I've always had bad patience (that's why God keeps sending me unruly children!) but today I am officially becoming a bad patient. My glucose test is supposed to be this afternoon but I am going to refuse it.
At my last appointment, I asked my midwife if I HAD to take the test, and she asked me if I've had any babies over 9 pounds, to which I happily responded "Nope!" (Alexander was 8 lbs. 14 oz. but that's a 2 oz. difference, and yes we are splitting hairs). She said to take the drink home with me and I could let her know when I came in if I drank it or refused.
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| Not gonna do it.Wouldn't be prudent. |
I'm not taking the test for two main reasons, besides that it's disgusting:
1) Sugar is a trigger for me. I feel anxious and sick when I eat too much, and I'd rather not have a panic attack over a bottle of orange soda junk.
2) I eat pretty healthy. I don't eat a lot of sweets at all (see number one) and I don't even eat too many carbs/gluten in my normal diet. I also exercise about an hour a day, 6 days a week. So even IF I found out I had gestational diabetes, and I was told to clean up my diet and exercise...there would be nothing I would change.
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| Not me. |
I'm feeling so guilty about refusing this test though, as I've always been such a compliant patient. But this pregnancy has made me rethink a lot of the tests that are done on mom and baby, and I think I'll be refusing more in the future. Like the antibiotic eye ointment they give to a newborn after birth, which is intended to protect the baby from STDs that I don't have, so why do it? Or the blood test for high sugar levels they give to babies that are born "big"...not gonna happen this time around. And that Hep B shot they want to vaccinate newborns with while still in the hospital? Yeah, I think I'll take my chances.
{End medical rant.}
How about a 29 week baby bump photo?
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| BOOM!! |
I really need to take these in the natural light so you can see more details, because these are my cute new pants that I'll be wearing postpartum for as long as I can:
and shoes from Christmas:
Happy Epiphany y'all!
Good for you! When people are eating well and exercising and especially when they have a previous great history of healthy pregnancies, that test does more harm than good, in my little opinion! (I've actually never taken one! I have no doubt it would make me pass out or go nuts from all that sugar while pregnant.) Don't feel guilty. You're making an informed decision for the good of both you and baby. My former doctor said that the mandates for Hep B on newborns were borderline malpractice because it was so unnecessary in normal circumstances. The risks for babies who had near zero risk of it far outweighed any benefits. You're a good mom and you look amazing :)
ReplyDeleteLook at you!!! You are glowing!!!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I also refused the test with both children. I have impaired glucose tolerance and cannot handle ANY sugary drinks. They can check your Hemoglobin A1C instead or I tested my glucose with a meter five times a day for one week.
ReplyDeleteYup! Waived Hep B at birth for all the kids, and the glucola test with Caitlin.
ReplyDeleteway to go, that sugar drink is so nasty! keep up the good work with exercising and eating healthy!
ReplyDeleteYou look beautiful! I think I was that big at 15 weeks!
ReplyDeleteI think you're fine to refuse it. I refuse most testing, although I did do that one. I actually had gestational diabetes with #2 and #3 - #1 was over 9 lbs and although I didn't test positive with him, I think I was borderline there too. My blood sugar was well controlled with #2 through diet, but I had some difficulty with #3, although we still just did the diet control - I just had to be VERY rigorous about it. Very limited carbs and sugar. Surprisingly, with #4, I did not have gestational diabetes, so there you go. I think, with as many babies as you have had, with no history, there is no need to do it. Especially with the sugar and anxiety link you have. You look awesome, too!
ReplyDeleteI had borderline gb 2x and did have gb 2x-- as well as a strong family history on my side ...so they basically assume I have it and force me to endure this test multiple times every pregnancy...seriously like once a month--the 1 hour first then they have to make sure with 3 hour after that--know Idea why they don't just give me the 3 hour to begin with. And again with this pg they told me to do it at 6 weeks--well I am 15 weeks now and still haven't done it. It makes me physically ill each time. It takes me like 2 days to recover each time...it is just yuck! But since I know that I have this problem I just start carb free practically every pg and have been very strict with myself--except this week--but really I don't let a spoonful of sugar pass my lips for 9 months each pg.
ReplyDeletei will do it since my history-- I am just postponing the thing as long as possible and see no reason why I have to do it multiple times. In the meantime I just eat as if I am.
the hep b shot--I thought it was mandatory in CA ?? i might b wrong? and since just assumed it was mandatory everywhere so I got that for all of them but I was just reading about refusing that test..i think i will this time.
