Gestational Diabetes Screening is apparently a now standard test for pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks ( I was a little late doing it in my 31st). While the test is standard, my level of anxiety was most certainly not! I had to stop eating at 8 the night before, get up at 6 the morning after (today) but of course I got up to pee at 4.30 and couldn’t get back to sleep afterwards. At the doctor’s I knew I had to be poked by a needle 3 times, which I absolutely despise – my only motivation was that I was doing it for the baby – it’s not all about me any more!
But that was not the worst part – the ickiest thing I knew I had to do was to drink a sugary liquid and I was so afraid I would throw it up and then have to go through this whole circus act again. When they gave me the drink, after the results of the first poking came in, I first sniffed it, as I do with everything I put in my mouth (yes, I know it’s impolite!). It didn’t have a smell. Then I drank a sip and to my surprise it tasted like cough syrup I used to drink as a kid – far better than I had expected! I then drank the thing with the nurse’s enthusiastic cheerleading: “dai! Dai!” (I’m in Italy). To my surprise I didn’t throw up but my baby was certainly dancing the Polka in my belly (I’m Polish) for the following hour.
You want to hear a funny thing about my dreaded blood withdrawals? I always tell the nurses I’m a terrible case, I’m afraid, I don’t like it, I could faint and I want to lie down. And it’s all true! As the nurse was getting closer with her gruesome needle and stuck it into my arm (ouch!) I heard her phone ring and I started moving my feet as if I wanted to dance and the poking got less terrible. My sister-in-law who was witnessing the whole spectacle suggested I listen to the ipod for the pokings! What a genius idea! I already do it at the dentist’s! And I will definitely do it in labor (I already have all the necessary technology packed in my suitcase). I survived the two following blood withdrawals that way.
I was doubting whether this test was even necessary. I mean I know I eat an awful lot of dark chocolate but that’s just part of my diet! 🙂 And it makes me happy, well I’m already happy and I get there via different means. But the chocolate just make it a whole lot better. I’m getting off-topic. Here’s why I did it: Between 2 and 5 percent of expectant mothers develop gestational diabetes, making it one of the most common health problems during pregnancy. And because the condition rarely causes any symptoms, testing is the only way to find out whether you have it.
HOW DID YOUR GLUCOSE SCREENING GO? PLEASE SHARE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW 🙂
You might also like:
Baby Web 
What do YOU think? Please comment here.