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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Glucose tolerance test (gestational diabetes?)

15 replies

bessie26 · 22/02/2011 17:14

I have to have a glucose tolerance test tomorrow to see if I have this (I am 32wks, but baby is measuring more like 35)

Does anyone know anything about it? Am wondering if there any questions I should be asking, tests I should be requesting or things I should be doing (eating the bar of chocolate in the fridge while I can? Grin)

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happycamel · 22/02/2011 17:29

Hi,

there's a thread for people with GD herebut only worry about it if you get a positive result.

Eat the chocolate, but only if it's before the time you need to fast.

Other than that comply with the instructions carefully, fast from when you're told to (you can drink water but nothing else), drink the glucose drink in the five minutes your allowed (a couple over wouldn't matter but don't take ages). The drink tastes better if you make it the night before and leave it in the fridge. Then make sure you turn up on time for your blood test.

After that forget about it until you get the result and then come and find us on the thread if you need us! You don't need any extra tests at this stage and most results are negative so don't worry. To be honest a bump 3cm bigger is not a strong indicator of GD but it's good they are testing just in case.

suedehead · 22/02/2011 19:53

Hi bessie26

I had a GTT yesterday, so currently waiting to see if there's anything I need to worry about. I'm 28 weeks - had it because I had a slightly high BMI so they wanted to monitor the baby's growth, and to make sure I don't have GD which might increase its chances of being too big.

Seems there are lots of rules - don't eat anything from midnight the night before. You'll arrive for a blood test first. Take with you a 380ml bottle of Lucozade - the original version (not as bad as I remember!). The nurse at the hospital had a big bottle of Lucozade under her desk to top it up - think you need to have a few more mls and she wanted to save me buying another bottle - v helpful! I had 15 mins to drink it in, then had to amuse myself for two hours. Luckily I had another scan booked in, but then I was late back for blood test no.2. They didn't mind, but have noted it on my result.

Apparently they give you a call in a couple of days if you have GD, but otherwise you won't hear any more.

My top tip would be to take something to eat for immediately after you've had your 2nd blood test. I went straight into the post-scan appointment with a consultant, was kept waiting a bit, and then headed out in to the car park feeling hot and shaky. Thought I was going to faint. Luckily, I had a bunch of grapes in the car, so had those and felt better later.

That said, I would say the whole day wiped me out a bit. Came straight home from work and to bed! Just look after yourself afterwards, and eat some proper meals to make up for the brief starvation period!

Good luck with it all. And good advice from happycamel, I think. I too am not worrying about it unless and until I get a call from the midwife telling me I have GD.

Hope all goes well for you. Sounds like there's lots of info on here if you need it. Good luck x

happycamel · 22/02/2011 21:54

Hi Suedehead gives good advice, especially about taking food afterwards.

Her GTT test was different to mine, so follow the instructions you've been given. I had to fast from 10pm, they gave me a powder to make in to a drink which I had at 7am. At 9am I had the blood test.

bessie26 · 22/02/2011 23:00

Many thanks for the info & advice. I've been told to not eat after 10pm tonight & I had to buy a carton of sugary drink from the pharmacy. My appointment is at 9am & it sounds like they'll take some blood then, then I have to sit there until 11 when i have to drink the sugary carton & they'll take some more blood.

I've usually had 2 breakfasts by 10am, so am expecting to be feeling very weak & wobbly by the time I leave! I've made 2 sandwiches & will be taking a banana & a couple of cereal bars along too! And lots of water, and a couple of books, and a paper... I th

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bessie26 · 22/02/2011 23:07

Ooops must have pressed the wrong button (starvation already kicking in?! Wink)
I think I'll need a bigger bag is what I was going to say!

They said I would know the result in a day or two, so I won't bother worrying until I get the results back!

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JBrd · 23/02/2011 11:46

Are you doing your GTTs at your GP's surgery or do you have to do them at the hospital? I think that I will have to do it, too - did the lucozade challenge last week and just received a letter yesterday that the GP will call me to discuss the results...Confused. I was measuring big when then MW last checked, so I'm thinking that that's what they want to talk about (hoping it's not anything worse than that!).

From the looks of it, you need about the whole morning to do the GTT, which would be fine if I could do it at my GP's (could pop back home in between), but a right pain if I had to go to hospital for it!

Natzer · 23/02/2011 15:47

I had my GTT at the hospital, but I found that I wasn't nearly as hungry as I thought I would be because of the sugary drink. Biscuit

bessie26 · 23/02/2011 18:03

I had mine at the hospital today. I got the impression you shouldn't be doing too much in-between the two tests, also they only have a 10-15min window to do the second test.

I had slightly misunderstood what was going to happen at mine. My appointment was at 9am, they took the first set of blood and then gave me the sugary drink (@915) I then had to sit in the waiting room (reading the paper & my book!) until 11:15 when they took the second set of blood.
I wasn't as hungry as I thought I would be, but I was still pleased I'd taken a sandwich with me Grin

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Melly19MummyToBe · 23/02/2011 18:12

I have my GTT on 9th march, not looking forward to it, I detest Lucozade [sick face] I can't recall anyone telling me anything about rules though! I think I get given the Lucozade (thankfully, as I REFUSE to waste good money on such poop) But I had no idea there were certain rules to be follwed Confused, what do I have to do??

happycamel · 23/02/2011 18:28

Hi Melly, call your midwife and check. As you can see from the thread above there are different fasting times, some trusts do 2 blood tests (one before and one 2 hours after the drink). Others, like mine, only test after the drink.

You don't want to mess it up and be diagnosed with GD if you don't have it (trust me on this, I do) so best to phone and check.

Good luck

Melly19MummyToBe · 23/02/2011 18:32

I know I have 2 bloods, 1 before and 1 after. But thats all I know! I will have to ring her tomorrow. And ask her why she put a stick in my wee and gave me it back Hmm

thingumybob · 23/02/2011 18:34

For mine (not had it yet) I have to fast from 10pm the night before, turn up for a blood test, get given a drink (I assume they supply it as I haven't heard otherwise) then hang around for 2 hours before they do another test. I can't begin to tell you how much I am not looking forward to it. Had it with both previous pregnancies and didn't have any problems so a bit fed up about doing it again.

starfishmummy · 23/02/2011 18:40

Melly I vote hate lucozade too. all that i was told was i would be given a special drink (which was provided) and i nearly had kittens when i saw what it was. I just drank it down as quickly as possible

Melly19MummyToBe · 23/02/2011 18:48

I did try and persuade ask my midwife if it absolutely HAD to be original Lucozade, as I like apple or orange flavour and wouldn't mind drinking either of those! But sadly, no. It has to be original. bleurgh.

bessie26 · 26/02/2011 07:55

Many thanks for all your replies! I passed the GTT, which i am very pleased about, but am now clueless as to why baby is measuring big or why I'm carrying so much extra fluid! i've have had steroid jabs to help baby's lungs form just incase it does come early (DD arrived at 33+5) and have another growth scan in a couple of weeks so perhaps I'll get some answers/reassurance then!

Good luck to you all! xx

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