Glucose Screening

emily1052

I know we’ve discussed these in random threads but thought it would be nice to have a designed place.  Post your results, questions and comments!

emily1052

I’m waiting in the waiting room for my blood draw.  For other FTM’s I really didn’t mind the special juice.  I live in Texas and you order sweet tea at restaurants that is way sweeter. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

SLou24

I had my 24 week appt today and they gave me my drank. Now I just have to get it done at my next appt (or beforehand if I want to make the extra trip). I'm dreading it. Although last time I had orange, and they gave me fruit punch flavor, so it'll either be not as bad or way worse!! 

greenbean-2

@SLou24 I had the fruit punch flavor last time and it reminded me of  Hawaiian Punch. I never liked it as a kid, but the drink (cold) wasn’t too bad. 

dogmom5

I’ve only had the orange drink which wasn’t too bad.  It kind of tasted like flat orange soda.  However, I always felt like it burned my throat from all of the sugar

andrawrmeda2

We have orange and lemon lime and they both stink. So I'll be holding my nose and gulping it down cause you have to drink it in the waiting room and they come get the bottle to be sure you drink 90% of it, yuckkkk. I'm going this coming Wednesday because she wanted me to do it at my appointment but I had both kiddos with me and they moved the lab into my Drs old office upstairs in the main entrance area. I was not about to chase my kids around for an hour to keep them in the very open/public waiting room upstairs. So I just said id come back Wednesday when SO gets off work 😂

galentine

Warning long question ahead:

At my appointment yesterday, they gave me the exciting orange drink and instructions for my glucose test. Since I am rH negative, my office requires me to have me glucose test immediately preceeding your rhogam shot (I guess because the shot can give you a false positive on the glucose test, and also because they require another blood typing immediately prior to getting the shot, so combining it with the glucose test reduces the overall number of blood draws needed). I'm required to get the rhogam shot during my 28th week exactly, so by default the glucose test needs to be during the 28th week as well.

Welp. I happen to be out of the country from 28w1d until 29w3d 😬 (with 28w0d being a Sunday when my clinic is closed). My ONLY option is to come in right when they open at 7:30am on 28w1d before we have to head to the airport for our babymoon. Ok, no big deal. BUT. My baby shower is the afternoon before that on 28w0d. And my baby shower is at an Italian restaurant, so I'll be loading up on pasta/bread/carbs, desserts, and probably sugary sweet punch drinks. Oh, and did I mention the baby shower happens to be the same day of my birthday, and I am pretty sure the host is going to surprise me with a birthday cake? Soooooooo, am I totally screwed? Will all the carbs and sugar 15-18 hours before the glucose test cause me to fail?

cmbt2

@galentine in theory, you’re fine. You really only need to cut out carbs a few hours prior (3-4 hours before the test). 

Its a bit odd to me they’re doing blood typing now, though. You get typed at delivery as well, and I’ll warn you, it will show that you have Rh antibodies due to the shot

galentine

cmbt2 said:

@galentine in theory, you’re fine. You really only need to cut out carbs a few hours prior (3-4 hours before the test). 

Its a bit odd to me they’re doing blood typing now, though. You get typed at delivery as well, and I’ll warn you, it will show that you have Rh antibodies due to the shot

@cmbt2, that's good to hear I should be ok to indulge at my shower. Why the "in theory" qualifier, though? 😂

I'm not sure why they require another blood typing immediately prior to the shot. I guess just to confirm I really do need the shot? They did a blood typing in the 1st tri already, so it's sort of silly when they already have it on file and it's not like blood type changes. But Google seems to indicate it's common policy to require a "fresh" blood type before the rhogam shot.

emily1052

@galentine I’m sure you’ll be fine and the worst thing that could happen would be that you falsely fail.  I’d explain the situation to you OB and if you were to fail maybe they’ll just have you repeat the 1hour test again.  

SLou24

@galentine I think you'll be fine -- they say to eat normally and just to not have anything to eat or drink in the 2 (I think?) hours before the test. And if you do fail, your OB may have you retake it due to the circumstances or worst case you'll take the 3 hour test, which, I've heard is not pleasant but not the end of the world?

ab920

galentine said:

Soooooooo, am I totally screwed? Will all the carbs and sugar 15-18 hours before the glucose test cause me to fail?

