Saturday, June 26, 2010

Medical Jargon

On Friday I had to go to a lab and take a test for gestational diabetes. This is apparently standard testing for pregnant women who are about 27 weeks along, and doesn't mean anything in and of itself. But of course anytime you have to take a test like that it is a little nerve wracking.
I went in pretty early in the day so that all I had eaten was breakfast beforehand. My nurse midwife told me I didn't need to fast but that it would be a good idea not to eat too many sweets and carbs before I went. Since I love me some fruit and bread, I decided post-omelet breakfast time would probably be the best time to go!
When I got there they made me drink a bottle of what amounted to be flat orange soda. I don't drink soda anyway, so it wasn't very tasty. Luckily, it wasn't very much to drink. Then I had to wait an hour after finishing to have my blood drawn. I normally give blood pretty regularly (you know, when I'm not knocked up), so I'm used to the needles.
The worst part is probably the wait from now until I get to hear about the results on Monday. I haven't experienced anything in my pregnancy that I feel should cause me worry about developing gestational diabetes, but I do have a lot of family members who have developed diabetes. I'll of course update everyone after Monday to let you all know the results!

I'm also due for a Rhogam shot. This is a shot that women who are Rh negative (blood characteristic) have to take around 27 weeks as a preventative measurement. Basically, if Ridley is Rh positive we don't want her blood and my blood to mix. This would cause my blood to build up antibodies. This wouldn't be a problem with my current pregnancy, but would be a problem for any future pregnancies (the antibodies would want to attack the new "invader" in any future pregnancy). So as a preventative measurement (since we don't know Ridley's blood characteristic) I get this Rhogam shot which prevents my blood from building up those antibodies. After I deliver Ridley, we will see if she is Rh positive and if she is then I will get another Rhogam shot (the chances of our blood mixing is highest at delivery).
This all sounds complicated, but in actuality is pretty routine. With the development of this shot, the issue of being Rh negative really isn't one anymore. That is certainly something of which I am very grateful!

No comments:

Post a Comment