chelsea barbine (00:00.046)
Hi, mama. Welcome back to the Postpartum Better podcast. Today's episode is part of the pregnancy diary series where we're diving into an update on my own pregnancy journey at 27 weeks pregnant with baby number two. In honor of checking off a big item on my to-do list, we're diving into the glucose test, which, if I'm being honest, is one of the most mind-boggling things about pregnancy protocols.

Here we are on one hand, encouraged to be cautious about what we're putting in and on our bodies to reevaluate our habits and even pick up new ones. Yet when it comes to this test, we are somehow expected to ask no questions about consuming the beverage that includes artificial flavors and colors, high fructose GMO corn syrup, and at least until August 2nd, 2024,

even brominated vegetable oil, which was banned in Europe and Japan due to associations with neurological problems, fertility changes, thyroid dysregulation, and pre-cosis puberty. Needless to say, when I found the fresh test back in 2022, I was happy dancing my way out of the appointment that I received provider approval to use the alternative for gestational diabetes testing. And when I found out that I was expecting our second,

Not only did I know I would request using the Fresh Test again, but I couldn't help but put on my big girl pants and take the bold move of inviting founder of the Fresh Test, Jacqueline Ramsey on for an episode to build awareness around this alternative. In the episode, Jacqueline explains what the glucose test is, why it's important, the journey that inspired her to create the Fresh Test, and how to access this natural alternative.

It's true that we have a lot more work ahead of us when it comes to understanding and supporting the health of women. But I'm proud to be at the table with women like Jackie to rewrite the post-predominator for the collective. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I argued it takes a village to raise a mother. If you're looking for simple and sustainable ways to care for your overall health and wellness, a group of like-minded mamas awaits you in the Cultivate crew. Enrollment is now open for our next cohort.

chelsea barbine (02:16.578)
Join at CoreCareCultivate.com/the-cultivate-crew and get immediate access to bonus postpartum preparation and support content. Life after birth doesn't have to be exhausting, overwhelming or isolating. I can't wait to see and support you and the Cultivate Crew.

chelsea barbine (02:40.648)
Welcome to Postpartum Better, the go-to podcast for expecting a new mom's navigating life after birth. Hi, I'm Chelsea Barbine, wife, mama, yogi, postpartum health coach, and your new mama friend. Together, we're covering topics like postpartum recovery, maintaining your mental and emotional health, finding your identity as a new mom, and rekindling your relationships. Get ready for expert tips

actionable advice and heartfelt conversations with other moms who just get it. The health and happiness of the world resides in us mamas. It's time to postpartum better.

chelsea barbine (03:37.571)
Well, with our brand, sometimes anytime I see lemons, like, I have to have them. Okay. Noted. Noted. Noted. It's such wild timing that today is when we are chatting. actually, my husband and I, are expecting our second. And thank you. Thank you. I feel like it's like just now like really settling in. Yeah. You know, it's like, we're in the second trimester. Like, okay. Like,

I'm starting to like already look a little bit more pregnant, but still like, I just eat too much? Have I packed on a few like summer pounds? don't know. But- many weeks are you? I'll be 15 tomorrow. okay. Yeah. So crazy. But when we were meeting with the nurse practitioner today, she was just going over like a couple of reminders of like what to expect over the next couple of visits. And she's like, after your 20 week anatomy scan, like you're pretty like-

pretty much in the clear for a while, you know, until you have to go for your glucose test. And I'm like, funny that you mentioned that. I'm going to tell on myself really quick. And then I want to turn it over to you to really like share a little bit of education on like what it is I'm talking about, even with the glucose test and why fresh test is even like such a big thing. Truly by sharing that you guys.

I'm sure for those listening by now, you know that like I'm a little bit of like, I don't want to say like a pot stirrer, but like I love to just do things like the Chelsea way. And one of which was with my first going to my OB office and asking about using fresh test as an alternative. Jackie, the nurse practitioner was like,

what is fresh test? And I was like, let me tell you. And she like looked, I sent her all this information through the portal and she was like, my gosh, Chelsea, you're the first patient to bring this to us. like, thank you because I want to recommend this to all of our mamas. I'm like, it's amazing. It's all because of you. That's fantastic. But like, I'm just so appreciative for what you have created because it is like mind boggling to me that

chelsea barbine (05:55.438)
we are just overwhelmed with such information of how to eat this and this and don't do this and do that. But then it comes to something like the glucose test and they're like, drink this gelatin, very long expiration date Kool-Aid and just like, it'll be fine. You don't need to know within it. I'm like, very contradictory. Yeah. And they're adamant. They're like, you have to do this.