Not a bad patient, just an educated one!
ReplyDeleteSo...check it! First, I want to say, I generally follow all recommendations of my OB. The things is, I hire her because I trust her. 'tests' the past have been very helpful for me, so I dig em. That being said, at the end of this last pregnancy I was going to so many appointments a week. Including iron infusions and stress tests. The iron infusions were super helpful, especially because I hemorrhaged. BUT, for the stress tests I was suppose to go to the hospital once a week, in addition to my doctor's office once a week, in addition to the regular appointments and the iron infusions and extra ultrasounds #aintnobodygottimeforthat. I ended up just kind of um, omitting from my ob that I never scheduled any hospital stress tests...and I just smiled and nodded when she said, 'I haven't heard anything from the hospital, so they must be fine!' :)
ReplyDeleteOh man, I love those pants. I might have to get some, even though I'm about 8 weeks post-partum...
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better, I refused that drink the last time around. It's gross and I was pretty sure I didn't have gestational diabetes. My practice did offer an alternative GD test, which was to eat a special meal (it was a piece of toast and some OJ- real special) 1 hour before getting my blood drawn. You could ask if they offer that instead.
You look great, btw!
Oh man, I love those pants and may have to get me some, even though I'm about 8 weeks post-partum...oh well. You look great!
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better, I didn't take the glucose test with my last two. That drink is gross and I was pretty sure I didn't have gestational diabetes. My OB practice offered an alternative test which involved eating a special meal (basically a piece of toast and a glass of OJ-real special) 1 hour before a blood draw. You could ask about that instead. Oh and we don't do the ointment in the eyes or the Hep B test either. Pretty sure my newborn isn't going to be contracting any STD's in the nursery.
I am, by nature, a questioner and a refuser when it comes to OB "routine" practices. I have always done the glucose test for some crazy reason, though. Barf. I have big babies, so I can't get away with that excuse. I have heard of the alternative test mentioned above, so if anybody gives you any guff, offer to take that one as a compromise.
ReplyDeleteYou look gorgeous! I can't believe you're 29 weeks already! I'm getting so excited for you.
I never do the eye gunk or the Hep B, for the same reasons you list. This last go-round the nurses were so annoyed/confused when they asked us why we were refusing 'treatment' and we were like, um, because we don't have herpes/the baby won't be using needles for a while yet…
ReplyDeleteYou look great!
29 weeks and so small! You look great!
ReplyDeleteAll you need to do is no fruit or juice in the morning and add protein...you will have no problem. That is what they tell gestational diabetics...When I become pregnant, it is the first thing I need to do. (even though, I'm type one) It's a hormonal thing, you can have the fruit or juice anytime, just not in the morning!
ReplyDeleteYou look beautiful by the way!
Oh, yeah, and I have big and small babies...My husband is 6ft 6 for petes sake!! Small babies, are from my side of the fam...
ReplyDeleteI keep googling about the eye goop in NC and it says it's a law which sucks. So stupid, and I would totally offer to get Steven and I both tested (me again!) at like 38 weeks to avoid it. I'm still going to try, but sadly I think that will be a no go. No hep B for baby Cash though!
ReplyDeleteThat glucose stuff was terrible. After I did it, I learned about how you can eat like a piece of toast and banana (I forget the exact combo), get your blood drawn, and it has the same results. I think I'll be opting for that next time!
pcos princess here which means glucose issues. i "tolerated" the glucose for all of 30 seconds before i started puking violently enough that i wet my pants. did i mention that the tech holding me up to puke was one of my husband's parishioners? it was mortifying to say the least! he commented that this was cruel and unusual punishment to make me do it so i was supposed to go back to my doctor and talk to her about it. two weeks later, i had an emergency c-section so i had that prescription for the glucose tolerance test in my purse until i replaced my wallet. (i was already checking my a1c several times a day.)
ReplyDeleteas for the hep b vaccine, i had a preemie so this meant lots of needle sticks. i'm not anti-vaccine by any stretch of the imagination so we consented. i'm glad we did on the outside chance that there was any contaminated needles. (it was doubtful because they are incredibly obsessive about cleanliness and infection in the nicu.)
Okay...I'll be the freak and say that I always thought that orange stuff tasted great! Seriously! It's like orange soda...yum! Okay...so I never drink soda or juice or anything, so I always thought it was like a "treat".
