Good morning! How are you guys doing so far today?
I was up before the sun because I had a 6 a.m. spin class to teach and headed out to the gym to get nice and sweaty with my usual crew. I blasted a throwback playlist with some classic rock jams (always a hit with this group) and left the class feeling about 10,000 times more energetic than I felt when I arrived. Exercise is a magical thing, I’m tellin’ ya!
The rest of my day today will include more work at the gym, but I’m off through lunchtime because I have my 28-week prenatal appointment on the agenda at 10 a.m. The appointment has me feeling a combination of nervous and excited this morning.
I’m excited because I always like meeting with our doctor, hearing our baby’s heartbeat and learning the answers to whatever lingering questions I’ve had on my mind over the course of the past month.
I’m nervous because I have my glucose screening test today, too. The 60-minute test involves one round of blood work and since needles always make me queasy, I’m already feeling a little anxious. Plus, I’m a bit stressed out about my results since the test screens for elevated glucose levels that may be related to gestational diabetes, which my mom had when she was pregnant with both me and my sister.
According to my doctor, my chances for having gestational diabetes are elevated a bit due to the fact that my mom had gestational diabetes while pregnant with me. I’m just set on following my doctor’s instructions going into the appointment (eat a protein-heavy breakfast and avoid anything too sugary/carby – I opted for scrambled eggs and unsweetened cashew milk which the nurse I spoke to yesterday said sounded good) and will go from there.
I know gestational diabetes is quite common in pregnancy (as high as 9.2% of all pregnant women have it) and the cause seems to be widely unknown, but fortunately from most things I’ve read, it sounds like it’s largely manageable through diet. If my results from this screening come back high, I’ll return for the three-hour glucose tolerance test.
One of the things that has surprised me most about pregnancy is the mental shift I’ve seen within myself surrounding blood tests and needles. I just wanted to share this on the blog because I’ve connected with a handful of readers who share my aversion to anything medical and freak out over needles. There is just something so different about getting blood work done because it’s important for my baby.
Yes, I’m still nervous. Yes, I still have to lie down to have my blood drawn or I’ll get queasy. Yes, I am anxious for a couple of days leading up to an appointment involving blood work. But the minute I hear my baby’s heartbeat before it’s time for blood work, it’s almost like that rhythmic thump thump thump puts everything into perspective. At my 12-week ultrasound, when I saw our baby move for the first time, I honestly thought to myself that I would have 100 blood tests done in a row if it meant I could see my baby dancing around on that fuzzy black and white screen.
And now it’s time to shower because I’m pretty sure my doctor would prefer that I not show up to my morning appointment looking like a sweaty mess! See ya after my appointment!
Questions of the Morning
- If you’ve managed to overcome a fear of needles/medical things, how did you do it?
- For the needle-phobic moms/moms-to-be out there: Did you notice a change in the way you handled needles/medical things during pregnancy?
Though I feel like I am getting better with needles and blood work with each appointment I go to, I am still very nervous for childbirth… I still cannot make it through 99 percent of all the birth stories I’ve seen on the internet without clicking away and feeling totally freaked out!
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Something that always helps me with needles is to remember that it is less than 10 seconds of pain. Literally. Running 10 miles sucks more than that, and I’ve done that plenty of times by choice. Getting my eyebrows done hurts more than that, and I do that by choice. I also stay very “real-time” in my head. Like “ok, she’s getting the needle ready. ok, now it’s going in, ouch, that hurts a little bit. now it’s out and feels sore, and she’s putting a bandaid over it.” That little bit of not necessarily positive, just true, self-talk helps me a lot!
