Midwife appointments and GTT tests....

[Makqueen2]

Booking, 16, 27 (for GTT), 34 weeksand that it, really?! (I know thee is one at 40, but I am having ELCs so will have had my baby by then).

I remember far more in my first pregnant many years ago. Now it says on my notes to see the GP for shared care at 36 and 38 weeks (I'll be seeing consultant ahead of CS).

Just had my 16 week appointment, not booked for another until January, seems a million miles away! She wasn't even going to listen to my baby's heartbeat today, she only did as my ds schoo is on strike done was with me and desperate to hear it.

Also, I remember the GTT only being for those with a high bmi or other risk factors? At my hospital it seems to be routine for everyone, is this a new thing?

I had a GTT test at 14 weeks due to BMI of 30, then repeated at 28 weeks which is standard for everyone where I am. You have to stay in the waiting room for 2 hours so any walking/exercise you do doesn't affect how quickly your body deals with the glucose.

I agree that why wouldn't you have it if offered. Its so much better to find out if you have GD than leave it untreated. I haven't got it. I was a bit upset to have to go for the first one as i was on the cut off BMI but when I thought about it 1.) my fault for being over weight in the first place and 2.) anything to help babies (twins) if its needed.

I can't really comment on the appointments as I went form low risk to high risk at my 12 week scan when they found out we're having twins. I now have appointments with MW and consultant and scans every 4 weeks now.

Low carb isn't enough, especially as pregnancy progresses and it becomes much harder to control your blood sugar. I was diagnosed at 22 weeks, and controlled easily with low carb and no sugar diet. Now at 32 weeks the same diet isn't working and it looks like I'll be prescribed insulin.

Please get tested!

I have two markers for potentially being at riak of developing GD- the most pertinent one being two members of my immediate family havong (type 1) diabetes- so I've been tested in both my pregnancies and I've been fine. Yet I have a friend who had no additional risk factors who had GD in her last pregnancy, so although a faff (especially the two hour wait time) I suppose it is a good thing they're being so thorough

it was me that said i would be refusing the GTT this time around.

why? because I don't want it. I've read up on it very thoroughly and have made an informed decision not to have it.

I've done it in 2 of my 3 previous pregnancies, despite not meeting any of the criteria for it. It isn't routine round here.
Quite frankly fasting, then drinking a bottle of lucozade, then driving myself to hospital, struggling to park, hoping I get my test done precisely 2 hrs after my drink (despite it being a ticket system and having no reception and not being allowed to talk to anyone) is an incredibly unpleasant experience.
that is not the only reason I don't want it, but it certainly doesn't help!

Would anyone mind if I ask a related question?

Had a midwife appointment yesterday at 29 weeks and due to having some concerns around needing to drink loads and always feeling dry and dehydrated she recommended I book for a GTT asap. I can't get an appointment with my doctors surgery until I am 31+5. Is that a concern, given that most tests are done around 28weeks!

Thanks in advance

AmyLou are you sure she wanted you to book it yourself. I've always had mine at the hospital when pregnant and they were arranged by the midwife.

you shouldn't need to see the GP, i would've thought the midwife would arrange it for you.
i would definitely ring her and clarify. if you do, indeed, need to see the GP then ask for an emergency appointment

bundaberg I also don't have any markers for it. I have a healthy BMI and no history whatsoever of diabetes in my family. Yet I have it. Surely the unpleasant morning at the hospital is worth avoiding future complications in your pregnancy and for your unborn child? And yourself, too - if you have unmanaged GD you are around 30% more likely to get Type 2 diabetes later in life.

i appreciate that, but there are plenty of things I could have that i'm not getting tested for, and nor will pretty much anyone...

group b strep for starters

Really don't get why anyone would refuse this test .

Bundaberg if we're talking strep b, the risk your baby is harmed after birth is something like 1 in 200, IF you have the virus present (which 25% of us do). So the risk is low.

Whereas up to 10% of women are diagnosed with GD. That's why we screen for it in the UK and not strep b.

Only we don't routinely screen for it. Only in certain areas.

I still don't understand your reasoning bundaberg but hope everything goes well!

The nurse's at my GP's surgery do the test, so she was just asking me to book in with the nurse at reception on my way out. The problem with not getting an appointment sooner is that the nurses at my surgery are also responsible for administering flu jabs, so all appointments for the next two weeks are booked up. I am just concerned that if it turned out I did have GD, am I putting myself or my baby at risk by not finding out for another few weeks.

Thanks again all

Does anyone know if it is possible to get a GTT test elsewhere? I see people like Lloyds Pharmacy and possibly b

Sorry - Boots do them, but not sure if those are the same tests carried out under the same conditions I.e fasting for 12hrs etc?

Boots and Lloyd's just do a one of finger prick test not the gtt. I'd phone your midwife and explain that the gp can't fit you in for 2 weeks and see what she says.