For anyone that has never been pregnant, or never had to endure the overnight-fasting grump-fest that is a pregnancy glucose test, it’s not very fun. In fact, I hate it. It doesn’t cause physical pain (aside from the needle pricks), and it’s not the kind of test you have to study for, but it still stinks nonetheless. If you’re not sure what a pregnancy glucose test is, here’s how it works: An expecting mother, around 28 weeks, fasts after the hour of midnight before her test. Some doctors offices don’t even allow water after this time (like mine), in order to have a true fasting blood sugar level. Upon arriving at the office, she’s given a high glucose sugary drink that must be consumed in 5 minutes. Then, exactly one hour later, her blood is drawn and tested for the sugars. If her insulin has reacted properly, the blood sugar level should be within normal range. If the sugars are too high, the test is considered failed, and then she must undergo the THREE hour test (blood drawn four times over three hours, with the same drink consumed after the first blood draw). As you can imagine, for a lady that’s overturning her amniotic fluid every 4 hours, and is hungry all the time, this is some kind of mild torture.
The first time I ever had to do one of these tests was when I was pregnant with Red. I miserably failed the one hour test, even though I didn’t feel hyped from the sugary drink. I came back for the 3 hour test, but was dismissed at the second hour. What did I learn from that? I have a naturally delayed POWERHOUSE insulin reaction. At the second hour, my blood sugar was almost nothing. That explains why I get snack-y every few hours… I have to graze to keep an even keel. But I was not a gestational diabetic.
This time, with baby girl, I failed the one hour test again. And I HATE that I have to go back and do it again. I want to predict that my body is still the same with a naturally delayed insulin reaction, but there’s no way to prove it. I have to fast overnight again and have zero water after midnight, showing up for an 8:30am test. Not. Pleased. At. All. I actually got kinda gloomy and in the dumps on Thursday when my nurse called to tell me. And to top it off, she almost tried to schedule it for my birthday. No, thank you! Instead, it’s the day after. oh well. I know it has to be done, but I don’t have to be happy about it. Chase even noticed how it was weighing on me. Maybe it’s because I feel the potential for my body to fail me? I suppose lots of mothers and pregnant ladies can feel like that.
Here’s my live blog about the 3 hour glucose test… it was a doozy! Have you had to endure one of these fasting sessions for the glucose test? Do you hate it, or not mind it at all?
I’m definitely NOT looking forward to this in another 14 weeks or so. I do terribly with not eating in the morning and really worry I’ll just pass out. We’ll see!
I never had to do this. I dunno if it just didn’t exist when I had my boys or there is some other reason why. But, I feel for you on the whole not eating thing. When I was pregnant, I was always hungry – with my second son, who is affectionately known as a bottomless pit, I looked 9 months pregnant after just the first trimester. GAH!!! LOL
haha! My felt like with this second pregnancy, I took the test and popped out immediately! Baby, ho!
I failed it with my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. I think it’s an antiquated and ridiculous test. They have much better ways to test for diabetes, so I don’t know why they can’t do the same for gestational diabetes as well. I spend most of my pregnancies throwing up and this is one test I dread because it makes me so sick from drinking it.
I had a friend whose doctor allowed her to exempt it! I wasn’t that lucky, but at least I passed. I’m sorry it made you so sick!