Declining all routine pregnancy test...has anyone done it?

[1+1=5]

Has anyone out there declined the two blood tests and swab? how did the hospital staff react? I'm not good with people patronizing me or 'telling me off', i get cross or emotional :(

eta: i'm NOT interested in comments about why i should have the tests done or comments that do not address my question...open your own thread if you want to discuss something else :geek:

[Mrs Mermaid]

What tests exactly do you mean and why do you not want them?

[sweetseven]

They just kept writing me out new referrals for the tests, and I just didn't follow up on them.

[Starlet]

Last time around I declined the glucose test and strep B swabs. I was stupid enough to go have the NT scan and got a high result(1 in 5) and had an amnio, etc etc. Baby was totally fine and now he's a toddling 12 month old with no problems what so ever. I also declined the Vit K and hep B shots at birth.

This time around I have declined everything. I requested a ultrasound for dating at 9 weeks as my bleed had only just come back and I was breastfeeding, so I had no idea how far along I was. I also had the anatomy scan.

You'll have to be quite firm in what you want then you decline these things at the hospital and be prepared for them to try and guilt you into having the tests done.

I homebirthed the last time and plan to this time and my midwives have not been pushy at all. In fact they bring up the subject, hand over a ton of information about it, tell em to read it, have a chat to hubby and to just let them know at the next app if I wanted to still decline it. no questions asked.

[1+1=5]

What tests exactly do you mean and why do you not want them?

i'm referring to the routine blood test, the glucose challenge test and the strep b swab test. why don't i want them? i find them to be very invasive and in my case, unnecessary. i find these tests very stressful and if i don't need them then there is no reason for me to stress about them.

[1+1=5]

They just kept writing me out new referrals for the tests, and I just didn't follow up on them.


lol...i think i might do that, rather than arguing with them. if they question me as to why i haven't done them then i guess i can address it then :o

[1+1=5]

Last time around I declined the glucose test and strep B swabs. I was stupid enough to go have the NT scan and got a high result(1 in 5) and had an amnio, etc etc. Baby was totally fine and now he's a toddling 12 month old with no problems what so ever. I also declined the Vit K and hep B shots at birth.

This time around I have declined everything. I requested a ultrasound for dating at 9 weeks as my bleed had only just come back and I was breastfeeding, so I had no idea how far along I was. I also had the anatomy scan.

You'll have to be quite firm in what you want then you decline these things at the hospital and be prepared for them to try and guilt you into having the tests done.

I homebirthed the last time and plan to this time and my midwives have not been pushy at all. In fact they bring up the subject, hand over a ton of information about it, tell em to read it, have a chat to hubby and to just let them know at the next app if I wanted to still decline it. no questions asked.

i wish i had the confidence to homebirth but i had some form of intervention with both boys and it would scare me to not have that on hand. home birth would be so good.

last time i declined the glucose challenge and they had a 'chat' with me about why i should have it done etc. they even got to a point where they said if i didn't have it done then they would treat me as though i had GD....to shut them up i had the test done, came back negative and i was able to resume midwife care. i hope to God that i don't have another big bub so that they can leave me alone.

[Rebdot]

There is a lady on here that has declined all tests including ultrasounds,

I wont say who she is, maybe she will post, but I like her idea, I wish I had not worried about u/s and just got a 4D one a 28 weeks and thats it.

In my 1st pregnancy I didnt do the glucose test or the swab.

The swab is important though I believe, babies do die, thats why they do it.

[helenwombat]

My mum has been asking me why I keep having to have all these tests - she thinks they're completely unecessary too (healthy babies are born in 3rd world fields, for goodness sake). I also know a lot of mothers who have been very stressed with iffy results from the tests & of course were worrying for nothing as the babies were fine. It really annoys me the way hospitals/docs/midwives feel they can patronise you & tell you what you need/don't need. I have been a nanny for babies for 10 years & have already disagreed with some of the things the midwives have told me I 'must' do. I wish I had more guts to be firm with them, but so far I have just nodded and smiled sweetly (& slagged them off to my dp after)!

