I apologize for 2 baby-heavy posts in a row. I not not everyone wants to hear every detail about my pregnancy, but yesterday was too crazy not to tell you about…
Where to start? I guess I started yesterday when I told you the story of failing my 1 hour glucose test.
Yesterday morning, I was back in the office to get my 3 hour test over with. I was armed with my laptop and free wifi to pass the time, so I wasn’t too worried.
I fasted and showed up at 8:15am. At 8:30am I was taken back and had my fasting blood sugar level drawn. I was handed the glucola, which was twice as sweet as the previous one, meaning it had 100g of sugar in it. Again, it didn’t taste bad, just syrup-y sweet.
This time I had 10 minutes to drink it and I chatted with the nurse while I sipped away.
She told me some interesting facts:
- How you eat doesn’t necessarily effect your outcome. She has had large women come in, claim to eat McDonalds everyday and pass with flying colors, while other women, healthy and in shape (she was referring to me, right?!
) fail. - In pregnancy, particularly as you enter the 3rd trimester, hormones are produced by the placenta to prevent the mother from developing low blood sugar.These hormones block insulin from doing its job. Typically the mother’s body compensates by producing more insulin, but not always.
Back to my story…
After drinking my glucola, I was sent back to the lobby to wait for an hour and my next blood draw.
A minute or two after getting to the lobby I began to feel nauseas. I wasn’t surprised because I had felt that way during the 1 hour test. I took some deep breaths.
A minute later, my ears couldn’t hear anymore. I know that sounds odd, but I could barely hear anything.
I got up to tell the front desk I was feeling odd and ask them to keep an eye on me. By the time I got up front I was feeling woozy. Immediately they grabbed a wheel chair and plopped me down in it. I started feeling more and more woozy, then heard a nurse say ‘get the smelling salts!’
That’s the last thing I remember before waking up, surrounded by nurses and drenched in sweat. I had towels on my neck and red glucola all down the front of me.
Apparently I went into sugar shock.
According to the nurse, my head fell backwards, my eyes rolled back and shut, then I threw up all over myself.
Disgusting.
I was so embarrassed and immediately worried about Baby D. The assured me that baby was fine and I could feel lots of activity from my belly and it put me at ease.
They kept me in a back room to monitor me because my blood pressure was low (60/40). Slowly it began to rise and finally got to 94/60. I was excited to leave and get out of my vomit-covered clothes. Unfortunately my blood pressure dropped back down again, so I had to wait a bit longer. The doctor came in, brought me some Wheat Thins and had me walk around to bring up my blood pressure. It worked and I was released.
I talked to Hubbs the whole way home. Good thing because as I was driving, I got light headed and sweaty again. I had to pull over and started getting really scared I was going to pass out again. I got out, walked around, walked to McDonalds and bought a small fruit smoothie. By that time, I felt well enough again to finish the drive home.
After a long shower, an egg and 1/2 a bagel, I finally began feeling normal. But I was exhausted. I spent most of the day recovering on the couch.
Questions
Do I have to retake the test?
No. Thank goodness! Usually if you throw up, you have to reschedule, but after my body’s response the doctor did not want me to retake it. I will get finger pricks at my remaining appointments to monitor my blood sugar.
So do I have GD?
No. The doctor said that a 143 score wasn’t a big deal, especially since I had eaten before the test. I wish he would have decided that before I had to come in for the 3 hour.
Is this a typical experience?
No. Although it’s not unusual to feel sick to your stomach, blacking out and throwing up on yourself rarely happens according to the nursing staff.
Other Facts from my 28 week appt
Weight gain: According to the doctor’s scale, I’m up 16 pounds total. My scale, 21-22 pounds. Quite the difference! I’m not sure which scale to believe.
Iron Levels: Dropping. I’m not anemic, but my levels are lower than when I started. Since I rarely eat red meat, the doctor suggested I add it in once a week and they’ll monitor it. Apparently Baby D is going to be taking more and more iron from me over the next couple months. I plan to add in some red meat, keep up with the spinach and beans and cook more with my cast iron skillet. (Foods you cook in cast iron absorb some iron, and therefore, so does your body)
And of course, the belly shot!
Happy 28 weeks 
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
OMG what a horrible experience for you to go through by yourself. Glad everything is ok and you don’t have GD.
Great baby bump pic!!!
Wow! What a horrible experience, passing out (well pre-passing out) is definately the worst feeling, I’m so glad to hear you and baby D are better now.
