To have the test or to not have the test?

[Persephone1]

Can you have a look at Dr Sarah Buckley's Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering? It has a whole section on the GD test, very informative.

If not, try this approach (as advocated by Sarah):
BRAIN
B - what are the BENEFITS of the test? what are the benefits of knowing that you have GD?
R - What are the RISKS of having the test? what are the risks of GD? what are the risks of knowing you have GD?
A - are there any ALTERNATIVES to the test?
I - (usually do this one last) what are your INSTINCTS telling you?
N - what happens if you do NOTHING (ie. don't have the test)?

When assessing the risks, you also need to consider the NOCEBO effect - which is, "what are the effects of having the test/knowing/not knowing I have GD on my stress levels? Am I better off NOT knowing, NOT doing the test, because the stress of the test outweighs the benefits?"

I hope that makes sense. I wasn't in a risk category for GD (and I don't think you are, based on your post), and I decided that I didn't need to be labelled as GD. There are other things to consider too - did you know that the diagnosis of GD is still really controversial, that some believe it doesn't actually exist, rather that women's blood sugar is different during pregnancy anyway? Did you know that there is no internationally agreed definition of what level constitutes GD? Will you be treated differently if your results come back positive? Did you know that the main treatment for GD (before insulin) is "healthy diet and exercise" - something you can implement without the diagnosis.

Anyway, I chose not to do the test cause my stress levels went up just with the threat of the label of GD. I wasn't in any risk category. Oh, and the Challenge test involves drinking a liquid consisting of over 20 spoonfuls of sugar. Blegh, no thanks.

If you apply the BRAIN method you can at least make an informed decision. We applied BRAIN to a lot of our pregnancy/birth decisions too, and found it really helped.

GL.

ETA: If you can't get a copy of Dr Sarah's book, I can give you some more notes out of my copy. BTW, her book is a great natural/homebirth resource as well.

[kirsty_lee]

Oh man if I ever have another baby (which is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy down the future lol) I would give anything not to do that test! I didn't have it with ava... this time I did and by crikey that drink was foul .. its like... flat bacardi and lemonade.. so bad.. i struggled drinking that crap lol but then the nurse was like you only have 5 minutes to drink it then you have to start again :O

[skybie]

some places do let u take the drink home hun, then just go in for the blood test.
would u feel better urself completely ruling it outor living with the checking for symptoms till u have bub? if it were me i'd have it done just so i didnt have to think about it again

[Heaven]

Sorry I don't know enough about it. I didn't want to do it this time but when it came time I hadn't researched and found out about it like you're doing now so I just had it again anyway. Hopefully it comes back ok and I don't have to worry but I was a bit worried about if it said I did have it and the implications for a VBAC you know? Next time I will look into it further.

[Traveller]

Perhaps you could ask your midwife to test for sugar in your urine instead and if there is something concerning then you can have the GTT. This is how GD is tested for in the UK to save women having the horrible drink test without a likelihood of it coming back positive.

[onthefly]

I like Trav's idea.
I did the test both times due to risk factors in my family.
After DS was born several midwives tried to tell me I must have had GD as DS was 4.3kg (at 42 weeks, mind) - I don't see what his weight has to do with it really.

[Arimeh]

Perhaps you could ask your midwife to test for sugar in your urine instead and if there is something concerning then you can have the GTT. This is how GD is tested for in the UK to save women having the horrible drink test without a likelihood of it coming back positive.

Maybe thats what she does? I remember last pregnancy when my midwife came around for the home visits (the other midwife - they worked together as a team) and she tested my urine at every appointment - would this have been what she was testing for?

[CrazyLady]

Maybe thats what she does? I remember last pregnancy when my midwife came around for the home visits (the other midwife - they worked together as a team) and she tested my urine at every appointment - would this have been what she was testing for?

they might have been checking for protiens. I had to get mine checked every OB appt

[onthefly]

I think they test for a few things, including sugars

[Pretty Butterfly]

I will NEVER have it again!!!

I had the test with the first 3, no worries.
Didn't bother with Za and Kane....
Most of my babies have been in the larger group, but no GD.!!

Because Z and K were "larger" babies, they pushed me to have the GD test with Harmony.
The one hour one came back "borderline", and they completly scared me into the 2 hr one....which also came back borderline... (btw, here we have to fast for a few hours, in other countries they give you a proper diet for a WEEK to get an accurate result!)

so from that minute, I was a "GD" patient..... monitoring, blood tests the works.. I had to go to the diabetics clinic regulary.. I was SO peeved, even the diabetic nurse couldnt understand why I had been sent. I was given the little finger ***** thingy, had to do it 4 times a day.... It NEVER went over average, but I was still a "GD" patient......