So true! I try to tell myself this as well… Stubbing my toe honestly hurts MORE than most shots. It’s such a mental thing!
don’t worry about the results! the annoying thing will be having to follow a strict diet. I’m type 1 diabetic and a week behind you in pregnancy so I’ve dealt with blood glucose levels and needles from the very start. It’s worth it though. Just like you i’ll do whatever it takes to see this little one happy and healthy. That said I don’t think you have anything to worry about. The concern with diabetes is that baby will be big and it’ll be hard for the mother in labour but you are already at the third trimester with such a neat little bump I can’t think you’d have a problem otherwise I’m sure you’d be bigger in the bump area. Like I said – i’m all bump! Probably thanks to the diabetes! Good luck – you’ll be fine 🙂 xx
Thank you, Goldie!! <3
I was prediabetic before I was pregnant, so I had a high chance of having gestational diabetes too. I sort of had it with my first, my level was just high enough to count but not way high, and then didn’t get it with my second. I controlled mine with diet. I hated both the hour and the three hour tests though.
Since I was pre-diabetic most of my life and had pcos I have had to have lots of blood work done, so even though I hate needles with a passion it has gotten easier.
Good luck at your appointment! I leant do to tolerate needles after o was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and now I have to get my blood taken monthly– I still always look away!!
I will say though since having a baby I’ve been able to handle a few other things I used to freak out about (blood, vomit, boogers lol) because you don’t have a choice. I’m sure you’ll be the same way soon. I was more upset when they took blood from my son the day he was born (needles in his tiny feet) than I was having any of my stuff done after having him!!
Good luck today! The drink tastes like McDonalds “orange drink” if you ever had that as a kid. I actually didn’t mind it. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!!
I failed the glucose test the first time by 10 points and passed the second. It’s not so bad (although the second time around was not fun at all). After I failed the first test my friends told me a breakfast of plain eggs a would have helped me pass! Ha! Looks like you’re off to a great start.
Btw- I too hate needles but being pregnant made me more tolerant of those when I would think about how much worst nausea and weight gain discomfort were. 😀
Good luck!
Julie, you should read Ina May’s “Guide to Childbirth”. Even though the book is about natural childbirth, the main point she wants to get across is that our bodies are capable of giving birth and that it shouldn’t be as ‘scary’ as it looks on TV. It really gives you a different perspective. I am expecting my first in August as well so I’m as clueless and the next first time mom but this has really shed some light as to what my body is capable of doing. I have an extra copy of the book that I would be glad to send your way. Good luck today!
I will read this! Thanks!!
If you have a choice, the lemon lime drink is by far the best. You may want to bring something high protein with you for after the blood draw; there’s a good chance you might feel kind of crappy.
I had GDM with Henry, but don’t seem to this time around. The 1-hour test really isn’t bad, and the blood draw’s NBD. One tube, quick & easy. I used to have a serious needle phobia, but my first pregnancy — and 4x/day finger pricks to measure blood sugar — pretty much took care of it. I think the frequency of draws has something to do with it; that and just plain not having a choice.
(And as far as birth goes, the worst parts for me were getting the IV in and recovery afterwards. The actual birth is so hormone and adrenalin-fueled that you just do it and get through it. It’s not FUN, but oxytocin is pretty powerful.)
Hoping that your appointments go well! It’s great that you did all your research and know so much before going in. I’m sure your doctor appreciates how cautious you’re being and how well you’re taking care of the baby! I’ve luckily never had a fear of needles, but I don’t like to watch them go in to my arm. When the doctor is about to put in the needle, I’ll look away and start counting backwards from 100. That gets my mind off what’s going on, and I hardly notice the pinch!
Oh man, I never watch either! I actually don’t look from the moment they walk in the room with the tray that has all the stuff on it that they need for blood tests/shots!
Just as a heads up, if you fail the one hour but don’t want to take the three hour (or, like me, are unable to because you throw up the glucose), you can monitor your own blood sugar at home for two weeks instead. Even though I don’t like needles, I found that the finger pricks didn’t bother me nearly as much.
The babies (twins) and I didn’t like the glucose solution, but my at-home blood sugar levels (fasting and after every meal) were great, even though I “failed” the one hour test by a few points AND couldn’t complete the three-hour.