[1+1=5]

There is a lady on here that has declined all tests including ultrasounds,

I wont say who she is, maybe she will post, but I like her idea, I wish I had not worried about u/s and just got a 4D one a 28 weeks and thats it.

In my 1st pregnancy I didnt do the glucose test or the swab.

The swab is important though I believe, babies do die, thats why they do it.

my issue with the swab is that you can be positive one week and negative the next. i could test positive on the test but be negative by the time the birth rolls around. knwo what i mean? its stressful and it seems like an unreliable test to have.

i don't mind the two ultrasounds as they are not invasive, i will do those.

[mummy2lilly]

I had no Blood tests for my 1st pregnancy but once i was in labour the Midwives where nasty old witches that forced me down to have a blood test. I did have the strep B test tho. This time around i again havent had any blood tests and dont plan too. But my dr turned around to me and said he isnt even worrying about writing me out anything because he knows it will go in the bin. Im just worried now for when i go in to labour that im going to have B!tches again that are going to force me to have blood tests again. I agree with you. All the tests make me feel horrible

[sweetseven]

With all that I've been reading about labouring women occasionally having things physically forced upon them, I've wondered if you took in a written birth plan, stating that you are refusing any intervention that you have not given explicit written consent to, and if anything is performed upon you that you haven't given explicit written consent to, you will report them to be charged with assault.

I wonder if something like that would work.
I had no Blood tests for my 1st pregnancy but once i was in labour the Midwives where nasty old witches that forced me down to have a blood test. I did have the strep B test tho. This time around i again havent had any blood tests and dont plan too. But my dr turned around to me and said he isnt even worrying about writing me out anything because he knows it will go in the bin. Im just worried now for when i go in to labour that im going to have B!tches again that are going to force me to have blood tests again. I agree with you. All the tests make me feel horrible

[mummy2lilly]

With all that I've been reading about labouring women occasionally having things physically forced upon them, I've wondered if you took in a written birth plan, stating that you are refusing any intervention that you have not given explicit written consent to, and if anything is performed upon you that you haven't given explicit written consent to, you will report them to be charged with assault.

I wonder if something like that would work.


They had a copy of my written birth plan as they helped me plan it. Also i had a copy with me so i could follow it.. ( it helped me relax better during labour)
But the midwive that forced me to have the blood test was just plan horrible. I did complain after i went home once i found out my rights etc.
Also i did find out if they stressed both me and the baby while trying to get blood from me then she would have been in serious trouble.

Alot of people have complained about the hospital before. But living in the country its the only one i have to choose from..

[crazymuma]

With my first I did the blood tests and ultrasounds.

With my second I refused the blood tests and NT test they wanted me to have. I ended up having a ultrasound as baby wasn't in the right spot.

I declined the glucose with both and never had the swab either.

When questioned by middies and doctors I just told them I had made an informed decision and didn't need a lecture so to leave it be.

I guess my main reason for not wanting the tests is I believe pregnancy and birth are natural things - not a condition that needs interferance and I honestly believe our bodies will tell us if there is something wrong. Also so many of these tests are wrong which just causes so much stress - and for the record the ultrasounds I had with my first were wrong - not only did 3 scans say my son was a girl the first 2 also showed a severe kidney condition - nothing wrong with his kidneys at all.

[Lillynix]

I had every 'standard' test/ultrasound with DD and then some, I had high BP in the last couple of weeks so was subjected to hourly blood tests, 24 hour urine collection, hours of CTG monitoring etc.

With DS I only had one lot of bloods done (the initial pregnancy ones), and still had a dating/12wk/20wk ultrasound but declined the Glucose Test and the GBS swab. I found the hospital Midwife was okay with both of these, she just made sure I knew the risks etc, which I did. I also didn't have any antibiotics during my labour despite the hospital not having my GBS status. DS was just monitored for about 48hrs post birth.

This time around, I have had nothing but the 20wk ultrasound. No blood tests, no Glucose Test, no GBS swab, nothing. I'm seeing an Independent Midwife for all of my care as i'm having a homebirth this time and i've only had my blood pressure taken and my Middie has listen to the heart beat a few times with a pinnard (rather than a doppler).

All my decisions have been well informed ones and ones that DH and I are comfortable with as well as my Midwife.