SO, from my experience, a lot of sugar the day before my glucose test skewed my results. I had two pieces of cake around 3PM the day before my test. My test was at 8AM the next morning and I failed miserably. When I took the 3-hour test, I ate normally the day before (no cake, but normal amounts of sugar), and passed with flying colors. The next baby, I stayed away from cake and pastries the day before, and passed easily.

This may not be the case for everyone, but 2 pieces of cake the day before was NOT worth having to undergo the 3-hour test. Good luck! 

mrsinterweb

@galentine any way you can persuade them to let you do the glucose test earlier and come back for just the rhogam part? Or maybe you could tell them your vacation starts earlier and you can come in for both before your shower? You also may want to find out what happens if you fail your test and you are on vacation. Would that pose a problem with any needed next steps?

cmbt2

galentine said:

cmbt2 said:

@galentine in theory, you’re fine. You really only need to cut out carbs a few hours prior (3-4 hours before the test). 

Its a bit odd to me they’re doing blood typing now, though. You get typed at delivery as well, and I’ll warn you, it will show that you have Rh antibodies due to the shot

@cmbt2, that's good to hear I should be ok to indulge at my shower. Why the "in theory" qualifier, though? 😂

I'm not sure why they require another blood typing immediately prior to the shot. I guess just to confirm I really do need the shot? They did a blood typing in the 1st tri already, so it's sort of silly when they already have it on file and it's not like blood type changes. But Google seems to indicate it's common policy to require a "fresh" blood type before the rhogam shot.

I put it there because there’s always that one person who fails and blames the cake lol

it’s pretty common to fail the one hour and go on to pass the 3 hours with flying colors. The point of the 1 hr is to catch those at higher risk for GD, not diagnosis it

galentine

mrsinterweb said:

@galentine any way you can persuade them to let you do the glucose test earlier and come back for just the rhogam part? Or maybe you could tell them your vacation starts earlier and you can come in for both before your shower? You also may want to find out what happens if you fail your test and you are on vacation. Would that pose a problem with any needed next steps?

@mrsinterweb, these are all good questions, and I don't think I know the answers to any of them except for they definitely want me to do the glucose test and rhogam shot in the same day. You bring up some good points though, I might try to call the nurse and ask.

nnaelilak

@galentine if you don't mind blood draws, I'd just do the glucose test earlier. It's not like an extra blood draw will hurt anything, it's just a nuisance (unless you're terrified of them)! 

andrawrmeda2

I'm here now. This isn't as terrible as I remembered. Still not good but not as bad lol I have 5 minutes to down it though. I'm reminding myself I'm treating myself to a total hair make over after this 😂

sarahnugget2

Out of curiosity, what makes this Glucose test so bad? I didn't think it was a big deal but now that a bunch of people have said they dread it I'm nervous to do it. Can someone tell me what to expect ? 

cmbt2

sarahnugget2 said:

Out of curiosity, what makes this Glucose test so bad? I didn't think it was a big deal but now that a bunch of people have said they dread it I'm nervous to do it. Can someone tell me what to expect ? 

The drink tastes like flat orange soda,
and if you don’t normally tolerate excess amounts of sugar, you feel like crap the remainder of the day. It’s why I always do mine in the afternoon. I crash from it and spend the remainder of the day nauseated from the excess sugar

junebabyh

@galentine I am also rH negative. I have never been required to do the glucose test and rhogam shot on the same day (and I’ve been with two different practices between DS1 and 2). Obviously every doc has a different policy though, but I agree with someone else who asked if you could persuade them to let you come in on the Friday before? It’s only two days before, and if your baby is measuring a little ahead then maybe she’d be basically at 28w by then anyway. Also, with DS2 there was some snafu with my insurance and I couldn’t get the shot until my 29th week. I had been worried about this because I’m a pretty big rule followers, but my OB was very easy going abt it and said it really didn’t matter if it’s off by a few days. 