Just so you know, there are alternatives out there. I bet you’ll do great though. 🙂
Hi Julie, I had my glucose test a few weeks ago and mine was just a finger prick not an actual needle so perhaps yours will be the same. 🙂 I opted for the orange drink and it was alright, just really sweet (obviously)! I’m sure it’ll all go well 🙂
I second reading Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth. Also have you considered looking into a doula? It can be a great way to have more confidence going into your birth, feel more relaxed and help Ryan feel more prepared to support you. My friend just had a baby and had a doula and LOVED it. She said she’d never do it without again. 🙂
That book is amazing! I loved my doula, she is the reason I was able to have my son naturally and my husband who wasn’t on board at first said we will hire a doula every time now! I didn’t have an IV, epidural, or any needles during labor. I am not sure that would have been true without her support and reassurance when things got real. 🙂
Try not to worry about the glucose test. The hour one isn’t too bad. I was told a lot of women don’t pass the first test, but do pass the three hour test. I failed the hour test and passed with flying colors on the three hour one. I’m not a huge fan of needles but got used to being pricked during pregnancy. Each time it got easier. Good luck today!
I read a lot of the same. It does sound like the first one is failed by many women who end up passing the second!
Good luck on the test today! No matter what the results are, you and baby will be just fine… you’re doing such a good job taking care of him!
I had Gestational Diabetes with my second pregnancy. I was able to control it with diet alone, which was such a blessing. It kept me eating super healthy and kept my pregnancy weight gain in check too. My baby boy was 7 lbs 10 oz when he was born and is a super healthy energetic 1 year old now!
I am 100% like you with needles… I get super woozy every time I even think about it. That was the hardest part of having GD… I had to prick my finger 4 times a day to test my glucose levels. All worth it though! And as far as needles and labor… I know it’s cliche, but once you’re in labor needles will be the very last thing on your mind! And you’ll be hooked up to monitors that let you hear the baby’s heartbeat the entire time you’re there, so that might help put your mind at ease also.
Good luck at your appointment and have fun hearing the heartbeat. You got this girl! Mind over matter!
Good luck today!
Also, I think that birth stories are scary because there’s nothing positive for you (the reader) to get out of them. When you’re in labor, your mind is simply on getting that little one out of you so that you can hold him in your arms. It’s very ‘Mind over Matter’, just keep the thought of a healthy little boy in your head and it really does provide some much needed motivation!
I agree with Kara, it’s all mind over matter – and the birth stories are just scary. I had 3 boys with all natural deliveries that went really well, and I still don’t like watching birth stories! And pregnancy and having kids changed everything for me. Your reaction to needles is like my reaction to vomit. 🙂 I couldn’t even talk about it before kids without gagging, and now I can clean up a puke covered kid with very little drama. 😀 I hope your tests go well for you.
Good luck today Julie! I unfortunately had GDM with my pregnancy and I was devastated. I ate healthy and worked out was at a healthy weight…it didn’t matter. The liitlw guy growing inside just made my blood sugar all screwed up. Thankfully I was able to control my sugars with more diet and exercise and not needing insulin. The only good thing that I can say came of it was I had ultrasounds to measure my fluid once a week up until delivery so I got to see our little guy every week which was reassuring as a first time mom that he was indeed OK. I was having blood sugar problems early on in pregnancy including too fainting episodes at Walmart…embarrassing!!! Good luck and know if you do have it, its nothing you did wrong and it goes away right after you deliver. Thinking about you today!!
I used to be the same way about needles, and then I was diagnosed as a Diabetic and that fear went away after a few days of finger pokes and insulin injections. Still not a fan of blood draws, but it’s not as bad as I used to be. Best of luck at your appointment today!!!
Julie, I totally feel your pain I used to pass out when I got my blood drawn, but now I’m struggling with infertility and get my blood drawn so much it’s become easy. I also gave myself a trigger shot in the stomach, stuff I’d never imagine I’d do. Good luck you will be fine!
I am so freaked out of needles, but what people always tell me is that (eventually, hopefully!) when I’m pregnant, I’ll care so much more about the baby and feel so much like it is something for the baby that it will take second place to that. I hope they are right! I literally was known to run OUT of the doctor’s office, OUT the door, and DOWN A CITY STREET as a child to get away from shots (true story, kid running wild all the way to Central Park from 90th and Madison to get away from a shot).