[missie_mack]

With all that I've been reading about labouring women occasionally having things physically forced upon them, I've wondered if you took in a written birth plan, stating that you are refusing any intervention that you have not given explicit written consent to, and if anything is performed upon you that you haven't given explicit written consent to, you will report them to be charged with assault.

I wonder if something like that would work.

I would be curious too. With DS I didn't have NT scans done (however nobody tried to coerce me about these either I was told they are optional) Nor did I have the glucose test which made the midwife have a spack attack but it was too late by the time she had seen me. Nor did I do Hep B at birth. Next time I will probably do even less again if I can get away with it ;)

[Janesmum123]

If you don't want them just be firm and say so they can't legally force you to do any test.
Most of the time if you give them a little bit of an explanation they understand.
But be prepared to get looks.

I refused the down syndrome test and told them it's because I won't abort for downs so there is no point in the test.
I will be refusing the glucose.
What is the 28 weeks blood test? is that just glucose or is there more?
Also what is the swab?
I had the 20 week scan to ease my mind and make sure bubs is fine also it was great to see him finally...:D

[Eco Goddess]

We had a few scans early on (due to previous miscarriages), but I didnt have any other bloods done in the beginning. I did have the NT but next time I probably wouldnt bother.

My birth centre doesnt do routine Glucose tests, I was told I could have it if I wanted to or if they thought I was displaying symptoms, but otherwise not necessary, so I didnt.

[1+1=5]

I had no Blood tests for my 1st pregnancy but once i was in labour the Midwives where nasty old witches that forced me down to have a blood test. I did have the strep B test tho. This time around i again havent had any blood tests and dont plan too. But my dr turned around to me and said he isnt even worrying about writing me out anything because he knows it will go in the bin. Im just worried now for when i go in to labour that im going to have B!tches again that are going to force me to have blood tests again. I agree with you. All the tests make me feel horrible

was this the Geelong hospital??




I guess my main reason for not wanting the tests is I believe pregnancy and birth are natural things - not a condition that needs interferance and I honestly believe our bodies will tell us if there is something wrong. Also so many of these tests are wrong which just causes so much stress

thats how i see it as well. i feel like i'm being treated for an illness which gets my goat. this is such an exciting and great time, i have had two healthy boys and straight forward pregnancies. i'm not high risk, i'm young and healthy....why should i go through all the stress for something that is unnecessary.

i think i will use the line that others have used here...i have made an informed decision and its not up for discussion. bubs won't be having a vit K or Hep B either....

[MummyHas3boys]

Im going to go against the grain here and say i have done what ever test i have been asked to do with both my pregnancies, we are now TTC#3 and im sure i will do the same when i am pregnant again.
IMHO if the test isnt going to cause any harm to myself or the baby, then whats the harm in getting it done, like bloods, it stings for a few seconds but its all over and done with, it probably wont pick anything up, but i think of the "whats if's" like whats if i dont get the blood test done, and something is wrong?! I know pregnancy is a natural occourance, not a condition but things can go undetected, and i like to cover all bases.:D Thats just me anyways!

[1+1=5]

Also what is the swab?


the swab tests for strep B. the test is notoriously unreliable and for someone who has been sexually abused, its an incredibly stressful thing to go through. i won't go any further with that one....

[mummy2lilly]

[QUOTE=Owen&Noah's_mum;4359254]was this the Geelong hospital??
QUOTE]


No its the Ballarat Hospital. The only other hospital i could go to is a private one but they want something like 6k just for a Natural Birth so thats out of the question haha.

I was going to go to geelong hospital because we was going to move before bub was born but df and i changed our mind and stayed here.( Ballarat )

[1+1=5]

Im going to go against the grain here and say i have done what ever test i have been asked to do with both my pregnancies, we are now TTC#3 and im sure i will do the same when i am pregnant again.
IMHO if the test isnt going to cause any harm to myself or the baby, then whats the harm in getting it done, like bloods, it stings for a few seconds but its all over and done with, it probably wont pick anything up, but i think of the "whats if's" like whats if i dont get the blood test done, and something is wrong?! I know pregnancy is a natural occourance, not a condition but things can go undetected, and i like to cover all bases.:D Thats just me anyways!

fair enough but i'm asking for people who haven't had the test done and how they went about it and what their experiences were. your post is a bit off topic and i do have my reasons which are personal and i won't go into detail on an open forum.