Once in labour, an Ob was called becasue of the GD, and he kept going on about a "large" baby.. idiot.... after she was born, we couldnt leave, becasue I had GD, so we BOTH had to have testing.... broke my heart.....

I will never have it again unless I have at least ONE symptom, which I never did....nor was ever one of my ***** tests over average....

If you go ahead with the test, you have to put up with the outcome, something I wont do again unless very neccessary......

[MrsFabuloso]

Hun, I think if you feel fine and don't have any other symptoms, don't bother, or do the urine test like Traveller suggests (didn't even know that was an option!). I have done it each time, but only because I had the opportunity to be there on my own if I had to drag the kids along too, then I would likely opt out too!! If your previous tests in previous pg have been fine, I wouldn't worry. Your babies are big because your DH is so tall. DS was 4.2kg and noone ever suggested it was because of GD to me, people always blamed that on DH! And he's not as tall as your DH is either I don't think!

[~Lashes~]

I will NEVER have it again!!!
(btw, here we have to fast for a few hours, in other countries they give you a proper diet for a WEEK to get an accurate result!)

i have to have mine on the 23rd, but was told because theres no "risk" of me getting a positive, i dont have to fast, just not have sugar-loaded food (like chocolate) befor it.
i wish i was given the option to not have it!!

[AwesomeFoursome]

I have GD with this bub but I didn't notice any symptoms. I am glad I had the test, as painful as it is I would rather have it and treat it then not know that I had it and have it left untreated.

My sister had GD with her 1st bub and it wasn't picked up until a week before bub was born and she was almost 11lb, she also had it with her last bub and it was picked up n treated and that bub was almost 8lb. So a big difference in size.

I personally wouldn't feel comfortable not having the test. If you don't want the test and your midwife is happy with that its up to you. I just thought I would share from my POV.

[ACJ]

Got no advice for you Mel but I had GD with DS1 and he was 9lb8oz at 39+5 and with DS2 I didnt have GD and he was 8lb7oz at 39+4.

I think it is more a personal preference if that is what your MW is saying......I like the little BRAIN thing the Persephone1 said.

[maz]

I had so much stress with V over this
I apparently had GD...doc was more worried that I couldnt eat and threw up all the time, GD nurse only wanted me to go on insulin and cracked it big time when I told her were to jab her dame needed.....V was ment to be an 11pound plus baby....pfffttt try 7pound 2 oz! I loved throwing that back in the GD nurses face when I saw her.
With M I tested and my range was completely normal and they couldnt believe it so wanted me to do the big test anyway....told them also were to stick that.

YOu have to know for yourself what you'll get out of it...and honestly with your previous record id say you'd get diddly squat from it.

BUT
here is what you asked for

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. Symptoms may include excessive thirst, urination, fatigue or thrush infections. However symptoms are often not obvious in gestational diabetes.

High risk groups
Some women are at increased risk of developing gestational diabetes. High risk groups include:

Women over 30 years of age
Women with a family history of type 2 diabetes
Women who are overweight or obese
Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders
Women of some ethnic groups including Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern, Polynesian and Melanesian women
Women with a history of gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy.

[Arimeh]

That's basically the same risk groups I read last night Maz, except the age was 35 - not 30. And on that list, I was only at risk because I am overweight - which I've been for the other pregnancies - but I was probably classed as obese with Eden's pregnancy and no GD there....

[Persephone1]

I think (for me) it was really stressful to consider how I might be treated if I was labelled as GD. My SIL, for example, was labelled as GD and then told that her Ob wouldn't "let" her go past 38 weeks because baby was going to be over 4kg. She was induced at 38 weeks and gave birth (via c-section) to a 3.1kg boy. He was smaller than my own DS born at 41 weeks (not that comparisons apply but ykwim). The whole saga made me very disappointed - particularly as a 4kg isn't that big and had my SIL been "allowed" to continue the pregnancy she might have had spontaneous labour and perhaps even avoided a c-section. (PS I don't judge my SIL, it's my issue, not her's).

I also know someone who birthed a 4.8kg baby with no GD diagnosis. For her it was just a case of "big genes" but no doubt she'll be classified as being in a risk category because she's had a previous large baby. Pfft!