I was also really nervous for my glucose test – (I’m 34 weeks now). Luckily all was well, and I am sending good thoughts your way for a good result. I think the needle portion of this test was far less involved than some of the early first-trimester screening, so hopefully it’ll be over before you know it! Good Luck! 🙂
Like you said, you’ll do anything for your baby! 🙂 Trying to get pregnant for me requires TONS of bloodwork… Sometimes weekly… And daily shots that I gave to myself which I never thought I would be able to do. When you’re a mom, you just do it! 🙂
Yes! It was exactly the same for us- weekly blood work and nightly shots. You just do what you have to!
My mom also had gestational diabetes but I didn’t have it with my pregnancy so there’s also a good chance that it may not affect you as well. And not all birth stories are scary. I took all the labor preparation classes I could but in the end I didn’t end up needing any of the advice at all. My labor was only 4 hours and virtually pain free. It did help that I had already started dilating at my 36 week check up. By the time I was induced at 39 weeks I was close to 5cm dilated so my labor went by fast. The only time I felt contractions was when they broke my water but 10 minutes later I had the epidural and one hour later she was born. So I literally only felt 10 minutes worth of contractions. Maybe you’ll get lucky and have a quick labor as well!
Plenty of people have the same fears as you! You aren’t alone. 🙂 I work in the medical field; the best two pieces of advice for needles are: don’t look & hydrate well beforehand. Hydration makes the blood flow easier. Also, the tighter, they put on the rubber tourniquet above the draw site, the less it hurts! 🙂 So if it feels like your arm is going to fall off before they finally get the draw done, you’re good to go!! You’ll be fine, don’t worry.
I’ve never heard that about hydrating well before a blood test! Thank you for the tip!
My best friend is pregnant and due in 3 weeks! She is very scared as well of the whole birthing process but talking about it out loud and just telling her she will be great has really helped her. It also helps to know the pain which comes along with childbirth is not a bad pain, you have a goal and the goal at the end is a baby!
Here hoping the results come back in your favor! Honestly even if you get it, you are right it can be controlled through diet. You take really good care of yourself so I am sure it wouldn’t be too much of a difference. How exciting to hear your baby boy’s heart beat! Focus on that and maybe that can help with the needle poke. Good luck! 🙂
I just had my glucose test last Friday (at 27 weeks) and I got the results yesterday that everything was normal! I hope you have the same luck. That was actually my 2nd test, I had to do one at 15 weeks because I have strong family history of diabetes and gestational diabetes, but I passed that one with normal results too. Thankfully I am done drinking that lovely sugary drink!
Good luck to you today!!
So happy you heard good news!!
Elise Blaha wrote a wonderful post about her experience and what she ate with gestational diabetes. I worry about it too – I’m 18 weeks! – but rereading her post makes me think of how when pregnant women are diagnosed with GD, they can usually keep it under control with diet and exercise. Plus, the meals she made look delish! http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/2013/05/what-i-am-eating-with-gestational-diabetes.html
THANK YOU for sharing this!! Checking it out when I get home!
I used to tell myself it was time to “put my big girl pants on” when I had to get shots. Think of it this way – it’s the beginning of a long lifetime of being brave as a role model for your little guy. There will be times when the baby needs to get shots too and you just gotta stay calm and know it’s over soon. I also rewarded myself with a trip to Baskin Robbins after every doctor’s appointment 🙂
You mentioned you and Ryan like to watch Netflix documentaries – I *highly* recommend “The Business of Being Born”, as well as their follow-up mini-series “More Business of Being Born”. The movie covers a lot of the fears of childbirth, and the mini-series has great extra content. I especially liked the interviews with celebrities telling their birth stories. When Giselle Bunchen described her labor as riding waves ala surfing, then the transition part being like the whole ocean became a big tidal wave to crush her – yep, that was a spot-on description of childbirth hahaha
Thank you for the recommendation!!!
Good luck at your appointment! It’ll be over before you know it! 🙂
Kim
http://trendkeeper.me .. Blogger hate?!