[1+1=5]

[QUOTE=Owen&Noah's_mum;4359254]was this the Geelong hospital??
QUOTE]


No its the Ballarat Hospital. The only other hospital i could go to is a private one but they want something like 6k just for a Natural Birth so thats out of the question haha.

I was going to go to geelong hospital because we was going to move before bub was born but df and i changed our mind and stayed here.( Ballarat )


ah ok, i thought i remembered you as living near Geelong. I'm sorry for what you experienced, its a shame that you have those memories for such a special time. I had a bit of a rough time with my first too but made up for it with a pretty good birth the second time around.

[missie_mack]

IMHO if the test isnt going to cause any harm to myself or the baby, then whats the harm in getting it done, like bloods, it stings for a few seconds but its all over and done with, it probably wont pick anything up, but i think of the "whats if's" like whats if i dont get the blood test done, and something is wrong?! I know pregnancy is a natural occourance, not a condition but things can go undetected, and i like to cover all bases.:D Thats just me anyways!

But what if the test doesn't assure you of anything and just causes a lot of stress and worry. How many people have had worrying results with their NT and had to get an amnio (that involves a risk of miscarriage) for the results all to come back ok :detective:

When I had my 34 week ultrasound the sonographer carried on about how small my son was going to be full term and the size of his head. These results lead to me going to 42 weeks in pregnancy despite pre eclampsia because they weren't confident my baby (who I was told was a girl after 5 ultrasounds by various people) was big enough to survive (they estimated maybe a 5 pounder with a head diametre of about 7cm). Because of the pressure this placed on my body and the ill effects I then went into renal failure during an induced labour and ended up in a CS. My liver will never be the same. Incidently my baby was born weighing in over 9 pound with a large head and a penis (and no not a small one either incase anyone thought it was too small to see :laughing:)

So yes routine testing can and sometimes does no favours and can cause issues

[Janesmum123]

the swab tests for strep B. the test is notoriously unreliable and for someone who has been sexually abused, its an incredibly stressful thing to go through. i won't go any further with that one....

oh ok thanks.
I never had half these tests when i was pregnant 7 yrs ago..they wheren't even offered.

[1+1=5]

But what if the test doesn't assure you of anything and just causes a lot of stress and worry. How many people have had worrying results with their NT and had to get an amnio (that involves a risk of miscarriage) for the results all to come back ok :detective:

When I had my 34 week ultrasound the sonographer carried on about how small my son was going to be full term and the size of his head. These results lead to me going to 42 weeks in pregnancy despite pre eclampsia because they weren't confident my baby (who I was told was a girl after 5 ultrasounds by various people) was big enough to survive (they estimated maybe a 5 pounder with a head diametre of about 7cm). Because of the pressure this placed on my body and the ill effects I then went into renal failure during an induced labour and ended up in a CS. My liver will never be the same. Incidently my baby was born weighing in over 9 pound with a large head and a penis (and no not a small one either incase anyone thought it was too small to see :laughing:)

So yes routine testing can and sometimes does no favours and can cause issues

i had a friend who was told her baby's arms and legs were too small/short which indicated that he would be a midget (i'm sorry i don't know the correct term). They were told to think about whether they would like to keep the baby or not....they went through hell thinking about how they would go about it and in the end decided to keep the baby. the baby was born perfectly fine...hes is not a little person.

[missie_mack]

i had a friend who was told her baby's arms and legs were too small/short which indicated that he would be a midget (i'm sorry i don't know the correct term). They were told to think about whether they would like to keep the baby or not....they went through hell thinking about how they would go about it and in the end decided to keep the baby. the baby was born perfectly fine...hes is not a little person.

What a horrible decision to have to make and for nothing in the end :eek: :(

[poppie]

With my first I did the blood tests and ultrasounds.

With my second I refused the blood tests and NT test they wanted me to have. I ended up having a ultrasound as baby wasn't in the right spot.

