Advice on Glucose Tolerance test, please.

[Ceolas]

Currently 25 weeks into 4th pregnancy. I had a GTT last time because consultant thought baby was going to be big.

Test was negative, baby was 10lbs

Now they want to do another GTT at 28 weeks. Part of me thinks "why???". I am booked for home birth and another part of me thinks "play the game and don't rock the boat".

I am not in the least worried about GD, and wonder why the need to do the test when it was negative last time.

Not sure what to do. Any advice, please?

just do it, home birth is so great you don't want to give them any chance to make you have it elsewhere. I know it's a big chunk of your day taken up starving and hanging around hospitals but being able to be at home is worth it

That's sort of how I'm feeling yogabird. It's not a lot of skin off my nose

Go for it, it does rule out GD. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you don't have it.

you can get diabetes during pregnancy alone and just because it was negative last time doesn't mean it will be this time.

if the test shows positive you will need a lot more observation as it can cause various complications i think.

i had a GTT with dd as i was measuring large - it too was negative and she was 8 9.5 a week early. when pregnant with ds my consultant asked if i'd previously had a gtt i said yes but it was negative - he didnt insist on another one - ds was 8 12 3 weeks early

My obstetrician thinks this test is fairly useless, (especially the 1 hour 50mg one, because if positive you need the 75mg one (last pg I had both)He doesn't think I need it, even though my Dad has diabetes and that puts me at a slightly higher risk.

He gave me along explanation, but I can't remember all the reaons, preggy brain satrted to glaze over after a while. He told me to look it up on web as there is some debarkle about it amongst obstetricians, and not every country do the test because of this. I haven't looked it up yet, but he did give me a form for the test and now i'm not that sure either. I mean, that glucose drink is so full on. you'd think it would give you diabetes.

Hi Ceolas, I'm 21 weeks pregnant with my 3rd baby. My first was 10lb 10oz, so at 28 weeks with DS2 I had a GTT, which was negative, DS2 was 10lb 4oz. I went for my 20 week scan last week, and like you, although my last pregnancy tested negative for GD they're testing my again at 28 weeks with this pregnancy , like you, am a bit confused!!! I'm glad you've started this thread, I shall be watching it with interest

Same here, mother has diabetes so had one last time, was neg, baby 8lb 3 oz but had shoulder dystocia and got stuck so have to do another one this time, I think for 2 reasons - automatic cos of family histoy and becasue an 8 lb got stuck would try and get me to have a c section of this one was going to be sig bigger. No harm ruling it out I guess.

Well there's no history of diabetes in my family. Nowhere.

I had absolutely no trouble birthing my 10lber. Not one stitch.

I probably should discuss it with my midwife. I just can't see the need but as I said don't want to make things harder for myself.

Probably just a silly automatic rule that over 10lbs = gtt for next pg - I'm sure you can refuse it if you don't want it as it sounds like you don't need it.

hi - have just had bloods drawn for gd this morning

confused why you'd have to hang around the hospital - i did mine at home/GPs (ate specific meal then went for bloods 2hrs later

That sounds much better tutter. Mine would be done at hospital.

Anyone seen mears around?

I have had one for each of my three pregnancies due to medical concerns - and each time my results come back fine BUT i have it to show them that not everyone fits the formula.

Here in the US it is typical to get the test done between 25 and 28 weeks. It's a lot like the group B strep test. We get it done mainly to rule it out.

It tends to be pretty standard for previous large babies and if you are large during this pregnancy. If positive you will be given advice on how to cotrol it. If negative, everyone will be happy. Although you were negative last time, you could be positive this time. Do you have sugar in your urine testing at all?

The doctors should explain to you why they want to do it though. It is standard practice in the UK. Not sure we need to test all the women we do though.

No-one has ever mentioned sugar in urine. I was measuring about 3cm larger at 22 weeks.

Suppose I should just get on with it then?

Will it affect chances of having home birth if positive?

Depends the size of the baby and how the pregnancy progresses to be honest. If positive, it is usually controlled by diet. If blood sugars remain uncontrolled, baby tends to become hypoglycaemic after birth (low blood sugar). Some women actually need insulin to control level of blood sugar throughout pregnancy. There are lots of different possible outcomes.