Raised liquor volume... sort of.

[Purplelooby]

I had a scan and obs appointment today (36 weeks) to see whether a low-lying fibroid would cause any problems. There have been no other complications with my pregnancy and my fundal height has always measured exactly right.

The amazing news is that the fibroid has moved and I can have a natural birth. However. The scan also revealed that my liquor volume is 25.7 (normal is about 10 - 25), but all baby measurements were well within the normal range. When I saw the obs, she discussed the fibroid a lot (had to have a second-opinion scan so was in for hours) but didn't even mention the liquor volume until DH mentioned it - she wasn't concerned because it is on the borderline, but suggested a glucose tolerance test.

The thing is, I am certain that I haven't got GD (no symptoms and never seen glucose in urine) and I am happy to follow a GD diet for the last 4 weeks just in case, but I really didn't want a GTT. I get VERY traumatised by injections - just discussing them with the obs sent my blood pressure sky-high and made me cry. This isn't just me being a wuss - I am really not scared by pain and childbirth - it's a genuine phobia and I've had to use numbing cream for all my routine bloods. The idea of putting myself and my baby through the stress of a blood test, 2 hour wait and then 2nd blood test is more than I can bear. Anyway I was quite happy with my decision (and she was too really) until she slipped in that if I did have the GTT they would also screen for infections such as toxoplasma and cyclomegalovirus. NOW I'm worrying that I might have made the wrong choice, but the idea of the GTT sends me into such a panic. Can anyone advise me? Please be nice, I get very upset when I think about/discuss this phobia.

No advice really but just wnated to say I also have a needle phobia and have used numbing cream for my bloods (am 30 weeks) so I know how you feel about it :)

I didn't have Nuchal fold done and (part of) my reasoning around that was to do with the blood test.

It's nice to hear from someone who understands that! I did have the Down's screening and was quite pleased with myself, but the idea of the GTT is far too much because you have to have one blood test, drink a drink and wait 2 hours and then have another. That is more than my poor blood pressure could take I think...

My bp was through the roof before my first bloods at 10 weeks, after I had them it went right back down to normal.

I have to admit, the more I have, the easier (ish) it gets but if I have to be induced/have a drip in my hand, I'll be wailing and kicking more than the baby when she arrives! :)

Drip is my nightmare! As a tip - the Ametop is meant to be better than EMLA for drips. They did a trial on kids (that sounds awful!) and a larger number of them didn't notice with Ametop. I think it has the same chemical in that they inject at the dentist (not that I've ever had that - far too scary!) and also apparently the same chemical they inject if you have to have an episiotomy... I'm pretty sure at that stage in labour I won't care about injections, or that's my hope anyway!

I had a GTT and the first blood test is with a pen type device it's a finger prick (not sure if this is any better for you?) but the second one was more like normal bloods being taken. Maybe your consultant would be ok if you didn't have test and just followed GD suitable diet? They obviously weren't too worried about raised liquor if only mentioned cause your DH did. Have you thanked him btw fir the extra blood test?

twizzle do you mean DH? If so I nearly killed him afterwards! He's actually a brilliant person to have in the appointments because he asks about a million questions (one sonographer had to tell him - nicely - to shut up so she could concentrate ha ha) but in this case I nearly killed him! She even said herself that she highly doubted I had GD since I have never had glucose in my urine samples or any symptoms. Neither us there any family history.

I think I'm more concerned about not testing for toxoplasmosis etc, although I'm nore sure they can do much about it at this stage.

Thanks for the tip Purple. I currently use EMLA. Am almost scared to change to Amitop as I'm used to EMLA IYSWIM? But I was also told that the coldness of EMLA makes veins constrict, so Amitop does sound better all round.

Also, don't know if you want to do this but my MW managed to get some for me on prescription, docs didn't want to but she spoke to them and they did, I'm going to ask again at next appt and take some (or Amitop) in my hosp bag!

Thought you might be a little miffed with him purple