I declined the glucose with both and never had the swab either.

When questioned by middies and doctors I just told them I had made an informed decision and didn't need a lecture so to leave it be.

I guess my main reason for not wanting the tests is I believe pregnancy and birth are natural things - not a condition that needs interferance and I honestly believe our bodies will tell us if there is something wrong. Also so many of these tests are wrong which just causes so much stress - and for the record the ultrasounds I had with my first were wrong - not only did 3 scans say my son was a girl the first 2 also showed a severe kidney condition - nothing wrong with his kidneys at all.

I would beg to differ that our bodies will tell us if there is something wrong. I am soooo glad I had the glucose tolerance test as I had severe GDM and required immediate hospitalization. I had no idea and apart from the fact that I was over 30, I had NO risk factors at all.

[mummy2lilly]

[QUOTE=mummy2lilly;4359266]


ah ok, i thought i remembered you as living near Geelong. I'm sorry for what you experienced, its a shame that you have those memories for such a special time. I had a bit of a rough time with my first too but made up for it with a pretty good birth the second time around.


You might remember me asking questions about shopping centres and everything else in Geelong a while ago as we was going to move to Geelong but the house we was going to move in to fell through.

Ill be making it up with this birth too..
Sorry i went a little off topic. Just thought ill refresh you memory just in case i did confuse you and you did think i was in Geelong.. Sorry if i did..

[1+1=5]

[QUOTE=Owen&Noah's_mum;4359283]


You might remember me asking questions about shopping centres and everything else in Geelong a while ago as we was going to move to Geelong but the house we was going to move in to fell through.

Ill be making it up with this birth too..
Sorry i went a little off topic. Just thought ill refresh you memory just in case i did confuse you and you did think i was in Geelong.. Sorry if i did..

thats the thread! there are a lot of hospitals around here so i figured if it was the GH then its an issue i would have to address with them when i go in there...no bloods during labor :shame:

[mummy2lilly]

[QUOTE=mummy2lilly;4359355]

thats the thread! there are a lot of hospitals around here so i figured if it was the GH then its an issue i would have to address with them when i go in there...no bloods during labor :shame:


No dont panic it isnt the Geelong Hospital. This time when im in hospital im going to be very clear with them. But when its your first time labour they know how to worry people..
I hope your hospital works out being better then mine.

[bumMum]

what are these tests? i can remember a standard blood test at the beginning. showed i was not immunised against a few things and my dr. told me i had to quit my job in child care because if i got sick my baby would become deaf or disabled. rubella??? i think that's the one.
i have no idea what the swab is i can't remember it. where do they 'swab' lol..?

[missie_mack]

what are these tests? i can remember a standard blood test at the beginning. showed i was not immunised against a few things and my dr. told me i had to quit my job in child care because if i got sick my baby would become deaf or disabled. rubella??? i think that's the one.
i have no idea what the swab is i can't remember it. where do they 'swab' lol..?

Standard blood test at beginning counts iron levels, pregnancy, rubella immunity and blood type.

Next is sometimes a dating scan to estimate your due date done about 8 weeks

12 weeks is your NT scan to check for downs syndrome and a few others which may lead to a amnio

Next is 18 -20 week scan where they check lots of things including gender if you so choose

about 28 weeks they do glucose

34 week scan checks size and progress

About 38-39 weeks they test for Strep B by swiping your anus

Its always interesting when you ask about that not all OBs even advocate for all these tests and many of them really depend on who you see ;)

[1+1=5]

what are these tests? i can remember a standard blood test at the beginning. showed i was not immunised against a few things and my dr. told me i had to quit my job in child care because if i got sick my baby would become deaf or disabled. rubella??? i think that's the one.
i have no idea what the swab is i can't remember it. where do they 'swab' lol..?

the first blood tests looks at: Blood group, Rh and antibodies, Rubella, HIV, Hep B/Hep C and Syphilis

then there is the vaginal swab and the glucose challenge test.

http://www.health.vic.gov.au/maternitycare/tests.pdf

[Opinionated]

the swab tests for strep B. the test is notoriously unreliable and for someone who has been sexually abused, its an incredibly stressful thing to go through. i won't go any further with that one....

