To have the test or to not have the test?

[~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.

[sasha]

Because my dad was diagnosed with diabetes last year, and I'm over 30, I now have been advised to do the GTT (ie fast overnight and go in for the long test) which I'm feeling a bit peeved about. I ummed and ahhed about it last time, and what irks me this time is that I'm very fit, eating better than I did with the first two, weighing MUCH less than I did with the first two, and they were very average weights (can't remember kg but 7lbs with S and 7 lbs 3?4? oz with T). Being over 30 and the family history are the only two symptoms.

On the other hand, talking to Dad about his diabetes and knowing the risks of having it, I'm reluctant to avoid taking the test. I feel like it's a bit of a catch-22.

I'm also really bad at going without food at the best of times... all I can say is someone had better be there with a bacon sandwich straight afterwards, otherwise I will cry, throw up, get incredibly angry, or all of the above.

Hmph. At least I'm not due to take it until after Christmas. That reminds me I have to book it tomorrow. It's making me annoyed just thinking about it now.

[meow]

I had the test first time, didn't have GD and had a 4.3kg baby.

Didn't have the test second time and had a 4.7kg baby. I don't believe I had GD second time either- lo & behold it's actually possible to just healthily make "big" babies!

From the reading I did I don't hold much faith in the test, nor the idea of GD as a 'condition'.

[M D]

What are the indicators/symptoms onemmight have for Gd??

[Arimeh]

What are the indicators/symptoms onemmight have for Gd??

This is what I would like to know too.

Yowie - I see what you are saying I think that the midwife would be able to feel if the baby was getting extremely big though - for its gestation? That's what I figured anyway, I'm probably wrong!! lol

[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!

[PumpkinZulu]

I know this thread is a tad old, but it really helped me make my decision Mel, did you end up getting it done?

[Arimeh]

Nope I didn't get it done

[fionas]

I'm glad I had it done and TBH, I don't see what the big deal is really about fasting and drinking a drink. It's not that big a deal in the whole scheme of things.

Symptoms to look for if you don't have the test: feeling completely and utterly buggered, feeling weird after eating and soooooo thirsty.

I tried to manage it with diet but had to have insulin (couldn't do any exercise because of SPD). Again, I didn't find injecting myself a biggie. But I guess I compare everything to being housebound with SPD with a tantruming toddler all day so really, jabbing myself with a needle was the absolute least of my worries.

Upside - I was 66kg when I got pregnant with DD2, only put on 3kg and was 59kg after she was born. If I ever want to go on a diet, I'll be reverting to my GD diet.