One Hour Glucose Tolerance Test During Pregnancy
UPDATE: I PASSED!!
Forty-eight hours doesn't seem like a long time.
Unless you are waiting for the results of a glucose test. Then suddenly, it echoes the same feeling as waiting for a college acceptance letter in the mail.
Anxiety rules both processes.
Last night, I did not get any sleep.
Not that I can even remember last night.
I feel asleep with the television on, as always, and woke up quite a few times to Steve Harvey's voice on the popular game show, Family Feud.
I had the jitters.
It wasn't that I was nervous about my results from my one hour glucose tolerance test at the doctor's office yesterday morning. It was more like I was having a difficult time coming down from the sugar high I was on.
I felt awful.
The one hour glucose tolerance test screens pregnant women, usually between weeks 24 and 28, for gestational diabetes. You are given a 50g bottle of sugary mix to consume. Then, you wait for one hour to have your blood drawn. There is a particular number that the doctors want to keep your reading under. Around 135/140. If your number comes back higher than this, you failed the one hour test and will be required to come back in for the three hour test.
Fun times!
Here's how it all went down.
Three hours before my test, I was instructed to eat a light, starchy breakfast. I chose two pieces of toasts with butter and jelly (one of the recommendations) and a glass of orange juice. I was worried that anything I ate that morning would alter my test results. But I just went along with it. Whatever happened, happened.
My appointment time was scheduled for 8:45 in the morning, so I had to wake up at 5:30 am. That alone was hard for me to do. Once I got out of bed, I was fine.
I showered, got dressed and waited for Kaden to do the same. We had to hit the road early so that I could drop him off at a friend's house so that he could catch a ride to school (thank goodness for great friends/moms to help out other moms).
Before leaving the house and one hour before my scheduled appointment, I had to consume the entire bottle of mixture in five minutes. My doctor's office gave me a bottle to take home at my previous appointment. Some practices will have you come into the lab and take it there. I was for sure it would taste nasty and be extremely difficult to gulp down.
Neither happened.
I had read so many horrible stories about this glucose test that I almost dreaded the day I had to participate. Thank goodness all of the drama didn't play out like the stories I read on pregnancy forums.
I finished the mix in no time.
Like two minutes.
Easy.
But I did feel a little hyped up after I took it.
Like a rush of adrenaline.
A slight case of nausea.
Nothing major though.
I arrived at my appointment within the hour time slot. I had four vials of blood drawn – to check my blood sugar levels, test for anemia and some other stuff.
I HATE NEEDLES! But the phlebotomist who administers the needle is always so gentle and caring, I hardly ever notice. She makes me feel at ease.
This is not a part of the glucose tolerance test, but I was also given a shot, in the rear (OUCH! and no picture), called RhoGAM. My blood type is O negative. The shot is used to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), which stops my immune system from attacking the babies positive red blood cells. I even have to carry around a little card stating my blood type and that I was given the shot recently. How cute?!
Immediately following all the glucose and needle fun, I visited my obstetrician for a check-up appointment. I have them every two weeks now. Still left is 30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 weeks and then delivery. Let's hope I make it pass 36 weeks this time, since Kaden was born prematurely.
It was a rather quick appointment.
She said everything looked great. My blood pressure is almost perfect. I'm this close to being 200 pounds. The baby's heartbeat sounds glorious. I'm measuring on target. No major swelling. No serious complaints.
Everything is just peachy!
I was so excited about my great day at the doctor's office, I stopped at Target to create a baby registry. Let's just say my excitement spilled over and I became trigger happy. I will probably delete a few duplicate items. But I can say that I had fun.
Only 84 more days until I get to see my little guy. I can't wait!
Let's Connect!
**This is my experience of taking the glucose tolerance test. All doctors are different. Please consult your doctor for instructions on how to take the test.
Forty-eight hours doesn't seem like a long time.
Unless you are waiting for the results of a glucose test. Then suddenly, it echoes the same feeling as waiting for a college acceptance letter in the mail.
Anxiety rules both processes.
Last night, I did not get any sleep.
Not that I can even remember last night.
I feel asleep with the television on, as always, and woke up quite a few times to Steve Harvey's voice on the popular game show, Family Feud.
I had the jitters.
It wasn't that I was nervous about my results from my one hour glucose tolerance test at the doctor's office yesterday morning. It was more like I was having a difficult time coming down from the sugar high I was on.
I felt awful.
The one hour glucose tolerance test screens pregnant women, usually between weeks 24 and 28, for gestational diabetes. You are given a 50g bottle of sugary mix to consume. Then, you wait for one hour to have your blood drawn. There is a particular number that the doctors want to keep your reading under. Around 135/140. If your number comes back higher than this, you failed the one hour test and will be required to come back in for the three hour test.
Fun times!
Here's how it all went down.
Three hours before my test, I was instructed to eat a light, starchy breakfast. I chose two pieces of toasts with butter and jelly (one of the recommendations) and a glass of orange juice. I was worried that anything I ate that morning would alter my test results. But I just went along with it. Whatever happened, happened.
My appointment time was scheduled for 8:45 in the morning, so I had to wake up at 5:30 am. That alone was hard for me to do. Once I got out of bed, I was fine.
I showered, got dressed and waited for Kaden to do the same. We had to hit the road early so that I could drop him off at a friend's house so that he could catch a ride to school (thank goodness for great friends/moms to help out other moms).
Before leaving the house and one hour before my scheduled appointment, I had to consume the entire bottle of mixture in five minutes. My doctor's office gave me a bottle to take home at my previous appointment. Some practices will have you come into the lab and take it there. I was for sure it would taste nasty and be extremely difficult to gulp down.
Neither happened.
I had read so many horrible stories about this glucose test that I almost dreaded the day I had to participate. Thank goodness all of the drama didn't play out like the stories I read on pregnancy forums.
Tastes like flat, orange soda
Like two minutes.
Easy.
But I did feel a little hyped up after I took it.
Like a rush of adrenaline.
A slight case of nausea.
Nothing major though.
Waaaaaahhhhhh!!!!
I HATE NEEDLES! But the phlebotomist who administers the needle is always so gentle and caring, I hardly ever notice. She makes me feel at ease.
Here's some double chin action
This is not a part of the glucose tolerance test, but I was also given a shot, in the rear (OUCH! and no picture), called RhoGAM. My blood type is O negative. The shot is used to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN), which stops my immune system from attacking the babies positive red blood cells. I even have to carry around a little card stating my blood type and that I was given the shot recently. How cute?!
Immediately following all the glucose and needle fun, I visited my obstetrician for a check-up appointment. I have them every two weeks now. Still left is 30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 weeks and then delivery. Let's hope I make it pass 36 weeks this time, since Kaden was born prematurely.
It was a rather quick appointment.
Scarf: thrift store
Everything is just peachy!
I was so excited about my great day at the doctor's office, I stopped at Target to create a baby registry. Let's just say my excitement spilled over and I became trigger happy. I will probably delete a few duplicate items. But I can say that I had fun.
Only 84 more days until I get to see my little guy. I can't wait!
Let's Connect!
**This is my experience of taking the glucose tolerance test. All doctors are different. Please consult your doctor for instructions on how to take the test.