I was given two swabs to take into the toilet to do my own streb b. One was for my anal area, one for vagina. No stress.

[missie_mack]

I was given two swabs to take into the toilet to do my own streb b. One was for my anal area, one for vagina. No stress.

Thats really good you had no worries about doing this. Others it would seem may as Owen and Noahs Mum said perhaps those who have been sexually abused

[1+1=5]

I was given two swabs to take into the toilet to do my own streb b. One was for my anal area, one for vagina. No stress.
no stress for you does not mean it won't be stressful for someone else...know what i mean? everyone is different etc.

and i wasn't given the option to do it for myself with either pregnancy. i was also only given a vaginal swab.

[MummyHas3boys]

I was given two swabs to take into the toilet to do my own streb b. One was for my anal area, one for vagina. No stress.

Same here, with both pregnancies i did my own swabs in the toilet....only stress was making sure i didnt mix up what container had the vaginal and what container had the anal swab :D

[Mathermy]

Gosh I didn't even know about this anus one!:eek: I would have been like you want to put what? Where?:eek:

Not on your nelly!:no:

[1+1=5]

Same here, with both pregnancies i did my own swabs in the toilet....only stress was making sure i didnt mix up what container had the vaginal and what container had the anal swab :D


I was given two swabs to take into the toilet to do my own streb b. One was for my anal area, one for vagina. No stress.

start your own support thread...:geek:


Gosh I didn't even know about this anus one!:eek: I would have been like you want to put what? Where?:eek:

Not on your nelly!:no:

thanks for the laugh :laughing:

[pianolady]

its one of the reasons why i'm going to a midwife this time... although I'm still planning a hospital birth.

[Mathermy]

start your own support thread...:geek:



thanks for the laugh :laughing:

:hugs:

[mummy2lilly]

The swabs are horrible. Never again will i be doing them. They made me feel really dirty when i had to do them..

Maluffly - ** " Not on my Nelly "** haha ill have to remember this..

[RedPanda]

i'm referring to the routine blood test, the glucose challenge test and the strep b swab test. why don't i want them? i find them to be very invasive and in my case, unnecessary. i find these tests very stressful and if i don't need them then there is no reason for me to stress about them.

I refused to do the GD test as I hadn't done it with the previous two pregnancies, and the Ob asked me why. My reason was that it was a pain and annoying to fit in. It's not intrusive at all (I'm not a squeamish person - I'm a regular blood donor who's not scared of needles), so I felt kind of silly refusing it in the end. It was my call in the end, but I opted to get it done. I weighed up the hassle of getting it done with the repercussions of having untreated GD and opted for the test.

I've never had a swab and don't intend to this time. I have heard women doing the swab themselves though, so maybe this is an option? They are given the swab and then go into a private room alone to do it themselves.

[Ffrenchknickers]

First time round, I was young, just did all the tests under the sun because all the books said to....I didn't even know I could question them and I couldn't understand why you would.

Second and third births, I went to the birth centre and they were flopping AWESOME....they explained the tests and basically said "You can ge them if you want but you probably don't need to unless this, this and this...." So I declined most tests except the morphology scan.

Fourth birth - different hospital, no birth centre, they hated me :yes:
I got some bloods but I told them which ones I was happy to have - I always want my iron checked as I am vego. so I asked for that, Hcg levels and a full blood count.....She kept trying to talk me into having the STD and Hep. ones but I told them no, there is no point.
I declined the 12 week scan.
I declined the Glucose Tolerance test.
Declined vitamin K.
Declined Hep B for baby.
Declined syntocinon to deliver the placenta.

They LOVED me for stuffing with their routine :laughing::laughing:

[Ffrenchknickers]

Oh, and for number 5 I will be declining ALL internals.

[GraceUnhearing]

you dont have to have anything done you dont want to have done

i refused the GD test with Zeke

this time i will refuse most things
i still want to have the ultrasounds though

but nothing else

[1+1=5]

Thank you ladies. This gives me strength knowing that others have done this as well. I guess if they won't allow me to have a midwife birth then i will have to look at my options which may include not giving birth at that hospital. I would really like to do this my way :D. I'm confident in my health history and my body's ability to naturally birth a 10lb baby with no complications. i will be nice and calm, not argue with the health professionals and hopefully come across as confident and educated in my decisions.