I am absolutely terrified of needles, and I’m a registered EMT. Most people find it quite peculiar that I can stick needles into other people, but if you come in my general direction with one I’ll fight you off! Haha
Hi Julie! I never had issues with needles until my pregnancies. It may not be super helpful to hear that, I know. I think the best way to describe getting over it was a combination of 1) being happy I could have blood work done so often for my sake and the baby’s (a dear friend of mine served as a nurse in Africa, and her stories made me happy to endure whatever minor torture I had to) and 2) knowing it would pass, and I’d have my baby and no more blood work after leaving the hospital. Until I needed my annual work up. But I prefer not to think about that.
Hang tough! And I never thought the glucose test was all that bad. It was a welcome break from my older two boys this time around!
I am terrified of needles (to the point that usually it takes two nurses to give anything to me… one to distract me and one to do whatever they are doing…) and can NOT look at them when medical “things” are being done to me, but as far as during labor/delivery, I didn’t even notice the needles/IV’s/epidural they put in me! You are a bit too distracted at that point… at least I was! You’ll do just fine!
I failed my first glucose test by 1 point (ugh!!) and had to do the 3 hr test where they drew blood each hour and passed that with flying colors… I passed out when I first got pregnant and they drew a few vials of blood for normal testing. After that, any time I had to have bloodwork done, I told the nurses to go ahead and have juice and crackers within my reach and that helped tremendously!! By the end of the pregnancy needles still freaked me out but it’s like my arms became numb to the fact they were sticking me (and they could NEVER get a vein with the first stick bc I have “thin” veins). I just always turned my head and drank my little juice box. You get used to it!! Good luck!!
Good luck! I don’t like needles, but my aversion is not the same as yours. I just try to look away and keep talking about something else while it’s going on it keep my mind off it. If I think about it too much, I freak out. I always appreciate those nurses that keep asking me questions to keep me talking!
I have always hated needles and vaccines and gotten light headed just thinking about it. Then I went through pregnancy and childbirth 🙂 the nurses that took my blood were awesome and even when they did the crazy 8 vile blood draws during pregnancy I somehow made it through. From being checked in to be induced to when I left the hospital, I got the blood drawn/ stuck with a needle about 15 times, including an epidural. They took my blood everyday I was in the hospital to check for infection because I spiked a fever during labor. I think when you get in the moment, especially during birth, you are going to be so focused on meeting your baby boy, the needle pricks are going to seem like nothing. Also, the 1-hr glucose test was way easier than I anticipated. Hope you find the same! Good luck!
Good luck with the gestational test! TBH, I actually like the drink they give you, but I like sweet things. It tasted like flat orange soda. I had to take mine on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, and then wait an hour before getting to the office and being tested. It definitely sucked because all the sugar by then made me all lightheaded. Thankfully, i brought a bagel and my husband drove me.
I’m thinking happy glucose test thoughts for you!! <3
Good luck girlfriend!!! Sending prayers your way!
Good luck today, Julie! Sending you positive thoughts!! <3
Ugh – getting blood work done is terrible. But as a non-mom, what I forced myself to do was start to donate blood. In saving 3 lives each time, I know it’s important to share a resource (blood) that I’m lucky to be able to re-create in my body. Once you get comfortable with that needle, you can pretty much take on the world of blood tests.
Also, if you need to get amped up to donate blood, check out the World Health Organization’s website (http://www.who.int/features/qa/61/en/) for more information on just some of the lives you’ll be saving when you donate. It definitely makes a difference!
If you get an epidural giving birth isn’t bad at all! The hard part for me was recovery. It was horrible. But My friend was ordering pizza and taking walks the day She gave birth so you never know!
Good luck with your test! You’ll do great.
