What to expect at Glucose Tolerance Test?

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Having one this week, how long am I likely to be there? Is it mainly hanging around? I need to plan what to take to occupy my tiny mind!

Yes it is mainly hanging around! I took a massive bag of stuff to entertain myself, magazines, crochet project, books and Sunday papers. But only had to wait 2 hours between first blood test and drinking the sugar solution and second blood test. The time flew by. Like waiting for a plane.

My top tip, find a good chair to sit in, take something to read and definitively take a little packed lunch to eat afterwards because you will be hungry. I had to fast from 9 p.m the night before so was ready to eat once the second blood test was taken.

You can drink as much water as you like so I had some nice fizzy water.

It's not that bad, you'll be fine. X

My experience was as above except that I was not allowed water from midnight till after the second blood test, so it varies between area.

im at mine now. Bored! Not been allowed anything to drink since nidnight except the glucose drink and not allowed anything until next blood test! x

Same as above, though I felt really shaky and ill afterwards- not sure if I reacted badly to all that sugar as I don't generally have much in my diet. I literally spent the day in bed with the runs and feeling very sorry for myself! Not sure if I just had a bug though and it was nothing to do with the drink?

I'm 31 + 5 and have not been given this test despite asking. should it be given to everyone regardless?

I for mi

I actually felt woozy after the second thingy but the blood taker was lovely and found me a bed. OH came and sat with me and I lay down all quite relaxed.

Only thing I wished I'd done was bring something to eat afterwards the only food on site was vending machine biscuits and it was yucky!

nyldn depends where you are. In the UK you're usually only offered it if you have a risk factor or your bump is measuring large. In the US I think everyone gets it.

Mumsnet is in a huff with me today.
I got mine at home on the proviso that I only moves off the couch to visit the toilet. And yes was starving after second blood test.

No nyldn you don't get one unless there are high sugar/glucose levels in your urine sample. It is not a standard given to all blood test.

I was allowed home for the 2hours, I'm only 10 mins from the hospital.

I remember feeling terrible after drinking the glucose, it was a tough week for me I had bloods taken on the Monday, whooping cough jab on the Tuesday then back for glucose test on the Friday , also having 3 other DC's to look after I was shattered.

I have mine in a couple of weeks and my midwife told me 'you see all those bored people in the waiting room? They're having glucose tests. Bring something to do!'

I also plan to take a cushion as the chairs are uncomfortable and I have pelvic pain at the moment.

nyldn I am having one because my pre-pregnancy BMI is above 30 and that places me at greater risk.

Hope it goes well

You get one only if you display any symptoms or if you have a specific ethnic background that puts you at higher risk. If not, then probably unnecessary. Relax.

Thanks for the cushion and food tips, neither would have occurred to me!

All went fine. I felt a bit wobbly from about half way through. I think that might just be a lack of breakfast and too much time to think about it. I'm very pleased I took a cereal bar to eat after the second blood test.

"You get one only if you display any symptoms or if you have a specific ethnic background that puts you at higher risk. If not, then probably unnecessary."

The NICE guidelines say that only women with risk factors should be offered a GTT. This misses about 50% of cases of GDM so many diabetologists believe that it or a glucose challenge should be offered to all patients.

My local hospital asks everyone (unless they are already having a GTT) to drink 273ml of original Lucozade one hour prior to their 28 weeks bloods to get a random glucose. Depending on that result, they are offered a GTT.