Like, what did you just say? Yeah. Yeah. So can you tell those who are listening, like, is the glucose test? Like, 101 of it. Like, what is it meant for? Like, why do moms get so nervous about their diet leading up to it and all the things? Right. OK. So especially for new moms out there who haven't been through this, at about 24 to 28 weeks, a woman will be screening for gestational diabetes.

And that's unless you have been diagnosed previously, you have some sort of high risk factor, but usually it's 24 to 28 weeks. And the reason they do that is because with pregnancy, our hormone levels change. And so our response to glucose can change even in the healthiest of moms. It's like very undetectable. There's very few signs. I think we all can probably know somebody who had gestational diabetes and they were like the healthiest of healthy.

but it's just their hormones and how they're responding to that baby. And every baby is different. But yeah, your physician or midwife will explain that you'll have to do this test. And to do the test, you drink 50 or 75 grams of glucose and get your blood drawn after, and then there's varying thresholds and they determine if your body can handle glucose. If not, you may be diagnosed with gestational diabetes or you might be in the clear.

importance of this is that if you have gestational diabetes and it's undiagnosed or unmanaged, there's a lot of risk factors for your baby. So it's very, very important to do it. Though I know when I was pregnant, no, eight, nine years ago, I was shocked just as you were. It's like, wait, why are you asking me to drink it? And I just didn't sit well with me. Isn't it like this?

chelsea barbine (08:16.084)
It again, guys, I did not. I opted for the alternative. And but girlfriends of mine have shared. Yeah, there's like these different flavors. It's like bright orange. It's like this stuff. It tastes awful. Like I was ready to be like women who are like, I'm already struggling to keep normal things down. And now I'm drinking this. And then there's that waiting period. I think it's an hour, right? Where you wait. And then afterwards, it's, is it a urine sample? Or is it blood? I'm forgetting right now.

Okay, great. see you guys, I literally just did this like two years ago, I'm still like, wow. And it all comes back to you, though, truly. Now let's say that there is like a flag or maybe I'll say results come back and they're like in question, but I do know that there's a longer period, which is like a three hour glucose testing. Yeah, so just to break it down for everybody. So

There is a 50 gram glucose test, a 75 gram and a 100 gram. So when you go on your provider, they're either gonna give you a one beverage test or two beverage test. So in your case, it sounds like you did the 50 gram and then you had your blood taken an hour later. If you fail, then you go on to the second stage and at another time you drink a hundred grams of glucose and then they test your sugar levels again. And actually they do it over a span of three hours. So it's a little bit.

longer of a test and more sugar. The other method is a lot of midwives will use this. It's the 75 gram test and they just do it once and they pass or fail. so interesting. So if I'm hearing this correctly, we're consuming either 50, 75 or a hundred grams of basically sugar. Yeah. Right. But this, this, I'll say this practice, this test, traditionally speaking,

It's not like the norm. Is it normal sugar that we consume every day? I feel like it's not. Well, it's not table sugar sugar. There's a lot of differences. There's fructose, sucrose, glucose, and this specific sugar is glucose derived from corner tapioca and they actually pulled some samples. So this is what the doctor probably give you or there's colored ones. And then the fresh test option looks like this or it can come in a powder version where you mix it with water.

chelsea barbine (10:42.446)
But yeah, no, glucose, you would, a lot of bakers will use it. It's just not your table sugar. So what I found is, you know, obviously when we're pregnant, we have nausea, we're already prone to adverse events and whatnot. The quality of the ingredients made the world a difference. So we did like a survey of close to 300, close to 400 women, all but one, said they enjoyed the fresh test.

So we were like, I was just blown away by those results. And we attribute that. mean, our product is completely clean. There's no preservatives, additives, GMOs, anything like that. But what I truly attribute it to is super high quality ingredients versus very low cost dextrose. So most women can handle ours very well.

