glucose tolerance test & antibiotics during labor

January 16, 2002

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

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