldn't let me eat foods instead of the sugary drink, or monitor BS in other ways. The only thing I was told is that the guidelines have become more lenient and that stress can effect the outcome of the test and to stop stressing. I haven't decided if I'm going to refuse it yet, but I am strongly considering it. My test is in about 2 weeks. I'm pretty sure I am though. I'm going to call today and talk to the midwife this time, not the assistant. I just already feel like I'm being cornered and control over my own situation is being taken from me, and I really don't like that!

 

[AugustLia23]

I've refused it, and my midwife is fine with that. For my own reassurance I have used a glucometer a couple of times, and every time my blood sugars have come in at very normal, so I'm happy about refusing it, since I hate, hate, HATE getting my blood drawn.