Is there a push on gestational diabetes testing ? Any midwifes ?

[chickenstrippers]

My midwifes seem obsessed with GD testing. Despite me not having any sugar in any urine samples, I'm not overweight myself, no other risk factors. I have been measuring big, but they sent me for a growth scan and all was average, including waters which midwife said I had too much of because she couldn't feel the baby and hard to find a clear heartbeat ( was able to find it, just faint) . Seems baby was transverse at scan, so probably was that. I measured big on my last pregnancy and no GD testing or scans given.

I went in for another GD test at 34 weeks ( test number 3) recently ( again negative) but there were 8 others being tested. I know you can't tell by looking at people, but no one looked overweight. Is there a campaign or is it becoming a more common they want to catch?

Measuring big is enough reason to get a GD test in our area. I had one done for the same reason.

In Australia, everyone is tested at least once. More times if you have certain risk factors, like ethnicity, family history, maternal weight, age, etc. Given it is a hormonal issue, and not all people with risk factors get it and many people with no risk factors so get it, it makes sense to check. Especially if you're measuring ahead. It is serious if not managed. A couple of hours on a GTT is worth it. Please don't feel stigma from your midwife, it's not a judgement on your weight or your health at all.

I was tested for my first and told I had GDD and baby was measuring big. They induced me 2 weeks early and she wasn't even 7lbs. I flatly refused to do it for babies 2 and 3. Both were "overdue" 10 and 12 days and again not huge 8.5lbs and 8.4lbs

I was tested in first pregnancy. Was routine and had no symptoms. I had it it all 3 future pregnancies from 7 weeks in the end. No one knew why and the amount of times I was told "but you don't look like someone who has gd". My best pregnancy where bliss sugars were done was number 3. I gained 5 stone and gave birth to a baby weighing 9lb6! My worst for control was baby 4! I was still a size 8 after having him and he weighed 6lb9!

Where my BLOOD sugars were FINE!

I can never understand why I was tested twice for GD. I was underweight when I went for my 12 week scan. My first GD test came back fine and it was done as a precaution due to family medical history. They decided to do another test a while later “just to be sure”. I had gained about 3.5 stone by the time I gave birth, however you’re allowed to gain more weight if your BMI is below 18.5. I’m not sure if that would have anything to do with it.

*if your BMI at 12 weeks

My baby was big for date too

In many countries all pregnant women are screened. You can be underweight and have GD. A lot of cases must be missed under the UK approach, and even if the pregnancy is symptom free, it’s a risk for the child in later life.