I loved it. I was like, I'm just drinking lemonade. All of my girlfriends were like, wasn't that awful? And I'm like, actually, I really enjoyed it. They thought it was nice. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. I just drank. I will share with you though, for those who are listening in, they're like, huh, this is so interesting. We'll get into like, why this was really created, like what Jackie's pain points were and how you can access it in a minute. But while it's top of mind before again, pregnancy brain, I forget.

And I will advise if you're getting the powder packet, is what I consumed the first time. And be sure to measure out, I think it's 10 ounces of water, if I remember this correctly, ahead of time, because I went to lab corp thinking again, all over your site is like, they approve it all this stuff, my lab corp, I don't know what it is with my area, like good old, you know, suburbs of Philadelphia. They're like, what is that? You know, and I'm like, what do mean I have to pre measure water? I was

I was so determined not to drink the traditional liquid beverage, whatever. like, do you have like a Dixie cup in here? Like, it was like mom mode of like, so resourceful. I'm like, okay, great. So this is four ounces. I'm gonna do two of these and then half of one. Well, that's the price for you. This woman's like, well, what are you gonna put it in? I'm like, well, I'll chug this whole bottle of water and I'll put it in here. Like, I don't know. She's like, wow, you're really set on this, aren't you? I'm like,

chelsea barbine (13:08.92)
Great job. wonder if your experience will be different this time around. like in the every year it grows significantly. And so you're it's never quite certain. You you walk into a lab core or another lab if that phlebotomist is new, if they've heard of it or not. It is on lab cores, all of their lab orders and such describes it. But sometimes it is new. So, yeah, if you get the powder version, which is by far most popular, you take it and you mix it with 10 ounces.

So of water. So it's good to have like a mixer cup or can get one from us or just a water bottle. But yeah, I really like that home is best probably. Yeah, no, it's again, something that I was like, I wanted to be really respectful of, you know, the receptionist and then like being there like checking me in. I already felt like I was like causing, you know, a ruckus walking in with my own stuff. I'm like, hang on. Like there's no like way to notify them like.

By the way, I'm bringing my own beverage. They're probably like, who is this woman? But no, they were super sweet after. And I have heard more in my area that like other women are opting for alternatives. And I'm like, that's amazing. So I'm like hopeful. But I will say guys, like take my advice, take my struggle first attempt, right? Just come prepared. Have it already ready to go.

And like personally, would recommend having your 10 ounces separate from the powder just so they can actually like see you poured in there and then mix it and then drink it. Do not drink it ahead of time, you guys. Do not drink ahead and then go. That's like they won't, that's like a no go. did learn that. Yeah. Every is different on that, but it's probably best advised, yeah, to do it there, but some states allow it. my gosh, really? Yeah. Yeah. But it's...

It's no rhyme or reason as to why. yeah. So in some instances, like the 75 gram, you have to do a fasting beforehand, fasting blood sugar draw. And so in that case, you have to drink it there. 50 grams is handled a couple of different ways. And now in the past year or two, we've seen a lot more OBs stocking it in their office and then just giving it to the patient or charging the patient.

chelsea barbine (15:27.566)
And now we're seeing a lot of labs, a lot of the smaller labs and hospital labs have brought it in, especially for patients with unique allergies. Cause if they can't, if they can't withstand the traditional brands because of a few of the ingredients in it, we now have another option. So got it, got to get screened. my God. Thank like, how did you come up with this?

It's so fun kind of rather than just saying about it, because I just love maternity and pregnancy. But when I was pregnant, so I had been now currently I've been in the medical field for 20 years, which is so long. And specifically before I came up with the product, I had worked in OB and endocrinology in the medical device space. And so when I went in and I saw this product, my jaw dropped and I was like,

It was just like a serendipitous moment. like, you've got to be kidding me. There's no other option like this. And I received so much resistance back then. And it was like nine years ago, I was told you have to drink it or you have to leave my practice three different times. And I was like, wow, there is so much pushback here. And with that, I was like, then there's going to be a huge opportunity. Cause I'm like, if it's me, and this is nine years ago, I wasn't like a real big health nut.

but I do like to look at labels. And I wasn't used to drinking like tons of sugar. So it like kind of didn't sit with me. And so I just decided to take it on. you know, clinical studies and validation and tons of regulatory work. A few years later, we got it approved and now it's available. You share it like it was so like, and then that happened. No, it was not.