I am (was?) the same way with needles – dreaded them for days, passed out after the blood draws, etc, so all of the needles were a real concern when I got pregnant. I look at the blood draws the same way: you’re doing it for the baby, and that gives you so much strength! That protective mama instinct kicks in early! As far as labor and delivery goes – I really, really struggled with the anticipation of the IV and potential epidural during my pregnancy. I worried about it constantly. Eventually I decided that I would just have an unmedicated delivery (even though I’m not against epidurals) just because I didn’t want to go through the process of getting one, and I would just stay hydrated to avoid having to be hooked up to an IV. As with a lot of birth experiences, things didn’t go according to that plan, and I was hooked up to an IV immediately and I ended up getting an epidural. And you know what? It was FINE! There’s so much going on that I didn’t even notice the IV, and by the time I decided that I wanted an epidural, I was so focused on contractions and breathing that I honestly didn’t have a problem with it. I never, never though that would be the case. And speaking of contractions (and labor & delivery as a whole) – it’s an intense but temporary pain – there’s an end in sight, and that end is seeing your baby! I won’t tell you not to worry, because that’s fruitless, but just know that it will be fine 🙂 Heck, I’m 31 weeks along with my 2nd babe, so it couldn’t have been that bad!
Thank you for sharing this, Christine!! I’ve heard similar stories about the epidural — once you feel like you need it you don’t even care about the fact that it’s a big needle anymore. Congratulations on your second baby!
Thinking about you, Julie! I’m a needle phobic gal myself, so I tooootally get it. I had/have the same mentality about it during pregnancy too though – I’ll do anything for my sweet babe to make sure she’s healthy in there. I also totally understand the fear of childbirth. This time around, I’ve been able to be a lot more optimistic about it and I’m actually really excited about my labor and delivery for this baby. It’s actually pretty unbelievable how my thoughts have shifted compared to when I was pregnant with Hunter versus this pregnancy. Whenever fears start to creep in (which they do often), I immediately shut them down and instead try to think of how miraculous childbirth is, how exciting it will be to meet our baby girl, and how strong I know I am! I’ve read lots of books about how fear is one of the last emotions we want to have going into labor and delivery because it causes our bodies to tense up which can cause labor to slow down immensely, so I’ve been working on lots of positive thinking and deep breathing. Email me if you want more of my thoughts on this because really, I totally get it! Hugs to you!
Love this, Ashley!! So glad you’re able to keep your thoughts so positive!! <3
Good luck with your blood work. Having someone who knows what they’re doing makes all the difference in my experience. They can make it super easy or really complicated. Luckily I’ve only had one bad experience.
I’m not personally afraid of needles, but I can totally understand how your fears are lessened when it’s related to the baby. Sounds biological to me!
I hate needles and blood too! Anytime I need to have my blood taken, I have to lie down too and I tell the nurse to talk to me so it keeps my mind off of it. I wish they could figure out all the answers they need with a tiny finger prick or something! 🙂 Good luck today and I hope you don’t end up having gestational diabetes!
Thanks so much for sharing this! I am terrible with needles or basically any other medical procedure (or even hearing about a medical procedure!) so I have always been a bit nervous about pregnancy. I’m glad things have gotten easier knowing that it is all for the benefit of your baby. I hope things go well today!!
It seems like you eat a pretty healthy diet and haven’t been all about the sweets this pregnancy, so surely you should be fine? That’s what I keep telling myself at least. I’m a little nervous about when I have to take the test as well, it’s kind of nerve wracking! Be sure and let us know how it goes! Best of luck!! It will be ok!
Hi Julie 🙂 I appreciate you addressing your experience with your needle aversion during pregnancy. I also feel anxious about medical procedures, lay down for blood draws, etc. and many people have said, “just wait til you’re pregnant…” It hasn’t been helpful at all with reducing my anxiety, as I’m sure you understand. Recently, my husband and I started the process of identifying fertility problems after 1.5 yrs of trying to conceive. I had a procedure which was really anxiety producing and physically uncomfortable, but keeping in mind the bigger picture (our hope for a baby!) made the discomfort easier to bare. Sending good vibes to you for your dr visit today 🙂
I actually started disliking needles when I was pregnant, from having so many! I skipped the regular gestational diabetes test and did the 3h glucose tolerance test, which involves 3 needles. I am still a bit squirmish about it now and it’s been 2 years.