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May 2013 Moms
rmcseattle
member
Anyone opted out of tests? Glucose, etc.
rmcseattle
member
So I'm sure I am not the only one, but honestly all of the doctor appointment and tests seem a little exaggerated. Plus a majority of the tests even ultrasounds were not offered 20 years ago. Women have been having babies for over 4,000 years! I am healthy, no risk factors, no soft markers..so why all the tests. At this point 20w5d I'm too far along anyways for any information to have an affect/change my mind on my LO. I really don't want to take the glucose test. Has anyone opted out of any tests and is the experience different with a midwife?
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Re: Anyone opted out of tests? Glucose, etc.
I have a 21 year old daughter. I had several ultrasounds, Glucose Tolerence, AFP, etc...
I cannot imagine why you would not want to know if you have Gestational Diabetes. If you do, controlling it is critical for your baby's health.
Still, it's your body, your baby, your decision.
agreed, passing on the NT Scan or quad screening tests are one thing, but the GD test is pretty important since if you have it and do not know you could be putting both yourself and your baby at risk for serious complications.
this.
We delivered LO1 with a CNM in a hospital. We didn't do many of the tests with that practice but we did do the glucose test simply because GD is very treatable and we didn't see it as invasive.
We are hoping to deliver LO2 at home with a TM. I will have only had my a/s but no other testing of the baby. We did draw my blood early on. For us personally, I agree with you that much of the information would not have changed us following through with this pregnancy. I'm not suggesting that this is for everyone, only that with my health history we feel that some things are unnecessary for us. That said, I will do the glucose test again with this practice. This is something I feel that I can manage and help ease if GD is present.
This!
opting out of genetic testing or the NT scan is one thing...opting out of a glucose test is IMO unsafe. If you have GD, you need to know and control your diet for your baby's health.
The tests for other things like trisomies are so you can be better prepared---for example, where I live, we have excellent schools for children with Down syndrome---but they have incredibly long wait lists. So as a parent, I'd want to be prepared for this.
Agreed. Although my Dr didn't offer me any other screenings because she said they are often wrong and scare the mother into aborting a perfectly healthy baby.
The GD test is covered by insurance and only an hour of time. I think we can handle it.
I asked to be tested early in my first pregnancy because someone in my family had GD, they said I didn't need to be because I was healthy and thin. At 28 weeks I tested positive for GD.
I agree the tests can be a bit much, but our food supply and environmental status isn't the same as it was even 20 years ago. I would opt out of many tests, but not this one.
Many midwives are open to alternative tests where you eat a super carb heavy meal or snack and then do the blood draw.
If the screening tests dectect there may be an issue they would usually recommend an amnio to confirm exactly what is going on. You don't jump from NT to abortion, you would confirm what was going on first. I wouldn't feel comfortable with a doctor who said that.
Most people who do prenatal screening want to be fully prepared should anything be an issue and certain things can be corrected or helped if detected before birth. Waiting until birth can sometimes be too late.
Tests like the A/S and the test for gestational diabetes should be done for the health of the baby. I prefer to do all screening but I prefer to prepare for what lies ahead and start learning about it or dealing with it before the baby is here. we're all different.
EDIT
I really dont understand why people say things like the above bolded. Not everyone has certain tests simply so they can abort if something is wrong. Certain outcomes will change the course of your prenatal care, your doctor, the place you deliver, and the type of doctors that would need to be there waiting at your child's birth. Sure, some people choose to terminate if certain things go wrong, but many women have these tests for the GOOD of their child (and themselves). There isnt a right or wrong decision when it comes to certain screenings, but the "I didnt have the test because I'd love my child anyway" justification dosent take the whole picture into consideration.
I do understand that it seems like it's constant doctor's appointments and tests, both elective and non-elective. It can get tiring. But as someone pointed out, infant mortality rates have steadily dropped, and there are many conditions that you might not ever know you have, like pre-E or GD, that could harm your baby or yourself. I would prefer to take advantage of non-invasive screeings that help protect both my health and my baby's.
I dont think "not wanting to" is a good reason to refuse something like the GD screening.
To each his own. My doctor did offer the tests, but said the NT screening could sometimes show something that was not actually a problem. She said she had an abnormal NT with her daughter and saw the high risk doctor at her practice only to find out that it happens pretty often and everything was fine. Of course NT screenings and the other tests do find things that are actually wrong, but it was not something I felt I wanted or needed to know. Just my opinion. I'm 25. If I was in my 30's, I probably would consider having them. I know age is not the main factor, but I felt my risks were low.
Also, my doctor said she was required to ask if I would ever consider termination every time she asked if I wanted the NT or blood tests.
I opted out of the NT scan because I knew I didn't want an amnio or any diagnostic tests because of the risk of miscarriage. Even though the risk is small, as someone who's suffered a miscarriage, I wasn't willing to take ANY risk. So a positive NT scan would just cause me to worry and wonder "what if" the rest of the pregnancy.
