Re: glucose tolerance test & antibiotics during labor

[Guest guest]

Deanna -

Re: Glucose tolerance test: I don't know if this will work, but why not see if

you can have raw honey instead? I'm going to ask my midwives the same thing.

My test is in about three weeks. I took the foul-tasting sugar water for my

last pregnancy,and it was unpleasant. I think I would do a lot better with

enough raw honey to give me the equivalent in grams of sugar that is needed to

do the test. I'm sure they will balk, but I'm going to at least try it.

Alternatively, even if they say no, I might just figure out how much raw honey

will give me that much sugar and do it anyway. Even though that still is

somewhat of a sugar shock, I do fine on a tablespoon of raw honey in my egg nog

shakes, and a little more won't be a problem. That way, you'll probably have

the correct amount of sugar in your bloodstream to " pass " the test, and you'll

have some healthy enzymes offered by the honey as well. Bring a lot of high

protein food to eat right after the blood is drawn. Or, just refuse the test.

Re: strep b - What does the antibiotic accomplish? Is it to prevent infection

of the medical personnel or the baby? How serious is the risk to the baby? I

assume you've done all the research and have decided that no antibiotics is the

way to go. If so, is this a antibiotic drip a policy in hospitals or with

OB-GYNs in your area as well? If you can find someone who works out of a

hospital where the IV drip isn't required, I would opt to go to the hospital and

be vigilant about demanding the birth you want. It's challenging to get it

(with my first, the nurses kept trying to get an IV into me, and were upset

because I wanted to, of all the terrible things, sit up during labor because

lying down hurt my back. I was induced and on drugs - all things I will avoid

with this pregnancy). Anyway, I got a good lesson in delivery room nursing, and

how the patient is considered to be a nuisance if she doesn't do it their way.

But, if you can avoid antibiotics in a hospital but not in the birthing center,

I would opt for the hospital and just gear up for some challenging run-ins with

the nurses. You should probably bring someone along who will loudly advocate

for you when you are concentrating on birthing. If your husband won't do it,

invite a friend or relative to be there also and who will make sure your wishes

are followed.

----- Original Message -----

From: Deanna Buck

Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 10:46 AM

Subject: glucose tolerance test & antibiotics during labor

hi everyone,

i have another question concerning my baby that is on his way...

i am delivering at a maternity center, i chose this b/c they are much more

supportive of patient choice (despite their resistance to my 'no vitamin K'

request) and less invasive than hospitals. (i'm not comfortable enough with a

home delivery, and my husband will never be...)

unfortunately, they appear to have two policies that I am not happy about.

1. gestational diabetic screening test - which involves ingesting 50grams

(that's correct) of a sucrose drink (it might be in the form of glucose) to test

the insulin response. after many years of being a sugar-addict, and this past

year of getting healthy and free of sugar, I remain extremely sensitive sugar in

any form. (although i am getting better, at first i couldn't even eat fruits and

now i can). the result of any sugar is headache, dizziness, nausea, sometimes

chills, passing-out, all followed by a hangover the next day. although i am

permitted to eat prior to the test, this will not provide enough of a buffer for

the sugar effect. i know that i am going to feel terrible; worse yet, my baby

is going to be exposed to an unknown chemical in an extremely high dose. is

there any way that i can get out of this test? i have tried to explain my

concerns to the mid-wives, but they don't appear to be receptive. i am worried

that if i refuse, they will refuse to keep me on as a patient.

2. the other problem is their treatment of women who test positive for

strep-b. i have known that i test positive since my first visit to the

gynecologist. treatment for this, at the maternity center, requires a

continuous IV of antibiotics from the time my water breaks. clearly, this is

the last thing that my baby needs just before he is born. again, can I get out

of this procedure and how much will this affect my baby?

basically, my questions boil down to my legal rights as a patient to refuse

treatment. if i refuse treatment at the center, possibly they will turn me away

as a patient. i don't want that to happen. the alternative is birth in a

hospital which just means fighting more procedures, having my baby sent to

another room and an overnight stay.

i am in maryland, the metro DC area, if that makes any difference.

any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated,

thank you,

deanna

[Guest guest]

As I was looking into home birthing (if I became pregnant) I asked if

I had to have the diabetic screening test and she said That she had

monitored another pregnancy with a ?meter to monitor the surgar

level? I am sorry it was over a year ago and I don't know what the

tool was maybe loooking into it that way might woork just an idea

that might lead you to a better way.

