Can anyone explain to me why during the 3 hour test you get the full 3 hours to have your glucose levels drop below 140, but 140 is "failing" for the 1 hour test? Why didn't they just give me 3 hours to begin with? I wonder if this is just another scam to get my insurance $ for a test I didn't really need...
It prompted me to poke around a bit...
Instead of being vigilant about picking up on problems, many health-care providers (doctors far more than midwives) over-test because they fear liability and simply expect trouble. Many of these newer tests were created to diagnose problems in high-risk pregnancies. But with the increased medicalization of pregnancy, they have become routine for healthy women with no known risks. This does not mean that every test is right for everyone, however, or that they are risk-free themselves. There may be a problem that prenatal testing doesn’t show, or aproblem may not exist even if the test suggests it does. Results that are unclear or even misleading can plague your peace of mind and decrease your confidence. The barrage of tests can also make you feel like your health-care provider knows everything there is to know about your pregnancy, which is not the case.
You can read the entire article here.
I am definitely discovering a lot more fear mongering and playing on our own ignorance. Suddenly we think the doctors are gods and we ourselves know nothing, that pregnancy is a medical condition that must be treated and not a miracle and blessing.
Do I really need all those tests? Do I really need to be poked and prodded every 2-3 weeks? If I don't go to every appointment, get every ultrasound and blood test, is something bad really going to happen? Is it really my doctor that decides the condition of my baby?
I think not.
|
I usually decline the glucose test, however, with Lucy my midwife told me about the breakfast test which included eating a normal, but specific breakfast at home, and then having a finger prick. It's MUCH more reliable with no blood draw so I opted for it even though I didn't have to.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest anybody who is on the fence about whether to do the glucose test to ask about the breakfast test first.
Glad everything turned out okay with yours though and it's not too much longer till you get to hold that baby in your arms. Yay for new babies!