THAT SAID, the glucose test is a whole different story. Gestational diabetes has nothing to do with family history, presents little to zero symptoms, and can be dangerous to your baby. What's more, something like 10% of pregnant women get it. If you do, your baby is at a higher risk of developing diabetes as a child. IMO, pick your battles on which tests you want, but it's irresponsible to skip this one.
BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13
BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15
BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d
Just keep swimming.
Is this a serious question? Are we really lumping glucose testing in with NT scans?
Damn doctors, always trying to find out stuff about my body and stuff. If I didn't know better, I would swear they were using medical advancements to ensure a healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby...they wouldn't do that though, right?
We opted out of the extra blood testing but I would never skip the GD test.
ILY
I would be extremely upset if my doctor did not even offer me the testing, and allow me to make my own choice. That is not the doctor's job. It is the parent's responsibility to gather the information and decide what works best for them. The doctor sounds like they overstepped their boundaries with that one.
Currently Reading: Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes
I understand your situation with not having a NICU. However, I don't feel it's right to say the reasoning behind someone's choice is "kind of wrong." There's really no right or wrong reason to choose to have a NT scan or not. It's a personal decision, regardless of reasoning.
Edit: Forgot to quote PP.
With with DS I was a very thin, very healthy 29 year old. I am 5'7" and pp weighed 115 lbs. I failed the glucose test and barely passed the 2nd one. I really had to watch what i ate. All the nurses couldn't believe it. They said I was the skinniest person to fail! DS was born early and was 8lb 10oz. I hate all of the tests especially the blood tests but gd is really serious and as in my case anyone can get it!
I think you misread what I said (or maybe I wasn't clear, on second thought). The idea that you say "I wouldn't change my mind" is implying that those who DO have the tests WOULD... and that's the reason they're doing it. THAT'S what I think is wrong. The implication that comes with that is kind of hurtful to those who did choose to get the screening done. It implies that you care about your child less or are more likely to terminate if something is "wrong". When for most people, that was not the reason in the slightest.
Currently Reading: Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes
I opted out of the down syndrome/spina bifida (sp?) test - the outcome would not change my mind about this pregnancy, so I don't need the stress of a possibility.
I'm going to talk to my doctor about opting out of the glucose test - in general, I would take it (I did with my first two kids), but I had GD with my last pregnancy (and I have scheduled c-sections), so I went into this pregnancy knowing it's a possibility and I've been eating the same healthy diet I ate with pregnancy #2. Therefore, having the test come back positive would not affect my diet or delivery method. But that will be a discussion for my doctor at my next appointment and if he thinks I should take it, I will.
But like I said, without these factors, I would absolutely take the test!
Just because you are healthy, have no risk factors or markers does not make you immune to developing anything. You have no idea how your body will react to pregnancy or to the baby inside you. The majorety of woman who develope GD are as you say "healthy". I really don't want to pee in a cup every appointment, but I would be a fool to decline something so simple on my part to ensure the health of my baby just because I consider myself healthy and "really don't want to".
This. Thank you. Took the words right out of my mouth.
I had GD with my last pregnancy and modifying my diet was not enough to control it. Eventually I had to take insulin orally and ultimately, I had to inject it.
I understood what you meant, imoan. I did testing and feel offended that OP would assume I only did so to terminate if there had been a possible issue. Sigh...
EDD 1/31/13, MC May 17. EDD 3/31/13, MC July 26. I miss you so much already my angel loves
I agree with this. I opted out of the optional tests for chromosomal abnormalities, etc. but I wouldn't want to opt out of the GTT.
Oh, I wasn't trying to imply that. Like I said, I would probably consider it if I was older. It just wasn't an option I chose for this pregnancy. My doctor did ask me every appointment the first few visits if I would ever terminate because she said she was required to ask. That's what I meant. I would never assume someone would possibly terminate just because they had the test.
Weird because other than your title, your actual post was all about how all the tests are exaggerated, you have no risk factors, you really don't want to take the Glucose test, and you wanted to know if anyone has opted out of tests. I hope you are back-tracking because you realize how ridiculous you sounded.
This! I would equate glucose testing with having them check my weight and BP. Non invasive and only for yours and baby's health through delivery.
My MFM also shared with me this week that the stillbirth rate a few decades ago was over 20x the rate it is today, so personally I don't want to go back 20 years. I have my GD test done yesterday. Really I do it for my comfort. I'd like to know if I have GD because I don't want a 12 lb baby coming out of my vag.
Also like you, I would be hard pressed to terminate a pregnancy over a test but my doctor made a really great point once. He's been in the delivery room where mom knew what to expect and when she didn't get what she was expecting and those that knew were much better prepared to receive that bundle of joy.