Forum Index
»
Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Dr Visits, Deconstructed?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
OP, since you worry about blood draws, you should be prepared that if you're in DC you may face 1-2 more blood draws for syphilis screens.
For some reason, DC is CRAZY about syphilis. It was/is one of the last 2 places in the country to require syphilis tests for a marriage license (heard they might have recently done away with that). But DC law still requires syphilis testing for pregnant women at least at the first prenatal visit and in the 3rd trimester. I say "at least" because my docs also did a test at 24 weeks (same day as the glucose screen), and said DC law required that one AND another one toward the end. Because so many pregnant ladies are out there picking up syphilis in their last few months??? What's more, I wound up going from that appointment to a hospital admission because of complications, and the hospital did the test AGAIN! |
Anonymous
|
"But DC law still requires syphilis testing for pregnant women at least at the first prenatal visit and in the 3rd trimester. "
You can easily decline this. Seriously, there is no DC law that can force you to have this blood test. On the glucola, try to schedule the appointment toward the morning and avoid eating anything with high carbs or sugar..cereal, toast, bagels. This can raise your blood sugar enough that you "fail" the test which is pretty common. (Probably because the doctors forget to tell you this before you take the test just after to make you worry less about the "failed" results. From the doctor's perspective doing the 3 hr is not a problem and will rule out all the false positive.) The three hour test is a pain and requires 4 blood draws. |
Anonymous
Thanks for this post. Very helpful. I've actually read that I should eat a high protein, no sugar, no carb breakfast in the morning then eat nothing for a few hours before the test so that the the test does not count the test sugar and the sugars from my meal but that I'm also not trying to metabolize all of that unnatural sugar on an empty stomach. Part of my problem with this test is that it's so ridiculous -- at no time would I EVER drink something like this so I just don't see how it's more accurate than, say, testing my sugar levels a few different times after REAL meals. But hey, I pick my battles. I still think I'm going to ask my doctor about it. I think he's starting to think I'm really anti-testing...but fortunately he gamely answers all of my questions. On the syphilis front, I will decline that one. I happily submitted to all the tests (HIV, chlamidia, you name it) during my first prenatal visit and do not think it's reasonable to get tested again. I'm married and know my own fidelity and would bet my life on my husband's fidelity. Even if my insurance covers it, I'd still say no out of principal. Ridiculous! A question about the strep B rectum thing. Yeah yeah, labor makes you lose your inhibitions and so on, i've heard all that but I still don't really relish the idea of having my ass swabbed. And I'm not sure why they need to worry about my rear if they're swabbing my vagina. It's not like I'm going to give birth anally! Sorry to be gross, but I'm just quite curious about this. Also, what is group B? I mean, I have done the internet research, but I'd never even heard about it before pregnancy. Are there symptoms? Is it likely / possible that I have this? Is it an STD? I've not had much unprotected sex, but maybe that's not even how you get it. Just curious. |
Anonymous
|
Here's some info on group B strep. Not an STD, just a bacterial infection. But a fairly common one.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/groupbstrepinfection.html If I remember correctly the anal swab feels like a little tickle, not like you are being probed. |
Anonymous
Ugggggggh, this is one of those Q's I half wish that I had never asked. I'm extremely sensitive to almost every antibiotic out there. I get extremely sick and vomit with most antibiotics. The only time in the past 10 years I've even allowed myself to be treated with an antibiotic was when I was working on capitol hill during the anthrax scare. I took Cipro (and yep, I had a very bad allergic reaction and had to be hospitalized). I would like to stop worrying about this, but that website noted that as many as 40 percent of all women have this. Did any of you have to do the antibiotics? This might not be a big deal to many people, but labor seems hard enough without dealing with antibiotic side effects. By the way, the probe comment did give me a much-needed little laugh. Ah, the indignities of pregnancy... |
Anonymous
|
The doc ordered a CBC and syphilis screen along with my 1 hr glucose test. I declined the syphilis at the lab and the doc never asked about it. I failed the one hour. I ate a high carb diet in the days leading up to the three hour (as instructed) and passed.
Basically, if you are not used to consuming 50g of sugar in 2 minutes routinely, then your body may not be up to the task of being able to produce enough insulin fast enough to pass the 1st test. |
Anonymous
|
FWIW, I had a whole wheat English muffin loaded with peanut butter about 2.5 hours before the 1-hour glucose test and then a bagel with a ton of cream cheese, which I finished about 10 minutes before I had to start drinking the nasty drink. No problems with the results. My doctor said only that I couldn't eat or drink anything other than water between finishing the drink and the blood draw.
About the antibiotics for Group B strep - anyone know if they are IV or oral during labor? |
Anonymous
They are administered through an IV. |
Anonymous
|
OP again here.