Super easy, but I now, looking back, I now understand why there hasn't been an improved product in so, so long. The ability to get it approved is rigorous and may not. I'm sure many companies were like, it's just not worth it because it's a very inexpensive product. But I felt it was, I feel like women should have an option in any part of their healthcare life.

chelsea barbine (17:48.234)
One thing Forbes came out with just recently was they share that of all the money spent in healthcare, only 4 % is targeted specifically for women. I was like, what? Women make the majority of healthcare decisions for their family. We should be focused on the best care, the best options, innovative options. And so I just kept sticking with it. Lots and lots of no's and hurdles.

but we stuck with it and now we're, know, in every state, stopped more more every day. It's such a blessing and it's very unusual in the medical industry, but we are flooded with emails from physicians and labs requesting to stop it. And usually in the pharma world and medical device world, it's the other way around. You're educating them. And it's because moms like you and others that are doing their research, they're going in asking about it.

and in turn we're getting asked. So it's just it's a really cool spot to be in. I have like goosebumps. Like truly I mean I say this everywhere so much to the point where like my listeners are probably like okay Chelsea we know just say it just say it but like truly I believe that the health and happiness of the world resides in us mothers.

because a well nourished and supported mom is a well nourished and supported family and those families then create our communities and their ripple effect continues. And the more time that I spend in this space supporting other moms, whether expecting or just postpartum, it's astonishing to me how little we know about ourselves and how to care for ourselves.

It just makes me so appreciative for brands and women like yourself who are truly just like fellow industry leaders, like shaking it up and being like, no, it's time that we do something differently because we deserve it and our children deserve it and our grandchildren deserve it. Right. And during this was when I became pregnant, it was really new to me to feel like these very strong instincts. Right. And like when I went in to have the glucose test, I was like, no.

chelsea barbine (20:06.254)
Like I can't do that. Like I just like have this new mama bear feeling that like my baby doesn't want that. And I just, it was like a moment of like empowerment, right? And that every woman should have that ability to just speak up for what they want in any area of their life. But yeah, I do feel women, women hold the world together and we, yeah, it's important to focus on us. is. And I think it's so interesting, you know,

Not everyone experiences, but I do believe majority of us do again, as you're describing that mom with their instinct and it's, it's almost like our children are the reason they're the drive behind it. And right now what I'm sitting with is how, how can we help to translate that for moms after birth? Right. You know, I've just thinking truly so deeply of it is.

Maybe it's this focus on our little ones after their Earth side or this feeling of, or I should say perhaps lack of even like feeling worthy to invest in ourselves. But ultimately at the end of the day, it's when we can best care for ourselves, we then can best care for our little ones. I just, I think there is such a struggle right now in the healthcare system of empowering moms.

to advocate for themselves when they are pregnant or even trying to conceive, let's be honest. I mean, that's really when it starts. No matter how long your journey to conception is, but truly to support and provide the products and the offerings out there for moms to practice that I think just helps us to become more confident in doing so, you know, in more high stakes situations like birth and postpartum.

I went on your website and you had a statistic and I'm like, that is so spot on. said 85 % of moms feel blindsided by postpartum. I'm like, nailed it. It's true. It really is. It is. And we need to give women tools or like, you know, just support to get what they need, right? I was thinking about this the other day is that,

chelsea barbine (22:30.358)
Now that I'm running a company, I think a lot about leadership. And I think the best thing about having, one of the best things about having kids is they teach us what kind of leaders we need to be. Right? Like, we can show up for them, but they have, you know, like we get cues from them on what they need. And with that, we just grow so much. I motherhood is just incredible in so many ways.

It is you guys it is so freaking challenging and I'm not gonna lie like the thought of doing it again with two I'm like, dear god, are we ready? Like I'm like at that point where I'm like, deep breath, we got this it's gonna be fine Frankie's gonna be a little bit older like you know, she'll she'll be like, you know, another mom is gonna be great. But it's so like funny that you mentioned that because I had that revelation, you know, I much earlier on in my journey of launching a business and even in motherhood, right and it's like,

the connections that I'm making right now. was just talking with a financial coach actually, who has her own podcast and she supports women in really like taking ownership of their financial health and the financial, you know, the stories that we tell ourselves, whether they're a business owner or not. And we were talking about the connection of entrepreneurship and motherhood and how truly I believe that the best

founders, the best employees in general, the best leaders of anything, our moms, because we are so flexible, we are so adaptable, we are so quick to problem solve, we are like managing emotional intelligence of like toddlers who don't even know what's happening. Like we can easily handle it as adult, know, it's like just the communication and the planning and handling. I mean, so many different things, this mental load, it's just.

