Getting Through Your Glucose Test During Pregnancy

The Glucose Tolerance Test is given to pregnant women between their 24th and 28th week of pregnancy to check for gestational diabetes. This is a high blood sugar condition that some women develop during pregnancy that can be harmful to the fetus later in life. Although only a few percentage of women (about 4%) develop this condition, it is important that every woman gets checked during each pregnancy.

I am currently pregnant with my first baby and just had my Glucose Tolerance Test three days ago. I had heard many women talk about this test and tell me how bad it was, so naturally I was worried about taking it. I would get the "Oh boy, have fun!", sarcastic advice along with a face that just showed how horrible it must be. I would also be told, "I hope you pass it the first time or you will have to go back and do a 3-hour glucose test!" At this point I was trying to find any little advice on how to get through the test without passing out!

Here are the facts about what will happen during your test:
Depending on where your doctor or insurance requires you to do the test, you may be doing different things during the test. If you can not take the test at your doctor's office during a scheduled check-up appointment you will have to get it done at a blood lab. In this case, you will have to drink the glucose drink and then just sit in the waiting room for one hour. If at all possible, I suggest incorporating this test with a routine check-up appointment.

If you can do this, you will check-in for your appointment and then go straight to the lab to drink the glucose drink. As soon as you get the whole drink down your one hour test will begin. As for the drink itself, it comes in orange or fruit punch flavor. You have 5 minutes to drink 8oz of this sugary drink that contains 50 grams of glucose. If you do not get all of it drank within the allowed 5 minutes you can not finish the test and will be told to come back on a different day to try again. Also, if you get sick and vomit, the test will not count and you will have to come back on a different day.