Refusing a GTT?

[DamnitCharlie]

I'm really thinking of refusing to have a GTT for diabetes. I only have one risk factor - type 1 diabetic mother. Healthy in every other way. At risk of a small baby rather than a big one.
Last time I felt sick and thought I would pass out doing it and was sent home for the 2 hours. This time I am still suffering from morning sickness so will vomit if I fast in the morning and I have toddler to look after during it.

Anyone else refused it or been offered an alternative? Surely they can do a blood test to get a rough idea of my blood sugar levels without fasting?

@JuniLoolaPalooza Ok, sorry that you've taken offence - I was genuinely interested in the rationale behind refusing extra scans. I know growth scans aren't massively accurate I just thought they were a nice thing to have.

I dont think its that huge a leap - there have been more and more threads popping up of people wanting to refuse medical intervention e.g tests and scans. I think that actually given the climate it is a risk that people will start going down the freebirthing route. Refusing tests is just another way of implying a lack of trust in medical professionals.

Sorry you thought I was saying that about you. Im just trying to understand rationale in refusing tests, as its something I just couldn't imagine doing?

I think you've gotten a little bit uppity and defensive. Im literally just trying to understand anothers opinion.

Thanks for the apology then coming back to call me uppity!
Yep, i'm defensive. I'm not gonna rehearse the usual "anyone can post anything, who appointed you the thread police" bollocks. I don't usually look at pregnancy, this thread came up on active and I foolishly decided to post. Won't bother again.
And given there are doubts over my gravida status why bother carrying on? I'm actually a yoni massager in Hull called Brian.

Best of luck OP. Here's to a continued healthy pregnancy and a lovely healthy baby xx

@mchelenz as I said, I find scans stressful and difficult. I was happy with regular fundal measurements and a good weight if first baby was a good indicator of second pregnancy being ok. If indeed I have ever been pregnant at all.

@JuniLoolaPalooza I wasn't meaning to be offensive, just I could really understand the defensiveness?!

Im policing the thread - Im trying to understand your view point because at the moment I don't understand why people would refuse. Surely that's me trying to develop a well rounded argument?

Also if you back up you'll see I never accused you of not actually having a baby. That was someone else. Why would I say you're lying? I have no need.

All I'm trying to do is widen my perspective by learning from yours, however you don't seem that keen to share it so whatever.

@JuniLoolaPalooza Fair enough, I didn't see where you had put that so apologies. See? I've meant no malice in what I'm asking, im literally just trying to understand others opinions that are different to mine.

People usually get angry when you cement your argument all over a post...Im trying to do the opposite. Cant bloody win.

@McHelenz people decline tests and procedures for a variety of reasons, usually because the 'this is what you should do' is based on population level statistics, which may include factors that don't actually apply to the patient in question. Every test/screening has risks as well as benefits, but the general narrative is always to overplay the benefits and ignore the risks - those risk factors may be significant as far as an individual is concerned, for others less so.

@juniloozapalooza already explained that her medical team were ok with her decision!

I find it equally baffling that people go along with everything without questioning the benefits/risks - some things you hear people being told they should do on here are actually against the NICE guidelines (e.g. induction for large baby) 🤷

@weathergirl1 fair enough. For what it's worth, I don't just blindly go into everything without questioning. I work in healthcare so I know what it's like.

I also know her medical team were fine with it, I just was genuinely interested why with the scans Because I just see growth scans as a brucey bonus.

I don't agree with not taking the GTT, but it's each to their own. I don't feel it's particularly wrong to ask others reasoning to something...

Anyway, that's it. OP hope you're supported whatever you decide to do. The pharmacy will sell you a blood sugar monitor for £20. Maybe the midwife will give you some ranges to be aware of.

@McHelenz that's great you do question, but a lot of people posting on here don't though - you see it all the time 'I don't know why you wouldn't' comments... Growth scans are notorious for being inaccurate (how many threads are there on here asking about people's scan estimates vs actual birth weights? Lots!) and if a woman is going to be advised off the back of an inaccurate scan, surely you can see that she might decide that the risk of having that scan is something she wouldn't want to do?

@weathergirl1 thats fair too, I have to have two growth scans and I've just accepted them as a bonus scan.

I think the reason I was getting annoyed though is I am genuinely trying to understand all sides, thats what I have to do at work and respect decisions I don't agree with. I just like to see why. But then when I get posts basically bitching at me for something I haven't said when Im trying to see all sides instead of just dictate my own.

It has made me think about decisions made from my two scans though so thanks. (see how pleasant this can be haha.)

@McHelenz 👍😁 I think you were unlucky to be caught in the cross-fire after a PP had a go at the poster you questioned & she just replied to your post!

@weathergirl1 Always the case..hahah.

Suck it up and take the test. I had a GTT in both pregnancies due to risk factor of family history of diabetes. Clear for first baby, GD for second baby. It's better to know. The tragic consequences of undiagnosed GD far outweigh any inconvenience in my opinion.

Ooh, this seems to have hit a nerve with people. To be honest I think I got overloaded with all the extra appointments I got told I need - I'm pretty much having appointments every week or fortnight and I know this is in mine and baby's best interests but it is still a pain and I'm sort of mourning the loss of having an uncomplicated pregnancy. All these risks seemed very remote at the start of the pregnancy as well but starting to feel a bit more real now.

I had the GTT, luckily my morning sickness has stopped a bit and they were able to do the appointment on a Saturday when I could arrange childcare. I still got very shaky towards the end of it and nearly vomited but it is done now. I know it's for the best but it doesn't make it any less annoying- the whole day was a write off feeling tired and sick after the test not 'done by 11' as someone said.

I’ve declined a GTT and serial scans. GTTs have an accuracy of between 14-75% so not very reliable. I’ve also had a baby before who was normal sized born by emergency caesarean hence why I’ve declined serial scans, I don’t need a consultant telling me that the baby is too large to give birth to therefore requiring another caesarean. If something crops up during my pregnancy which means I need a GTT or serial scans then I will reconsider.

I don’t really have an opinion but I don’t see what’s so hard about the test? I had one last pregnancy. I had a carb heavy dinner the night before & snack at bedtime .. you drink a sweet drink (just tasted like strong squash), then get sent away for a couple hours. I found myself a comfy seat in the hospital & watched a movie on my iPad. Then had a blood test around 11am & swiftly popped to Costa in the hospital for a sandwich & cake 😆

If suffering from morning sickness, can you delay until the second trimester when you are hopefully feeling a bit better?

Is there an alternative? I’m 0.1 over the bmi limit apparently but I fell pregnant 12weeks after ds so obviously I’m still carrying the baby weight and the celebration weight from my hg stopping the first time. I’m also having weekly growth scans from 28weeks as ds was small but my bump measured bigger (estimate 8lb9oz born 6lb1oz) midwife commented I had a lot of water during birth.

I just can’t stomach anything glucosey or artificial sugars.. I will shake n vomit after two sips of lucozade and gag at fizzy or sweets. Obviously with a baby under 1 I can’t write the whole day off either as dp might only manage the morning off work and I’ll have 2hours travel to get home.

I refused mine, i put on loads of weight in 1st few weeks because all i could keep down was toast. My BMI came out at 30 even though im 5"10 and my bmi doesnt match up with my build. They decided i was obese and needed it because of that. Even though i dropped the extra weight from early pregnancy aswell. I confirmed with the midwife this was the only reason they wanted to do it and i have no risk factors plus it would pick up in my urine anyway so i didnt do it