Omg Brittany! You poor thing! I can’t believe you had a reaction like that. I’ve passed out during the test before but not until the 4th or 5th hour. Yikes! I am so glad you and baby are ok! And great news that you don’t have gestational diabetes!
Your baby bump is adorable
Oh my goodness! I am so sorry Brittany you had to go through that! At least you were at the doctors…I would have been too scared to drive home! Your baby bump is Oh So Cute as usual!
Eek! I’m so sorry you had to go through that! Drinking straight sugar can’t be good for the body at all- I wish doctors would do something else to test blood sugar to begin with!
I am sorry you had such a horrible reaction and passed out. That is awful. I’m glad you and Baby D are okay. I love the pic of you and Koda sleeping on the couch and your baby bump is so cute.
oh no!! I am so sorry you had to deal with that and that you are feeling a little better.
on a brighter note–you were in my dream last night! I was in the delivery room when you had your baby! random, i know
Oh, I am so sorry you had to go through that but at least you are feeling better. I am afraid to take that test but hopefully everything works out for me. I will be in my second trimester next weekend so that’s very exciting.
i’m so sorry you had to go through that yesterday. so happy that you and baby are okay and feeling better. hugs to you!
omg how scary!!!! i’m so glad you’re ok!
Brittany how scary!!! I’m glad you do not have to take the test again.
Oh my gosh, how horrible for you, i was super worried reading your post
Glad you are feeling better and don’t have to take the test again
Love the baby bump pic
Oh my goodness.. that sounds horrible! I’m glad everything is okay though and you don’t have to retake the test. I think a day of relaxing is in order after that!
How scary! Im so glad you are okay and don’t have to take that awful test again.
Holy smokes Brittany!!! Glad you and Baby D are both ok! And that Koda is right beside you as you rested!!! Take care of yourself!!!!!
Oh my goodness. You had quite the experience. I am so sorry that you had to go through it. But good thing you are okay..and baby D is okay. And.. even better that you do not have to do it again.
I’ve gotten light headed while driving a few times.. and it is super scary. Glad yo uwere able to pul over safely and get some sugars into your system!
oh my gosh, how scary!!! You poor thing! I am glad to hear everything is okay though!!
That’s a terrible thing to happen! I’m so sorry you had to go through that.
I once fainted at a Subway (sandwich shop) while I was in there craving a steak sandwich (which I never do!). While I waited I fainted and later found out when I was brought to the hospital that I was anemic. It’s funny that by craving a steak sandwich my body was trying to tell me something.
I’m surprised they let you drive yourself home though! I hope you feel better today.
Oh Honey! I am so happy you and Baby D are okay. How scary! It was really scary for me just feeling like I was going to pass out, but you actually did OMG, I can only imagine. I hope you are feeling better today. Get some rest this weekend and lots of water. I was have craved burgers a lot during my pregnancy so I wasn’t surprised to find out that my iron counts have been lower too. Hope you have a good weekend and feel better
Take good care of yourself and get lots of rest this weekend!! Tell that husband of yours to pamper you this weekend
How scary is that! Luckily you were in the doctors office when that happened! Glad you are starting to recover!
Oh no, I’m sorry about that scary and unpleasant experience! As soon as you said “I couldn’t hear anything” I knew exactly what was going to happen, because that’s happened to me before at the doctors right after they took my blood and then made me drink orange juice – couldn’t hear, passed out, threw up. Good thing you don’t need to take it again!!
Wow! Thats a frightening story but I am glad to hear that all is well. My mom passed out in an elevator when she was pregnant and scared the life out of the ppl in there with her. Apparently she says fainting was a regular occurance for her because it was hot out! eek!
Oh. My. God. Reading that post makes me want to give you a big hug. I’m so sorry you had such an intense reaction! That’s incredible….and I’m sorry you had to deal with it alone too!
Seriously, why didn’t they give you the clear version of the drink instead of red??? Mine was clear and I remember feeling relieved since I’m sort of wary about food dye. It just seemed “safer” in my opinion. Anyway, not the point. (Although it would’ve been easier to clean up!) The point is I’m glad you’re ok and you don’t have to do it again. Being only 3 points over I’m surprised they made you do the 3-hour one in the first place.
Doctors, grrr…..I swear they try to put band-aids on everything.
I’m so sorry to hear about your ordeal!!! You poor thing! I hope you’re feeling better than ever today.
oh my gosh, you poor thing!! i’m glad you are feeling better — that must have been so scary! tell your hubby to take good care of you and baby!!