It is truly astonishing. And while that's a whole nother conversation, could get out. I'm like, wow, it's so juicy. I feel like people who have been listening, they're just like, okay, cool. So now I'm even more motivated. I should. Yes. Like this is not that you should guys, but like, if you're feeling this desire to, you know, you're feeling conflicted with what's being advised of you and your motherly instinct to look elsewhere.

chelsea barbine (24:55.822)
And you're needing just that little sign of like, yes, it's okay to explore. Like here it is. Jackie, can you share with those listening where they can access fresh test questions that maybe they could go to their provider with to see if they're a viable candidate? You had mentioned a couple of other things health wise earlier, which I cannot speak on as that was not my experience. So yeah, just to show the lay of the land here with glucose beverages, they're diagnostic, they're medical devices.

but they're also over the counter. It's kind of like this unique gray area. And there's four products out there. Your hospital or your doctor or your lab is gonna stock one or two of them. If they don't already stock the fresh test, it is A-okay to ask for it. We find the most success is when women bring it in with them with the paperwork that we send with and there's some instructions for use and specs, all the info that the doctor needs if they've never ever heard of it.

and ask them, can I drink this instead? And then if you're concerned that the phlebotomist may not know of it, get a prescription saying the doctor A-OKs this other brand because of diet regimen or allergies or nausea. Like those are all justifiable reasons. And you're welcome to use it. It is approved right alongside the others. It is currently out of pocket. So it can be $10 to $20.

plus with shipping if rushing it. Or it can be free if your lab already stocks it or your doctor covers it. So what you would do is you just go to the freshtest.com and you order it there. And we now have it on Amazon. Makes it very, very easy. do? prime days today. should order mine. Yeah. Did they expire? They have actually a two-year shelf life, even with the high quality ingredients. Okay. We had to...

We had to do that to be able to compete with some of the others with five-year shelf lives. God. It's a lemonade. So the freshest is a mint lemonade. I tell you it's the best lemonade you may ever have. It is super high quality, organic ingredients, crystallized lemon, organic mint. We have a new flavor coming out in a month and it is phenomenal. Like I sat with another colleague of mine and

chelsea barbine (27:20.258)
I mean, I think I probably tested different flavors for a year and a half. my gosh. It's phenomenal. I like, cannot rave enough about it. It's so good. and it's the product is safe enough where I let my kids use it at lemonade stands. it is, it is just a high quality product. Yeah. so you're welcome to request it. And if your physician has any questions, just encourage them to reach out to us or we can call them or send them a packet of information.

my gosh, like so turnkey. The fact that you're on Amazon, guys. If you're not on Amazon, I mean, I shouldn't say this, but like who is not on Amazon right now? I mean, right now I'm saying this is prime day and today and tomorrow, right? Or was it yesterday? Yeah, today and tomorrow. Okay. And clearly I have not submitted my order yet, but I'm just like, I don't think it could be any more simple. Yeah, right. We try to make it simple. And if for some reason you're,

Physician doesn't allow it. They insist on their brand for whatever reason we do allow returns So no harm done. We try to just make it easy and we appreciate everyone of you guys asking for it and making it Doctors and midwives and labs more and more aware. So I would say about nine out of ten doctors have heard about it at this point It's amazing and to thank you started this journey nine years ago, right?

Time absolutely flies. my gosh. I just think it's so cool that like your kiddos have seen you on this journey and like you also encourage them in their own entrepreneurial like path with like your little woman A's. Like what? my God, my heart. I just love it. I adore my kids. But that was one of the things when I had my son, after he helped me get this idea, I suppose.

was I was just like, I just want to show them that like, mama can start a business. And so I just kept sticking with it. And like, this is going to be fun. One day they're going to remember working with me in my office and helping us get it going. So it's fun, fun journey for sure. I admire you so much. And again, so appreciative for everything that you do for all of us. The collective of moms out there are just so much better off. And truly, truly, truly, I believe that our postpartum health begins.

chelsea barbine (29:39.854)
well before birth