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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

GTT Test

27 replies

ShadowStorm · 27/06/2013 20:04

I've received an appointment for a GTT test.

The letter says that I can't eat or drink anything, other than a few sips of water, from 10pm the night before the test until the test is complete. So nothing for 11.5 hrs before the test even starts.

What I'm wondering is - just how much is "a few sips of water"? Am I only allowed barely enough to wet my throat, or can I have a big glass of water when I get up in the morning? I don't really want to get to the hospital and be told that the GTT test won't work because I've drank too much water, but 11.5 hrs is a loooong time to go with nothing to drink.

Anyone know?

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pumpkinsweetie · 27/06/2013 20:15

Hi op, nothing helpful to add but i'm to have this test at 28 weeks and i was wondering the same as you.
It will be august when i'm due to have mine and imagine very hot & humid by then & 11.5 hours without water but a sip seems like torture and was wondering whether a guzzle of water was ok?

TarkaTheOtter · 27/06/2013 20:21

I had this twice in my last pregnancy and have never been told not to drink water beforehand. I suppose if water is in your stomach when you drink the glucose drink it might have an effect?!? But don't go thirsty, just don't guzzle a whole pint right before the test.

TarkaTheOtter · 27/06/2013 20:24

Just read my appt letter for this pregnancy, it says:

"You must not eat or drink anything except water from 12 midnight on the day of the test"

4leafclover · 27/06/2013 21:08

Hi op, I have one booked for 25 weeks and my letter reads(in capitals)..

YOU MUST NOT HAVE NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK EXCEPT PLAIN WATER ONLY 12 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR APPOINTMENT TIME.

This includes medication (including gaviscon,antacid treatments and milk).
Mints, drinks, chewing gum ect.

CitrusyOne · 27/06/2013 21:19

I was almost at the end of my pregnancy when I had my gtt and EVERYTHING gave me heartburn. I literally could only have sips of water- then the lucozade gave me terrible heartburn. Plus I'd convinced myself I had gd and then the results were clear. Waste of emotion that was!

Good luck ladies x

louloutheshamed · 27/06/2013 21:26

I had mine on tuesday and my letter said I could have water or tea without milk or sugar so I had a herbal tea. Came back negative.

FoofFighter · 27/06/2013 22:06

Mine didn't even say I could have water!
Apparently also you arne't meant to chew gum or brush your teeth. I don't chew gum but one of the other mums there had, also we only heard about the teeth thing once we were there.

Original poster

ShadowStorm · 28/06/2013 21:17

Not brushing my teeth in the morning would never have occured to me!

The leaflet doesn't say anything about that, either.

OP posts:

Newmum0113 · 28/06/2013 22:09

Small sips of water regularly is fine but don't drink a whole glass at a time.

You stomach needs to be empty for the beginning of the test. Also don't forget to take a book as apparently you have to wait two hours without leaning the hospital.

My DH is abandoning me there until its over!

pumpkinsweetie · 29/06/2013 09:46

2 hours without leaning, no walking, no glasses of water-sounds like torture!!

soupmaker · 29/06/2013 11:33

I had a GTT at 32 weeks. As has been said sips of water are fine as is brushing your teeth. You will be there for no less than 2 hours. I rather enjoyed sitting doing nothing for 2 hours. Take a book/magazine etc.

FeministInTraining · 29/06/2013 12:45

Had mine on Thursday, got the same instructions as Tarkatheotter
I brushed my teeth, it never said you couldn't. Chewing gum is not ok as you swallow your sweet saliva. Just don't swallow your toothpaste!
Tip for anyone that's going though- take water to drink while you wait and a snack to eat as soon as you have had the second blood test and they let you go home (after the 2hr wait). I decided to take a stroll to get lunch and nearly passed out. Luckily I had a cereal bar with me. Should have eaten it straight away.

andadietcoke · 29/06/2013 13:25

I drank plenty of water all through mine - wasn't told not to, in fact they gave us water to drink while we were waiting.

