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Antenatal tests

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Original poster

Gloucose tolerance test

10 replies

faintpinkline · 20/01/2012 19:15

Midwife has jut told me that as i have a previous unexplained still birth and that I'm overweight i have to have a compulsory GTT. I really don't want to do this but can't put my finger on why. I'm unhappy with the idea of fasting during pregnancy and even more unhappy with the idea of flooding my body with glucose while pregnant. She says I've got to have it.

I had no diabetes or gtt even suggested during last pregnancy despite having exactly the same risk factors as this time round and really can't understand why I need it now.

I know its stupid but I'm really upset by the idea :(

OP posts:

Buggerit · 20/01/2012 20:16

I don't know why they would have recommended it, but may I try and reassure you? I had 2 of there done while I was expecting ds, even at my booking in I had ++++ glucose in every tiddle test. The way my hospital did it was to ask me not to have breakfast, they booked the test very early so I didn't have to starve all day. There was the fasting blood test, they then asked me to drink lucozade and wait for a second blood test, 2 hours I think, but I was in the clinic the whole time so if I felt unwell they were on hand.

I am so sorry to hear that you have had such a horrible time, I hope so much for you that all is perfect!

usingapseudonym · 20/01/2012 20:29

In my trust a lot of people get recommended for GTT now ( anything from bmi to past big baby to family history) and I was actually quite pleased as it was a way of ruling out another thing that "could be wrong". I'd certainly rather know if I got gestational diabetes than have it go undetected as it can be ever so bad for the baby. I got the impression that they are testing more now.

It wasn't that big a deal I don't think. I didn't have breakfast, had a blood test, then drunk some lucozade and then waited 2 hours before another blood test. I felt very sick in those 2 hours (mainly as I hadn't eaten) but I think it was worth it to know that baby and I were ok!

Petesmum · 20/01/2012 20:46

I've had GD twice now.
The GTTs were exactly as the others have said. The fasting wasn't too bad as appointments are usually early (mine were 8:30am) and unless you like midnight snacks then the fasting isn't too hard.
The inconvenience & feeling a bit sick are worth it to find out whether you do / don't have GD. In a total worst case scenario baby can be adversely affected, possibly quite seriously so.
On the plus side, if you do get GD, you also get monitored more closely and more scans so you see you baby more often!
But at the end of the day this I'd your decision.

Original poster

faintpinkline · 21/01/2012 13:22

Interesting. The MW told me that I would not be allowed to eat from 6pm until 10am the next day when I'd be given the glucose drink and be able to eat at about 1pm. I wouldn't mind missing just breakfast but 19 hours seems a long time especially as I have a history of low blood sugar and fainting if I miss meals.

I'm already likely to be getting extra scans for other reasons. In the end I will probably do it but I'm not really that happy about it.

Why can't pregnancy just be simple hey? Thanks for your answers

OP posts:

usingapseudonym · 21/01/2012 16:09

Mine was from after dinner the night before - can't remember the time but I probably didn't eat after about 7. Just be aware that you might feel a bit faint/sick on the day and take things to amuse yourself for the 2 hours.

The other thing I wish I'd done was to take a sandwich with me. I was ravenous afterwards and the only food available nearby was chocolate which I really wasn't after.

You can refuse any treatment/ testing but I'm not entirely sure why you would in this case to be honest.

All the best with the rest of your pregnancy.

Tinkerisdead · 21/01/2012 16:19

Mine too was fasting after my evening meal say 8pm. Missed breakfast, got there at 8am. Downed the lucosade(the worst bit as trying to drink that amount of fizzy liquid was hard) then read a book on my kindle app for two hours. They told me to eat as soon as i got in, but it was 10.30 so i held on til lunch. Big mistake, i felt very sick and wobbly after i did eat. It was no big deal though just reaaaaalllyyy boring. Mind you i sat chatting to the cleaners of the maternity unit who told me brill stories of women demanding blackout blinds for labour ha ha.

Bunsouttheoven · 29/01/2012 22:52

I had the GTT test yesterday due to previous big baby & brother with type 1 diabetes.
I had to fast from midnight fri, had first blood taken at 8.50am sat, drank glucose drink. Waited for two hours then had second blood test do could eat again just after 11am. Really wasn't bad & I did not feel I'll at all, just a bit thirsty.

They are doing more GTT tests now as the urine tests have found to be fairly unreliable.

Happenstance · 07/02/2012 19:03

I had to fast from 10pm and my test was 8am next morning, the midwife made me tea and toast once it was over at 10. i just sat with my kindle for 2 hours, drink tasted like melted jelly so not to bad, got my results the next day.

Kangarobber · 07/02/2012 19:06

Nothing is compulsary. It might well be a very good idea for you to have the test (or not, I have no idea). However, even if it is the best idea in the world for you to do it, just as with any other medical test or procedure, unless you are mentally incompetent you are perfectly entitled to decline it.

tazmo · 08/02/2012 11:58

Mine was overnight too - the test is one of the easiest and if you develop gestational diabetes, best to know as itmcould cause more probes for you and baby than you fasting from dinner and drinking lucozade. I took a good book and really enjoyed it actually. But you need to fast so they can get an accurate result.

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