trapperkeeper87

@junebabyh Thanks for this info. I'm B- and was beginning to wonder why my doctor didn't mention it needing to be the same appointment (which I don't have scheduled yet, but I'm going to be scheduling next week at my regular appointment). I know I have to get the shot, but I hadn't heard that it was supposed to be the same appointment. I actually hadn't heard much other than it was supposed to be around 28 weeks! FTM problems.

cmbt2

meagan-t said:

@junebabyh Thanks for this info. I'm B- and was beginning to wonder why my doctor didn't mention it needing to be the same appointment (which I don't have scheduled yet, but I'm going to be scheduling next week at my regular appointment). I know I have to get the shot, but I hadn't heard that it was supposed to be the same appointment. I actually hadn't heard much other than it was supposed to be around 28 weeks! FTM problems.

They typically overlap- I’ve always had them done at the same app, but I’ve neve been told it’s required. You should also be offered a DTaP at that appointment as well 

also, the rhogam shot is much more enjoyable if you get it in your arm. 

trapperkeeper87

cmbt2 said:

meagan-t said:

@junebabyh Thanks for this info. I'm B- and was beginning to wonder why my doctor didn't mention it needing to be the same appointment (which I don't have scheduled yet, but I'm going to be scheduling next week at my regular appointment). I know I have to get the shot, but I hadn't heard that it was supposed to be the same appointment. I actually hadn't heard much other than it was supposed to be around 28 weeks! FTM problems.

They typically overlap- I’ve always had them done at the same app, but I’ve neve been told it’s required. You should also be offered a DTaP at that appointment as well 

also, the rhogam shot is much more enjoyable if you get it in your arm. 

Really?! I didn't mind the butt when I miscarried in December. The nurse had me stand and lean against my husband with all the weight on the opposite leg. The needle just looked bigger than a regular one, so I went that route instead.

cmbt2

meagan-t said:

cmbt2 said:

meagan-t said:

@junebabyh Thanks for this info. I'm B- and was beginning to wonder why my doctor didn't mention it needing to be the same appointment (which I don't have scheduled yet, but I'm going to be scheduling next week at my regular appointment). I know I have to get the shot, but I hadn't heard that it was supposed to be the same appointment. I actually hadn't heard much other than it was supposed to be around 28 weeks! FTM problems.

They typically overlap- I’ve always had them done at the same app, but I’ve neve been told it’s required. You should also be offered a DTaP at that appointment as well 

also, the rhogam shot is much more enjoyable if you get it in your arm. 

Really?! I didn't mind the butt when I miscarried in December. The nurse had me stand and lean against my husband with all the weight on the opposite leg. The needle just looked bigger than a regular one, so I went that route instead.

Really. I only get them in the arm.

junebabyh

@meagan-t @cmbt2 It's a painful shot either way IMO, but not worse than contractions without an epidural!    I've had it both ways--one arm, one butt. It's definitely sore for days after in either place (it's a pretty large needle). But honestly you are poked and prodded so much during pregnancy that it's kind of par for the course at this point. The time I had the arm shot was with DS1 and they did it in the office for me. With DS2 I had to get it done in the hospital lab (connected to my OB's office). So maybe that had something to do with it, but the hospital didn't give me the choice. The soreness in the bum is maybe slightly worse b/c you can't avoid the pain every time you sit down, whereas you can just not touch your arm much and be fine.

trapperkeeper87

@junebabyh and @cmbt2 I honestly think I got lucky in December because mine wasn't sore afterward, which surprised me (I only remember one other butt shot in my life and that was 2016 when I had a second degree sunburn; that sucker was sore for a week, though not nearly as sore as the sunburn). I'll probably still go butt this next time around, but I'll consider the last one not being sore as a fluke.
Darn.

galentine

I had no idea the rhogam shot is more painful than any other shot. YAY lucky me getting that shot right before I board the plane for my babymoon! 😭

junebabyh

Oh @galentine. Boo!! I didn't put two and two together either. It's not THAT bad. lol But maybe you could it at 29w4d??? That's about when I did it with DS2 and like I said before, my OB was not concerned about the timing whatsoever.

cmbt2

junebabyh said:

@meagan-t @cmbt2 It's a painful shot either way IMO, but not worse than contractions without an epidural!    I've had it both ways--one arm, one butt. It's definitely sore for days after in either place (it's a pretty large needle). But honestly you are poked and prodded so much during pregnancy that it's kind of par for the course at this point. The time I had the arm shot was with DS1 and they did it in the office for me. With DS2 I had to get it done in the hospital lab (connected to my OB's office). So maybe that had something to do with it, but the hospital didn't give me the choice. The soreness in the bum is maybe slightly worse b/c you can't avoid the pain every time you sit down, whereas you can just not touch your arm much and be fine.