OMG how scary! And how freaking pissed off I would be! I don’t know how you walked out of there without dropping some major eff bombs. Ridiculous that they put you through that for NOTHING. “Err of the side of safety” my ass.
Oh my gosh, what a horrible experience! I passed out because my blood pressure dropped while flying in January & puked Jamba Juice all over myself. So embarrassing. I’m so glad you’re okay
Wow glad you are okay. What an experience!!
Oh my goodness. How scary. I’m glad you and Baby Dare okay, and so sorry you had to go through all that.
Oh my gosh what an awful experience! I am glad that you are okay- that sounds so unpleasant. Why couldn’t the doctor decide 143 was okay BEFORE the drink? Boo.
Yuck! I hate fainting or feeling like your going too! Hope you feel better. ( Cute baby bumb pic! )
Brittany, I hope you are feeling better! This sounds like quite the scare. Glad you don’t have to take the test again.
Wow, what a crazy day! I’m so sorry you went through all that! Glad you are doing better and moving forward from that. Hope the rest of the pregnancy is smooth sailing!
Glad you are both okay!!
I’m so sorry to hear about this awful experience of yours. I’m just glad you and the baby is fine.
YOU POOR THING! OMG
Those tests are HORRIBLE! I feel so bad for women having to do them! GD is my biggest fear. I have major BG isseus — it drops low after intense exericse and it always “high” (90-106) in the morning and goes down as soon as I eat. I am so bizzare. But I do check my BG frequently (unfortuantely!). I’m glad you don’t have GD, though! Phew!
Oh gosh! What an unpleasant experience! I’m so glad they’re not going to make you go through all of that again. And of course the nurse was referring to you.
I’m catching up on your blog – can’t believe your experience! Ugh – sounds miserable! So glad you and Baby D are fine!!
Hi Brittany,
What a horrible experience! I am taking my 3 hour test in two days and I’m nervous. I would have been so nervous to drive myself home after passing out like you did! I’m new to your blog, which I found from your comments in the Being Pregnant post on the 3 hour GD test. I just went back and read all your ‘baking baby D’ posts and you’re healthy active lifestyle through pregnancy is inspiring me! I was active prior to getting pregnant, but my first trimester knocked me out, and I still haven’t gotten back into any kind of exercise routine since then. Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow. I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. I’m so glad you and the baby are OK. But that doesn’t sound fun at all!!!!!
What a scare, but very happy to hear that you and Baby D are okay!! Love hearing about your healthy, nutritious pregnancy experiences. You’re an inspiration.
Hi Brittany
I came across this forum today and wanted to ask few questions since I just had a similar experience today myself. I failed my 1 hr glucose test last week with score of 159 and I was called in for a 3 hr test. I am still 21 weeks but my doc insisted on GD test earlier since I have diabetes in family. I went in today morning by myself. I fasted overnight and had my blood drawn for the first time. The she had me drink a highly concentrated glucose drink and I was waiting int doctor’s sitting area for my next hour blood drawn. Almost 20 mins later I started to feel dizzy and went at the window to ask the receptionist if I could lie down but before I could complete my sentence I fainted flat on floor and I think I just sat on my butt. I can’t really recall what happened but the staff helped me get up, I think I was able to walk with their help and get to a room where I could lie down. The nurse checked my heartbeat and pressure which she said was ok. Immediately I was concerned about my baby I wonder if the baby got any jerk when I fainted. I asked the doc if she could may be check his heartbeat or do a quick ultrasound. Looks like she checked the baby’s heartbeat and it looked fine to her and I was happy to complete all the three blood drawns for the test. I am a little worried about the result but I know even if I am detected with GD I will try to control it via my diet. I am still more concerned about my baby. This is my first baby and I’ve been only feeling little flutters in my lower belly but I am too exhausted today after this episode to really concentrate on my baby flutters. I really hope the baby is fine!
Interesting that you mentioned the nurse told you about the folks who eat McD’s and pass with flying colors. Caitlin (the RD Caitlin who i know in CLT) had GDM and she said that the only other people she knows who have ever gotten it were also RDs! Probably a pretty healthy group. We discussed a theory that healthier eaters are not as used to dealing with large doses of sugar as those who might sip on soda all day long and are therefore more likely to “fail the test” even though blood sugar levels on their normal diets might be totally within normal limits. It’s kind of cruel that the test is so unrealistic for healthier eaters – they should just make you have your normal breakfast and then test and see what happens (if there is a way to control that). REAL FOOD would be a more realistic test!
I really hope I don’t faint. I am a fainter..and get nauseous easily!
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