FoofFighter · 29/06/2013 19:26

I'd echo Feminist there, eat asap after, don't drive until you have, I too almost keeled over in the middle of town, it was not a pleasant experience, Nobody told me to eat asap after

honey86 · 29/06/2013 21:26

i had a massive sugar crash driving home from my gtt... never ate 3 cheese sarnies and 3 mars bars so quick in my life lol was shaking sweating and honestly thought i was going to flake... x

FoofFighter · 29/06/2013 21:45

Its a horrid feeling isn't it? :(

honey86 · 29/06/2013 22:09

yeah definately. i only had it the other day, im just 22 weeks but was told to have it cos my sister has type 1 diabetes... got a second one in 6 weeks the coke-syrup-drink-stuff makes me feel so .
i was actually allowed to drink plenty of water in the 2hr wait. but ill definately be bringing sarnies with me next time. x

Mistyshore · 29/06/2013 22:18

I've got one booked for August. The receptionist told me nothing except water for 14 hours before the test and to make sure I bring a snack for after. I'm not looking forward to the sweet drink on an empty stomach, I don't do sweet drinks.

pumpkinsweetie · 29/06/2013 22:22

Silly question, but what happens if your sick after drinking the glucose drink? Because i feel this will happen to me as i cannot stomach very sweet things on an empty stomach!
Didn't realise it could make you feel faint etc, i have to get the bus home after. Atleast i know from this thread roughly what to expect and bring sandwiches with me for afterwards

Dysgu · 29/06/2013 22:54

I had this test twice during my last PG. Drinking water in the fasting time is fine and actually makes it easier for them to find your vein for the blood test. I drank more water for my second test and the vein was HUGELY easier to find.

I was encouraged to drink water during the 2 hour wait.

Also, try to get there a bit early. Our hospital schedules a bunch of GTTs one morning a week; if you turn up first then you get to have the test first with no waiting around before the first blood test. Arrive 'on time' and you might end up waiting an extra 20 minutes until your sugar drink/blood test and then the 2 hour wait starts.

If anyone is having steroid injections (for premature birth risk) as I was, make sure your GTT is scheduled either before the steroids or else at least 7 days after. My first GTT was done the day of my second set of steroids - people knew but didn't realise that they are incompatible tests (as steroids raise blood sugars).

Luckily a MW noticed on my notes (only realised due to own experience of GD and family premature births).

The sugar rush/crash to me and baby bump after first GTT was hell!!

As it was, second GTT came back borderline so they treated me as though I had GD, just to be safe. Was no real problem and DDs enjoyed picking which finger I stabbed each test!

honey86 · 29/06/2013 23:08

i second the vein thing. i didnt drink much and the poor nurse really struggled with my veins.

if u throw up the glucose drink, u have to drink a new one from scratch. thats what they told me when i was struggling with the 2nd half of it. just that thought was enough to spur me on as sod drinking all that again! the only way i can describe it is syrupey flat coke...

BelleEtLaBaby · 29/06/2013 23:46

If you throw up the glucose, or vomit within the 2 hours, the test is invalidated and they do it again a week later.

I know this as I had mine last week, and although I didn't vomit - which I thought I might as there wasn't syrup this time, just over a pint of normal fizzy lucozade and I hate fizzy things on an empty stomach at the best of times - there was another lady there same time as me who'd thrown up her lucozade the week before, and was being given a glucose powder in a small amount of water instead. The nurses were all really sympathetic to her as apparently it's really yucky :( She made it this time though.

You can have water - I had a bottle with me a sipped it through the 2 hour wait. Definitely take a book - I wasn't allowed to leave the waiting room and there were only lots of magazines about the WI. I was very glad of games in my iPhone :) Good luck!

Mayanbob · 30/06/2013 10:24

If you live close- ask if you can leave for the 2 hour wait. I did and went and had a kip at home for an hour :-) -I also was told to drink as much water as I needed - with the reasoning "pregnant women faint enough as it is without as denying them fluid as well as food"

honey86 · 30/06/2013 10:29

my maternity unit wudnt allow me out of the department til id had the 2nd bloods x

MeMyHusbandAndTheRoofer · 30/06/2013 10:51

I had the GTT a few weeks ago and brushed my teeth and drank water before and during.

Mine came back positive unfortunately

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