Week 31 -Three Hour Glucose Test

This test blows. The only dietary modification made is to fast (food + water) after midnight. At 8:30 am the following morning you start with a baseline blood draw. Then you drink a filthy sugary drink and have your blood drawn every hour for 3 hours. If you do not pass this test you have Gestational Diabetes. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes will require a strict diet and insulin testing throughout the remainder of your pregnancy.

I was taking the test the same time as another woman who was seeing another doctor in the same practice. She had been given a special diet to follow the week before this test. The lab technician explained that the method used is at the doctor's discretion.

If you are lucky, the lab technician will show up late for your 8:30 appointment turning your 3 hour test into a 3 1/2 hour test and will make your experience extra special by admonishing you for "having small veins" and proceed to futilely insert adult-sized needles into both arms and the backs of both hands, despite your gentle suggestion that she try a baby needle with a butterfly. You will leave this appointment from hell with 6 (yes 6, not 4) puncture marks and 2 nasty bruises.