Frenchie, I did the same with my first (all the tests etc. I feel like i was young and stupid and should have known better) and it was a messy birth, i was so lucky to have a vaginal delivery after everything i went through. the OB even said that if i had a repeat of Owen's birth, it will end in a c/s and that it should have been a c/s. i was a bit thrown by his comment and scoffed when he said that and said 'why? hes fine'. eeeek

[bumMum]

Standard blood test at beginning counts iron levels, pregnancy, rubella immunity and blood type.

Next is sometimes a dating scan to estimate your due date done about 8 weeks

12 weeks is your NT scan to check for downs syndrome and a few others which may lead to a amnio

Next is 18 -20 week scan where they check lots of things including gender if you so choose

about 28 weeks they do glucose

34 week scan checks size and progress

About 38-39 weeks they test for Strep B by swiping your anus

Its always interesting when you ask about that not all OBs even advocate for all these tests and many of them really depend on who you see ;)


thats really interesting my dr. never made me do a swab!!! no wonder i was so confused.
as for the fact that i was not immunised against rubella, isn't that an important thing to know? or not really? when i found that out i was really scared!

[bumMum]

Gosh I didn't even know about this anus one!:eek: I would have been like you want to put what? Where?:eek:

Not on your nelly!:no:
:laughing::laughing::laughing:

[Bel0v3d]

I don't think I could not get the tests done but totally agree with everyones comment about unnessisary stress.

I was so stressed before my nt scan(didn't realise it at the time) that as soon as I left the clinic my body wen into shutdown headaches nausia etc. I had the test about 1pm was home by 2 and didn't/couldn't get out of bed till the next morning except for one shower because I threwup.

Testing is a personal choice but for those Women who chose not to test as long as they are making an informed choice then more power to you and it sucks that you have to fight for the care you want because of it.

[Mrs Nietzsche]

I didn't bother with the GD one (was told my choice, best to get it but they didn't push)

I wanted the blood tests as I wanted to know what my iron levels were doing (as was breastfeeding as well)

If I have another baby I barely feel like going to the hospital tbh... waste of my time, I've had perfect health throughout 3 pregnancies. And it is stressful wondering if you are going to 'pass' the test or not. But then you have to accept any risks.

[Gabi]

If they are forceful about it I have two suggestions. One is to take your husband with you to do the fighting. For some very backward reason I've always found my husband is taken more seriously than me with this stuff. The second is to try to get a psych to speak to them on your behalf. I hate confrontations during pregnancy, I think we are more vulnerable around the birth of our babies.

[Isabeau]

I wish i had known that you could decline tests for my 1st pregnancy having GB strep test really ruined my labour. with my 2nd pregnancy I didn't do the glucose test and noone really asked me about it so I don't think I will bother having it with this one either.
I never had the NT scan with all 3 of my pregnancies either because I am only 20 now and they were for mostly over 30s and for the last they say everyone should have it now but I declined because there is no way I would terminate a baby so what is the difference of having it or not

[Annabella]

Have you got a copy of "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" by Sarah Buckley? It has loads of info about all the testing done in pregnancy and why a lot is not necessary, she also has a website with a lo of the same stuff on it. I'd jot down a few points and take them with me incase of a showdown :)

[Sarahlou]

Good on you for sticking to your guns - your mothering instincts are kicking in!! Depending on model of care you have chosen, you may experience pressure from the hospital system who generally operate under a 'risk based' framework but all of these tests OFFERED are just that - an offer and not compulsory. I am pregnant with my 2nd and had none of the tests available with my first and plan to take the same approach this time. I totally agree with you that many of the tests available seem to provide another opportunity to undermine your confidence and plant seeds of doubt - unless there is a real reason why you may be at risk and need one of them for medical reasons rather than a 'just in case' one size fits all theory.

So stay strong and keep following those instincts!!

