I only have 14 weeks left in pregnancy and my doctors are saying they want to do the test for Gestational Diabetes. Why it is it important to have this test? The babys body is developed already, so why dont they do this test a lot earlier in pregnancy? What happends if I say no to the test? Anything bad happends?

Well, having had GD twice now, I believe the tests are important. It’s caused by the placenta messing up your bodies natural ability to produce insulin to break down and digest sugars properly, and this often doesn’t occur until the hormones start to change again in the 3rd trimester to prepare for post partum period.
The 1st test is the one hour, if you fail that, you go back for a 3 hour, same procedure. Since I had it before, I was tested at 6 weeks this time, and am on a diet, medication, and I see the doctor every 2 weeks.
As a previous poster said, one of the main things to watch for is a big baby. GD babies born vaginally often end up with broken arms, or shattered shoulders/collarbones, or get stuck in the birth canal. You can also not produce enough amniotic fluid for them to live in, so there can be problems caused by that. The most dangerous thing to watch for, is the fact that having gestational, or regular diabetes can cause your placenta to start to disintergrate early, which can result in stillbirth if not carefully monitored. GD often culminates in a c-section, though not always.
The first test is very easy, you just get up in the morning(fasting is usually but not always recommended), go to the lab, drink a small bottle of sugary tasting orange or lime soda(it’s not a pop really) and get blood drawn exactly 1 hour later. With all the risks that GD raises, I recommend getting the test so you can be prepared. It’s a simple thing to do to make sure you get the proper care and that your baby lives to meet you once s/hes born. Other than being bigger or possibly needing oxygen/sugar, GD babies are usually remarkably healthy if proper care is taken.

I only have 14 weeks left in pregnancy and my doctors are saying they want to do the test for Gestational Diabetes. Why it is it important to have this test? The babys body is developed already, so why dont they do this test a lot earlier in pregnancy? What happends if I say no to the test? Anything bad happends?

Well, having had GD twice now, I believe the tests are important. It’s caused by the placenta messing up your bodies natural ability to produce insulin to break down and digest sugars properly, and this often doesn’t occur until the hormones start to change again in the 3rd trimester to prepare for post partum period.
The 1st test is the one hour, if you fail that, you go back for a 3 hour, same procedure. Since I had it before, I was tested at 6 weeks this time, and am on a diet, medication, and I see the doctor every 2 weeks.
As a previous poster said, one of the main things to watch for is a big baby. GD babies born vaginally often end up with broken arms, or shattered shoulders/collarbones, or get stuck in the birth canal. You can also not produce enough amniotic fluid for them to live in, so there can be problems caused by that. The most dangerous thing to watch for, is the fact that having gestational, or regular diabetes can cause your placenta to start to disintergrate early, which can result in stillbirth if not carefully monitored. GD often culminates in a c-section, though not always.
The first test is very easy, you just get up in the morning(fasting is usually but not always recommended), go to the lab, drink a small bottle of sugary tasting orange or lime soda(it’s not a pop really) and get blood drawn exactly 1 hour later. With all the risks that GD raises, I recommend getting the test so you can be prepared. It’s a simple thing to do to make sure you get the proper care and that your baby lives to meet you once s/hes born. Other than being bigger or possibly needing oxygen/sugar, GD babies are usually remarkably healthy if proper care is taken.