I fought my hospital on it. I had them pull my IV before it got and refused to let them do it anywhere but the arm. Yes, I’m that patient

cmbt2

galentine said:

I had no idea the rhogam shot is more painful than any other shot. YAY lucky me getting that shot right before I board the plane for my babymoon! 😭

It’s similar to the DTaP- the more you use your arm, the less sore it will be

galentine

cmbt2 said:

galentine said:

I had no idea the rhogam shot is more painful than any other shot. YAY lucky me getting that shot right before I board the plane for my babymoon! 😭

It’s similar to the DTaP- the more you use your arm, the less sore it will be

Lol oops I hit post but didn't type anything.

Anyway. I've had Tdap in the last few years and didn't find it too horrible, so that's good to hear!

junebabyh

I am just guessing here, but doesn't the arm vs. the butt have to do with injecting it into a more fatty spot? In the arm it's muscle. In the butt, it's most likely fat. No?? Any medical professionals feel free to pipe up.

cmbt2

junebabyh said:

I am just guessing here, but doesn't the arm vs. the butt have to do with injecting it into a more fatty spot? In the arm it's muscle. In the butt, it's most likely fat. No?? Any medical professionals feel free to pipe up.

It needs to go into a muscle

jenferlee82

galentine said:

cmbt2 said:

galentine said:

I had no idea the rhogam shot is more painful than any other shot. YAY lucky me getting that shot right before I board the plane for my babymoon! 😭

It’s similar to the DTaP- the more you use your arm, the less sore it will be

Lol oops I hit post but didn't type anything.

Anyway. I've had Tdap in the last few years and didn't find it too horrible, so that's good to hear!

I had to have this shot back at 9 weeks when I had my bleeding scare, and honestly I didn't think it was bad at all. My arm was a little sore after but nothing that bothered me very much.

jcbh2018

I did my Glucose test today. Fingers crossed that everything is fine. We leave the state on Sunday and he told me they won’t get results until Friday. 
Anyways, it was a sad goodbye today with my OB. I hope I find someone just as caring and kind as him. 

kindbytealikat

@junebabyh I don’t know much about Rhgram, I’ve never given it. But the general thought process with arm vs butt injections, injections that are harsh on the muscle, think a large amount/something thick/something unsmooth, go into the but because the muscle is much larger. The larger muscle allows it to spread more so you won’t hurt the muscle itself as bad. That’s not to say it’s less painful. However a viscous/thick medication like testosterone for example is much less painful in the butt. Injections into the fatty part are generally given in abdomen or fatty part of arm/thigh.

junebabyh

@kindbytealikat Interesting! Makes complete sense. Thanks!

stephanie123456

After an eventful 1-hr glucose test yesterday morning where I passed out while they were doing the blood draw, I just got the results that I passed!! The cutoff was 135 and my result was 114.

galentine

@stephanie123456, woohoo! Congrats on passing and not having to go through that again!! 🎉

junebabyh

@galentine I had my 24w appt today, and so they told me what to expect at the 28w appt.... AND she said I will do alllllll the things on the same day! It's like a two hour (not quite) appt b/c of the glucose test, the sono, and the rhogam shot. Apparently, they do these shots in the office now (remember I mentioned that before I had to go to the hospital lab to do it). So I stand corrected as to what i said before about it not mattering. Although, I do think it doesn't matter that much as I've had two babies before and never did all these things on the same day. I did specifically ask if I had to do in my 28th week and they just shrugged and said "give or take." So hope you can get yours done the Friday before your vacation.

quidditchcapn1120

I scheduled mine today but due to scheduling issues it’s scheduled for 25+4.  It seemed a little early but the front desk called back to the nurse and she said it would be fine.  Anyone else take it that early?