Glucose test screening checks for gestational diabetes, a short-term form of diabetes that develops in some women during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes occurs in 1 - 3% of pregnancies and can cause health problems for the baby.

When can the Glucose Test be Administered?

The glucose test is typically administered around 24 weeks of pregnancy.

How does the Glucose Test Work?

You will drink a sugar drink and have your blood drawn an hour later and the glucose level is checked.  If the reading is high, you’ll have a glucose tolerance test.  During that test you will drink a glucose solution on an empty stomach and have your blood drawn once every hour for 3 hours.

What do the Glucose Test Results Mean?

If your glucose tolerance test comes back positive, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  Most women can control their blood sugar levels with diet and exercise. You will probably need to monitor your glucose levels at home. In a small percentage of women, insulin injections are required. In most cases, diabetes disappears soon after giving birth.

Women with gestational diabetes usually do not have an increased risk of having a baby with a birth defect. However, some studies suggest that if your gestational diabetes is severe enough to require treatment with insulin, your baby may be at increased risk of birth defects.

The following tests are routine prenatal tests for each visit to your obgyn or midwife:

Blood Pressure:

At each prenatal visit your blood pressure will be tested by armband. A spike in blood pressure can be an indication of preeclampsia - which can cause the placenta to separate from the wall of the uterus.

Urine:

At each prenatal visit your urine will be tested for protein, sugar, blood and bacteria.  Protein is another sign of preeclampsia, sugar can signal gestational diabetes and blood or bacteria can signal a urinary-tract infection. 

Weight:

The amniocentesis is a test that helps find genetic disorders before birth.  During an amniocentesis, a sample of amniotic fluid is removed from your uterus to be cultured and analyzed. The amniocentesis is performed by inserting a thin needle through your abdomen into your uterus and withdrawing a small amount of fluid. The baby is not harmed during the procedure. Some women feel mild cramping during or after the procedure.  The test is typically offered to women over 35 years of age.  The reason it is not offered to everyone is that it does carry a small risk of miscarriage.

When Can the Amniocentesis be Administered?

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It’s one of those questions you’ll hear time and time again…  “so how far along are you?”  You have many options in explaining just how pregnant you are - and almost all of them will require some bit of explanation on your part!!

How Far Along - Weeks

One of the easiest ways to determine how far along you are is in “weeks”.  Typically you count from the week of your last menstrual period (lmp), so when you actually test positive (typically when your period is due) you are 4 weeks along.  Silly, I know!  If you follow this practice - your due date will be 40 weeks after your lmp.  Another way of counting weeks is from the date of conception (typically two weeks after your lmp) and your due date will be at 38 weeks.