Clearly I'm going to have to talk with my doctor about the tests and things that are remaining instead of worrying over it. I think PP raised a point that worries me -- I do not drink a lot of sugar every day so how is my body going to know what to do with that much sugar all at once? It's so unnatural. Since posting my original message I've done some research and it seems like the test is controversial for exactly that reason -- no reasonable person would ever drink that much sugar at once and the experts at Dr. Google (a bad man, I know) say that the test is not highly reproducable (meaning women fail the 1 hour some days and pass other days -- lots of variation in the results). My doc is great but he hasn't really given me a schedule of visits or any idea of how to manage my expectations other than to say that I will be visiting monthly until a certain time and then weekly. I just need to ask directly, I guess, and then maybe mention some of my concerns. It's probably not worth getting so nervous about this stuff, but I've always been extremely uncomfortable with doctors and although pregnancy has gotten me over this somewhat, I still am not super keen on all of this stuff, especially the unknowns. Labor itself, for some reason, doesn't scare me much at all! Thanks! |
Anonymous
| OP--it does sound like talking with your doctor may be useful. However, it seems like you are getting anxious over perhaps nothing. If you are very concerned about the glucola test, just be sure to schedule it in the morning, and don't eat or drink anything after dinner the night before. That way, you play it safe. If you have healthy, functioning kidneys, they should know what to do with "that much" sugar. Your body doesn't have to practice to get used to it. If you happen to fail that test, then you will take the 3 hour test which is annoying, but not harmful to you or the baby. However, having gestational diabetes and not knowing it, can be VERY harmful to you and the baby. As far as the group B strep test, my midwife actually let me swab myself, so she didn't go near me! Your doc may want to do it him/herself, but it is literally a swab. And getting antibiotics, if it means saving the baby is a small price to pay. I don't know what you are planning regarding child birth classes, but hypnobirthing might be very helpful in your getting over some of your fears and anxieties about this process. Best of luck to you. |
Anonymous
|
This is the calendar my doctor gave to me on visits:
Obstetrical Calendar Initial Visit * Determine due date * Discuss prenatal vitamins * Order Labs and Ultrasound * Offer information about genetic testing options About 12 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Discuss prenatal laboratory testing * Listen to fetal heart beat About 16 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Listen to fetal heart beat and check uterine size * Order AFP test, if desired * Order 20 week Sonogram About 20 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Listen to fetal heart beat and check uterine size * Sign up for Childbirth Education Classes About 24 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Listen to fetal heart beat and check uterine size * Give Lab sheet for 28 weeks glucose test and CBC About 28 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Listen to fetal heart beat and check uterine size * Go to Lab for CBC and one-hour glucose test (fasting is not necessary) * A Rhogam shot is given to patients who have Rh-negative blood type * Complete hospital pre-registration form * Select Pediatrician About 30 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Listen to fetal heart beat and check uterine size * Discuss glucose test results About 32-36 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Listen to fetal heart beat and check uterine size * Check for the baby's position * Group B strep culture of the vagina * Order 36 Week Sonogram About 36 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Listen to fetal heart beat and check uterine size * A cervical examination may be done * Non Stress Test, if indicated About 40 Weeks * Check weight, BP, and urine * Listen to fetal heart beat and check uterine size * Non Stress test * Cervical examination * Discuss plan for delivery |
Anonymous
Thanks -- I'm not anxious or fearful about birth itself. I don't like antibiotics and I'm a bit in my own head about the tests leading up to it but I'm really looking forward to the birth itself. I'm sensitive to all antibiotis but actually allergic to many (including penicillin and its close relatives). I know so many people say they're allergic when they realy mean sensitive, but for me it is more than a "small price to pay," if I have to take antibiotics. The last time I had penicillin, which is what they use for this, I experienced anaphylactic shock. That was about 10 years ago. Since then, I've tried a number of substitutes when really sick at doctor's urgings and find that most of them produce at least some anaphylaxis and hives and all of them produce severe nausea. My last experience with antibiotics landed me in the hospital for two days... Doctors have tried substitututes but for some people antibiotics are not a really viable option. I'm one of them. Fortunately I rarely get sick. Anyway, just trying to put my fear of antibiotics and testing into perspective. It's not really all that irrational as I've had some terrible and dangerous experiences. As for the birth itself, perhaps perversely, I'm not worried about that at all! I always thought I'd be terrified, but I have educated myself and talked to so many moms and all the only emotion I have about the birth is a very pleasant and excited anticipation. The sort of side issues like this and a few others are starting to weird me out, but the process of getting baby down and out of the birth canal is something that I've managed to keep in good perspective. Maybe that's sort of weird, but it's true! Thanks for all of your comments. I know I'm probably coming off as a serious wacko! |
Anonymous
| The only other blood test I had that has not been mentioned is one to determine my blood type. Since I am negative, I had the Rhogam shot as well. My doctor has a small sonogram machine in office and through the end of my 2nd trimester ever visit I got to see my baby. He's done it once in my third tri, but she no longer fits on the screen. |
Anonymous
|
On the strep/antibiotic front, I had the swab earlier today and it was really, truly nothing. It did take less than 5 seconds and didn't require penetration. My doc said 20% off women are carriers (which means the vast majority are not). And the helpful site linked above says, even if you are a carrier, there's only a 1 in 200 chance the baby will be affected. Plus, there may be non-antibiotic options. So I really wouldn't worry too much in advance.
|
Anonymous
This was my same thought when I read your latest update OP. It's really a test of functionality. The glucola has an X concentration of electrolytes and sugars. I can understand why Dr. Google is questioning is reliability, but it really is a good indicator (as well as the more detailed follow up 3 hour test) of the kidneys. Unless Dr. Google has a better solution, the glucola test is actually a fairly decent standard for testing for GD. Also, when you speak with your doc., just ask the nurse what to expect. They'll be more than happy to share it with you and explain the reasoning. |