Barb

[Guest guest]

This kind of thing is so infuriating to me - you have the right to

refuse any medical treatment. It is your body and your child's

health. However, you are right - they may refuse to take you on as a

patient. I am a bit questioning of these " midwives " - they must be

licensed, which is usually not such a great thing, as they are just

as indoctrinated as the hospital personnel. I would think in the DC

area, there would be midwives that would be much more naturally

oriented - it sounds like you're having too many conflicts with these

folks.

I propose this - call any local natural birth resource center - look

in the yellow pages. Call around for referrals, and get on the

internet. Search for home birth resources and information, and

homebirth midwives in your area. It sounds like you want a homebirth,

only in the hospital. In other words, you want it totally natural -

find and call homebirth midwives. Even though you and/or your husband

don't want homebirth, they are really nice and will answer your

questions. Prepare all your questions - if you have to, pay them a

fee for their time. Most will probably talk to you anyway. Also,

there are midwives who are totally naturally oriented that will do

hospital births as well - maybe you should consider that. And also,

what about hiring a doula to be with you? Ask the home birth midwives

about doulas - get one that is experienced and totally natural, who

understands the crap they want to give you, that you don't want, and

she can be your advocate to keep them away.

And most important of all - wait as long as possible before you go to

the hospital! If you have an experienced doula, she will be with you

during labor at home and can probably access if all is going well.

Then go as late as possible, if you can, wait until you're quite

dilated - they can't intervene once you're well on your way, as least

they can't intervene as much.

Any intervention on their part can lead to the next and the next - to

automatically receive antiobiotics could easily lead to some response

on your body's part, that would necessitate another act to counter

the reaction of your body to the antobiotics, leading to another,

etc. Have you read Birth Reborn? (Michel Odent) and Thinking Woman's

Guide to Birth - Henci Goer. Fill your mind with the facts and images

of the birth you want, and wait wait wait to go into the hospital.

(Of course you go if there are any problems, but the vast majority of

births are fine - and usually, any problems become evident early in

labor.)

And here is a great website by gentle midwives with a great archive

of information, you might find info here.

http://www.gentlebirth.org/

And some more links for gentle, sane birth:

http://www.mana.org/valuesethics.html

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/

http://www.birthcenters.org/

http://www.birthlove.com/pages/links.html

Let me know if this helps, but I think the calls around are the best

idea. Go to the experts. In San Francisco we have a Natural Resouces

on Castro Street that is a local resource to natural births - all

sorts of referral books with ratings about the doctors, midwives,

etc. See if other women have rated these midwives - what did they

think? Were there more interventions than they wanted? Did they

listen? etc. Other women always know best, because you can always

assess from what they write if they wanted to kind of birth you want.

Lynne

> any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated,

> thank you,

> deanna

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>1. gestational diabetic screening test

When I had a home birth my mid-wife gave me the option of this test of course,

but she also said there are two things you could do, one was drink the stuff and

the other is not eating for so many hours before the test. check and see if they

would do it this way...

Grace,

a Augustine

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough ''Hello's " to get you through the final goodbye.

--anonymous

2. the other problem is their treatment of women who test positive for

strep-b. i have known that i test positive since my first visit to the

gynecologist. treatment for this, at the maternity center, requires a

continuous IV of antibiotics from the time my water breaks. clearly, this is

the last thing that my baby needs just before he is born. again, can I get out

of this procedure and how much will this affect my baby?

[Guest guest]

Hi Deanna,

I am so sad to see moms battling the same kind of crap I battled 20+

years ago giving birth to my kids! I'd prefer to think all our efforts

made a bit of progress; I guess not!

Guess what? In spite of what their advertising might say, this place

does NOT sound 'supportive of patient choice.' What do they let you

choose? The color of your sheets?

You have the right to refuse any procedures, and they have the right

to refuse to treat you. When we were confronted with similar things 24

years ago, my husband and I simply questioned the hospital's

'inflexible' policies...we kept saying that these policies were not

acceptable to us, and that we wanted to know the reasons why these

things were 'required,' and that we wanted to talk to the next

'higher-up,' and get the answers. We finally wore them down, and they

acquiesced to just about everything we requested.

You may have to sign a waiver if you push for these things, absolving

them of any responsibility. That's really what it is all about. They

want to do all the right things, so they won't get sued.

Unless you have symptoms or something that indicates a problem, you

probably don't really need the Glucose tolerance test. Even my husband

who was susected diabetic was not forced to undergo one. He went to a

lab, early in the morning, and got a fasting blood sugar test taken

(that will tell a lot right there). It was high enough for us to know

he was probably diabetic, so he bought a glucomonitor and tested his

own blood several times a day; thereby checking his reactions to what

he was eating. If you concentrate on getting enough protein, and cut

back the sweets and empty carbs, it will serve you in good stead, and

prevent a lot of problems from showing up around delivery time.