[Savingfishfromdrowning]

I am 20 weeks with my first. I've had the blood tests b/c I have a medical condition that causes poor vitamin absorbtion, and I had the 20 week u/s, mostly b/c I wanted a look at bub :)

I won't be getting the GTT b/c I already have diabetes :P

I'd love to know what other tests I can expect and what they're like, sometimes I think that we are not given all the information and can't really make informed choices about things.

I have had some dreadful experiences with testing so far, Dr's seem so pessimitic about things, you are led to believe that the worst outcome is the most likely.

When I first found I was pegnant went to a GP to get a referral to a high-risk ob. We'd just moved to a new city and I just went to a GP nearby, thinking I would get a referral easily given my medical history. She insisted on an u/s to confirm the pregnancy before she would refer, I knew I was about 5 weeks, so the u/s found not much except a black circle. The Dr convinced me it was probably a blighted ovum, and to get another u/s in two weeks. So instead of being joyful I was miserable and anxious for two weeks (bub was just fine at the second scan and I never went back to that Dr).

I refused the NT test, though was much chastised by several Drs b/c of this. I figured if it was necessary it would be free, and if bub had down syndrome I wouldn't abort anyway (though I am very low risk b/c I am young). One Dr said that the test also checks for other things, and stated "some babies are formed without a head". I felt like punching him. What kind of thing is that to say to a first-time pregnant woman!?!?!?!

Bub was just perfect at the 20 week scan (head present and accounted for!).

If anyone has some reliable literature on tests etc., especially those they might thrust on me during labour (when I'm sure it will be difficult to make a rational decision) I'd really love to hear about them.

AJ

[AM]

I had NOTHING at all with my last baby, never saw a gp, mw or hospital or anyone medical about pregnancy. (well apart form a chiro who loosened me up when I could not breathe due to my ripped rib ligaments)

T'was great :)

[1+1=5]

If they are forceful about it I have two suggestions. One is to take your husband with you to do the fighting. For some very backward reason I've always found my husband is taken more seriously than me with this stuff. The second is to try to get a psych to speak to them on your behalf. I hate confrontations during pregnancy, I think we are more vulnerable around the birth of our babies.

I'm a psych so i might drop that when I'm there ;). They usually ask for your history anyway.




I have had some dreadful experiences with testing so far, Dr's seem so pessimitic about things, you are led to believe that the worst outcome is the most likely.

When I first found I was pegnant went to a GP to get a referral to a high-risk ob. We'd just moved to a new city and I just went to a GP nearby, thinking I would get a referral easily given my medical history. She insisted on an u/s to confirm the pregnancy before she would refer, I knew I was about 5 weeks, so the u/s found not much except a black circle. The Dr convinced me it was probably a blighted ovum, and to get another u/s in two weeks. So instead of being joyful I was miserable and anxious for two weeks (bub was just fine at the second scan and I never went back to that Dr).

I refused the NT test, though was much chastised by several Drs b/c of this. I figured if it was necessary it would be free, and if bub had down syndrome I wouldn't abort anyway (though I am very low risk b/c I am young). One Dr said that the test also checks for other things, and stated "some babies are formed without a head". I felt like punching him. What kind of thing is that to say to a first-time pregnant woman!?!?!?!

Bub was just perfect at the 20 week scan (head present and accounted for!).

If anyone has some reliable literature on tests etc., especially those they might thrust on me during labour (when I'm sure it will be difficult to make a rational decision) I'd really love to hear about them.

AJ

what a crappy experience :hugs:. here is a link to the the booklet i got with my last pregnancy, this is in VIC mind you. I'm not sure where you are from but from what i gather, its the same accross Australia:

http://www.health.vic.gov.au/maternitycare/tests.pdf

[helenwombat]

Just found out that apparently they don't routinely offer the strep swab in the UK either. The Royal College of Obstetricians don't recommend it because they estimate that 60% of women carry strep b at any one time & giving antibiotics, often unecessarily, is dangerous for babies (causes a minor amount of deaths but also can lead to antibiotic resistant strains of infections etc).
This thread has given me real food for thought! I am definitely going to think long and hard before saying yes/no to all these tests!

[BitterSweet]

I will do normal blood tests and ultrasounds but I do not have the glucose test or the strep B swab.