ReplyDeleteThat said, I didn't drink it with my last pregnancy because my midwife (homebirth) didn't do it. She did a glucose stick after eating a big meal.
I'm not sure if I would od the glucose test again. I don't really think it's necessary (for me), but I don't mind.
I definitely don't do the eye ointment or the Hep B shot. Those are just ridiculous, IMO.
I never tolerated the glucose test well either. It sounds like our diet and exercise regimens are similar. I took the test with our first 3 pregnancies, much to my surprise with our 4th my OB (very pro-test and conscientious) said there would be no real benefit to doing it again, and unless I really wanted to do it we should skip it. Yay! I should add that I also have a history of *almost* 9 lb. babies. Perhaps it might have been a little bit of a different situation since I tend toward having problems with hypoglycemia, pregnant or not. Anyway, maybe you could ask your midwife why she feels the test is important given your history. You look great! Love the pants and shoes, too!
ReplyDeleteThe eye ointment in Canada is a law as well, but I write on a piece of paper that I refused the midwife access to the baby for the ointment treatment. Both my husband and I sign it.
ReplyDeleteHigh five on the test refusal. That drink is probably worse for me than anything else I voluntarily consume during pregnancy. How is that a good idea??? :)
ReplyDeleteI had some discussions with my ob about not taking the glucose test because i ALWAYS fail the 1 hr test which means that I have to take the 3 hr test. Ultimately I was on board for the test. Maybe next time I'll make a stand and not take it!
ReplyDeleteWell look at you all cute, glowing and perfectly rounded. Lookin' good baby Martini! Seriously, you just look like ya should be having babies cuz your darling. I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteWay to be all rebel patient. No, really, good for you. I think it's totally worth skipping. I can still feel the after effects of that stuff and remember it well. Generally, I've gotten really bad headaches from that stuff and being that I'm super sensitive to excessive sweets now post babies I'd probably skip that test IF I ever needed to have it again.
Well look at you all cute, glowing and perfectly rounded. Lookin' good baby Martini! Seriously, you just look like ya should be having babies cuz your darling. I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteWay to be all rebel patient. No, really, good for you. I think it's totally worth skipping. I can still feel the after effects of that stuff and remember it well. Generally, I've gotten really bad headaches from that stuff and being that I'm super sensitive to excessive sweets now post babies I'd probably skip that test IF I ever needed to have it again.
I guess I'm too young and inexperienced to think to refuse things like this... My ob is overly protective and particular, which is why I have so many ultrasounds and and tests and such. But I've always been happy with that. That's why she gets paid the big bucks, right? I've had a couple of friends lose their babies at birth, so I'm glad my doctor is always hyper-vigilant about the health and safety of both me and the baby.
ReplyDelete29 weeks and still so tiny....
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for not wanting that horrible drink.
I am not a full fledge nurse yet but oh so very close but I am a really big advocate for women when it comes to their pregnancy, postpartum, etc because there is so much that has just been accepted because "that's what the doctor says". Anyway I am trying to say congratulations for making an educated decision that fits you and your baby. On a side note IF you do change your mind about the antibiotic you can at least ask them to wait an hour until the baby enters there deep sleep period so that you have that precious hour of bonding. To be honest as far as I know the only reason they do it right after birth is so that they the nurse can check as many things off their (literal) list as quickly as possible. Secondly if for some reason you decide you do need the glucose test their are alternatives to that orange drink, I believe it is something like a glass of cranberry juice. Just throwing those things out to you or anyone else who may be interested because it is two things that are so unknown by so many women.
ReplyDeleteGah, you are adorable!!! I love your decisions regarding your and your baby's health. There are so many things that I've just accepted over the years, and I was just talking to my dad about how that is changing.
ReplyDeleteHi Colleen-I refused that also..and I didn't have the eye ointment given to the babies (maybe one slipped by me) and only had to argue about it once or twice with the nurse...I thought the same way you do. My midwives have always gone to bat for me with all my decisions and that was nice. Also no Hep B in the hospital either. It is funny how much things change in 19 years from my first to Janey...so many more shots, so many more "laws"...but I do find that there are many more moms who are reading about these things and questioning them, and the nurses and doctors are more open to that.
ReplyDeleteYou are TINY!
You're 29 weeks already!? I can't believe how great you look! And don't stress too much about refusing, although sometimes it feels as if the whole medical establishment's goal in life is to make people feel guilty for everything. I've always refused all those things and so far we've all lived to tell the tale!
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