What to expect at Glucose Tolerance Test?

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Having one this week, how long am I likely to be there? Is it mainly hanging around? I need to plan what to take to occupy my tiny mind!

[Isabelleforyourbicycle]

Yes it is mainly hanging around! I took a massive bag of stuff to entertain myself, magazines, crochet project, books and Sunday papers. But only had to wait 2 hours between first blood test and drinking the sugar solution and second blood test. The time flew by. Like waiting for a plane.

My top tip, find a good chair to sit in, take something to read and definitively take a little packed lunch to eat afterwards because you will be hungry. I had to fast from 9 p.m the night before so was ready to eat once the second blood test was taken.

You can drink as much water as you like so I had some nice fizzy water.

It's not that bad, you'll be fine. X

[PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice]

My experience was as above except that I was not allowed water from midnight till after the second blood test, so it varies between area.

[nc060]

im at mine now. Bored! Not been allowed anything to drink since nidnight except the glucose drink and not allowed anything until next blood test! x

[SuzanneSays]

Same as above, though I felt really shaky and ill afterwards- not sure if I reacted badly to all that sugar as I don't generally have much in my diet. I literally spent the day in bed with the runs and feeling very sorry for myself! Not sure if I just had a bug though and it was nothing to do with the drink?

[nyldn]

I'm 31 + 5 and have not been given this test despite asking. should it be given to everyone regardless?

[youmakemydreams]

I for mi

[Hazchem]

I actually felt woozy after the second thingy but the blood taker was lovely and found me a bed. OH came and sat with me and I lay down all quite relaxed.
Only thing I wished I'd done was bring something to eat afterwards the only food on site was vending machine biscuits and it was yucky!

[PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice]

nyldn depends where you are. In the UK you're usually only offered it if you have a risk factor or your bump is measuring large. In the US I think everyone gets it.

[youmakemydreams]

Mumsnet is in a huff with me today.
I got mine at home on the proviso that I only moves off the couch to visit the toilet. And yes was starving after second blood test.

No nyldn you don't get one unless there are high sugar/glucose levels in your urine sample. It is not a standard given to all blood test.

[WeeClype]

I was allowed home for the 2hours, I'm only 10 mins from the hospital.

I remember feeling terrible after drinking the glucose, it was a tough week for me I had bloods taken on the Monday, whooping cough jab on the Tuesday then back for glucose test on the Friday , also having 3 other DC's to look after I was shattered.

[MrsWones]

I have mine in a couple of weeks and my midwife told me 'you see all those bored people in the waiting room? They're having glucose tests. Bring something to do!'

I also plan to take a cushion as the chairs are uncomfortable and I have pelvic pain at the moment.

nyldn I am having one because my pre-pregnancy BMI is above 30 and that places me at greater risk.

Hope it goes well

[Artistic]

You get one only if you display any symptoms or if you have a specific ethnic background that puts you at higher risk. If not, then probably unnecessary. Relax.

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Thanks for the cushion and food tips, neither would have occurred to me!

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

All went fine. I felt a bit wobbly from about half way through. I think that might just be a lack of breakfast and too much time to think about it. I'm very pleased I took a cereal bar to eat after the second blood test.

[DinoSnores]

"You get one only if you display any symptoms or if you have a specific ethnic background that puts you at higher risk. If not, then probably unnecessary."

The NICE guidelines say that only women with risk factors should be offered a GTT. This misses about 50% of cases of GDM so many diabetologists believe that it or a glucose challenge should be offered to all patients.

My local hospital asks everyone (unless they are already having a GTT) to drink 273ml of original Lucozade one hour prior to their 28 weeks bloods to get a random glucose. Depending on that result, they are offered a GTT.