The antibiotic IV thing is nonsense. Let the baby be born, test

him/her, then administer antibiotics if necessary. With all the

knowledge out there these days, about the dangers of the overuse of

antibiotics creating antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, how

could they POSSIBLY insist you take them prophylactically?

I've had two hospital births, and two home births. NOTHING beats

carefully planned homebirth with a competent lay midwife in

attendance, in my humble opinion..... I'd be more scared of giving

birth in a hospital these days than I was 20 yrs ago!

Good luck,

Margie

[Guest guest]

>> gestational diabetic screening test - which involves ingesting

50grams (that's correct) of a sucrose drink (it might be in the form of

glucose) to test the insulin response. <<

I don't have any advice on getting out of it, but my midwife offers her

clients the option of eating a certain number of jelly beans (can't

remember the exact number, but I can find out for you) - OR - eating one

full-size plus one fun-size Three Musketeers bar. Okay, it's still the

bad sugar hit, but at least it tastes better!

~ Carma ~

To be perpetually talking sense runs out the mind, as perpetually

ploughing and taking crops runs out the land. The mind must be manured,

and nonsense is very good for the purpose. ~ Boswell

Carma's Corner: http://www.users.qwest.net/~carmapaden/

[Guest guest]

Deanna,

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had the glocuse tolerance test

performed, and I *did* almost pass out from it (only way I was able to

keep from passing out was to put my head down between my knees and

leaving it there for quite some time). My family (parents, sister, and

myself) all have a bit of a problem with hypoglycemia, so I know that all

that sugar at once just shot my blood sugar up then dropped it back down

which is what caused the faintness. My mother worried about what all

that sugar was doing to the baby. Anyway, with my other 3 children, I

refused to have the test done. I had homebirths with all of my kids, and

I went to a wonderful OB for some of my appointments so he could be my

backup doctor. He was fine with me refusing the test. (My midwife was a

lay midwife and very agreeable, too.) I don't think I had to sign

anything when I refused it, but I remember the dr. or nurse making a note

on my chart saying that I had refused certain things. That way, the

patient would have a hard time later on accusing them of being negligent

by not doing a certain test/procedure.

I believe that I have read that the way they do the glucose tolerance

test normally isn't the most accurate way, anyway. I can't remember what

is supposed to be the best way, though. It seems like you are suppposed

to be eating a certain way for about 3 days before the test. My friend

who was my midwife with my youngest is in the middle of moving right

now--otherwise I would try to get some info from her. Maybe I can later!

(I used to teach childbirth classes, but I'm a bit rusty on some of my

knowledge now!)

Bonnie in NC

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[Guest guest]

thank you all for your suggestions concerning the glucose test and

antibiotics. i really appreciate the input. i will be following up on the

suggestions and hopefully will be able to resolve this situation without

being banned as a patient from the center.

i have about 6 weeks before the test, so if anyone thinks of anything else,

please pass it on.

thank you all again,

deanna

[Guest guest]

Bonnie,

I was wondering if you didn't mind me asking where you live in NC and

who this wonderful OB is?

Thanks!

> Deanna,

> When I was pregnant with my first child, I had the glocuse

tolerance test

> performed, and I *did* almost pass out from it (only way I was able

to

> keep from passing out was to put my head down between my knees and

> leaving it there for quite some time). My family (parents, sister,

and

> myself) all have a bit of a problem with hypoglycemia, so I know

that all

> that sugar at once just shot my blood sugar up then dropped it back

down

> which is what caused the faintness. My mother worried about what

all

> that sugar was doing to the baby. Anyway, with my other 3

children, I

> refused to have the test done. I had homebirths with all of my

kids, and

> I went to a wonderful OB for some of my appointments so he could be

my

> backup doctor. He was fine with me refusing the test. (My midwife

was a

> lay midwife and very agreeable, too.) I don't think I had to sign

> anything when I refused it, but I remember the dr. or nurse making

a note

> on my chart saying that I had refused certain things. That way, the

> patient would have a hard time later on accusing them of being

negligent

> by not doing a certain test/procedure.

>

> I believe that I have read that the way they do the glucose

tolerance

> test normally isn't the most accurate way, anyway. I can't

remember what

> is supposed to be the best way, though. It seems like you are

suppposed

> to be eating a certain way for about 3 days before the test. My

friend

> who was my midwife with my youngest is in the middle of moving right

> now--otherwise I would try to get some info from her. Maybe I can

later!

> (I used to teach childbirth classes, but I'm a bit rusty on some

of my

> knowledge now!)

>

> Bonnie in NC

> ________________________________________________________________

> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!

> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!

> Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit:

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