*New Anatomy Scan Question/Worry*

slabancz

Hello everyone, I believe this is a new anatomy scan question but my scan is scheduled for next week and I was told to eat a full breakfast, have a full bladder, and to drink 16oz of water an hour before hand. My scan is at 8:45am and with how I have been those 3 things make me nervous. I still haven't been able to eat a full breakfast without puking and I definitely can not drink that much water without puking. On top of that I've been puking basically every morning within 5 mins of waking up and sometimes I can't control my bladder as much as I would like when puking.... Does anyone know how necessary the full meal is or does it have to be water you drink? I know the full bladder is important since it makes the baby easier to see but just unsure if I'll be able to do the rest of it.

beccabeeee

Hmmmm, I have my scan in the beginning of August. I was told too that I needed to drink the amount of water and keep the full bladder for the appointment. They didn't mention eating though. I think you should call your office where they do the scan and tell them you can't keep anything down including water. They might tell you it's not too important to drink all the water before the appointment? Good luck!

chelseymmcghee

I was told to stay hydrated but they made me empty my bladder before my scan. They told me to drink a lemonade or something with sugar before hand so baby was squirmy! They also said they want empty bladders because the baby likes to cozy up to a full warm bladder, and if it's empty, it'll be much more of a show.I also know though, sometimes it's easier to see the baby on a full bladder.

Since your doctor and mine are saying opposite things, I don't know what to tell you! Seems like all are pretty standard things, stay hydrated, eat something and come with a full bladder because they can always have you empty it, but it's harder to fill it up on demand!

I'm sure everything will be fine! Good luck! How exciting!

dp1320

I would take it with a grain of salt...if you can't keep breakfast down...then don't worry about eating it...and if you can't keep the water down then just drink what you can! You'll be ok FWIW I never did any of those things before my scans and they never had a problem with seeing baby or getting the proper measurements.

Whovian84

I wonder if it would help to eat a lot the night before and then maybe if you wake up during the night to pee to also have some saltines or something small to eat. That way your stomach won't be too empty and you might be able to keep more down the next morning. Good luck!!

AlejandraN2

I wouldn't worry about it. They are just giving you suggestions so that the baby has some calories/sugar in the system and stays active. If you can't keep anything down, bring a lemonade or orange juice with you and drink it half an hour or so before the appointment. Bring a chocolate bar or something too for a bigger sugar rush (or since it's breakfast time a breakfast bar). For your bladder, mine has no problem getting full within 10 mins of drinking something so i doubt it'll be a problem for you. Once you check in, keep a full bladder and ask them if you should empty it or not at check in. I get both vaginal and abdominal ultrasounds everytime so i usually have to have an empty bladder and the technician did not have issues getting measurements with either metric.

So you'll be ok. Don't stress about it. 

chewie5990

I was told to have a full
Bladder and drink 32oz of water before! My appointment is at 8:30am so I feel you on having to drink so much water so early. My doctor didn't say anything about food though...I wouldn't worry too much about it. Eat what you can and drink what you can but don't stress about it.

I'm more worried about having a super full bladder and then having to pee in a little tiny cup after!!

fmraglio

Ok so not sure about the breakfast thing, I'd eat something small if you can't keep a meal down and drink a sugary beverage before you go, they say orange juice because while it's sugary, it also has nutrients in it.

As for the full bladder, I was told to drink 32oz. before coming in for my scan and they would have me to go the bathroom when I came in if it was too full. I haven't gone yet so I can't tell you how it went, but that's just what I was told!

beccabeeee

Agree with others, also if you are hungry in the morning maybe a little yogurt with some granola? I now everyone is different, but when I was super sick for some reason I could still kind of stomach yogurt. Also, dry cereal is something you could try too. Your appointment is super early, sometimes even I have a hard time eating that early. I wouldn't stress too much about it. I will also be taking the advice everyone else is saying by drinking a lemonade or orange juice before the scan lol. And congrats to finding out the gender next week, so exciting! I'm so impatient. I know it's around the corner but ahhh I can barely contain myself

VesperLove

I was told to eat and drink as normal and they had me pee before going into the room. This was for my NT scan (not anatomy scan) but the purpose is the same ... to see everything you can. So, I think every doctor tells you something different! I wouldn't worry to much. do what you can, but if you can't, I don't think it's that big of a deal. That's just my opinion!

holly1811

20 week scan im not drinking other than normal it says on my letter to drink 1 pint of fluids 1 hour before. This was the same information given at 12 week scan, i drank the recomended for that and got told to go empty some of my bladder 3 times as it was still to full so i ended up having my scan on a empty bladder and pics were super clear and there was no issues getting all the information the tech needed. Maybe you could try a small glass of orange juice while you drive there. Good luck with your scan

lbo1212

I've had to empty my too full bladder for every ultrasound passed 16 weeks so I don't think its really totally necessary. I would try to follow their instructions as best as you can, they can't really expect more then that from you.

redfallon

AlejandraN2 said:

I wouldn't worry about it. They are just giving you suggestions so that the baby has some calories/sugar in the system and stays active. If you can't keep anything down, bring a lemonade or orange juice with you and drink it half an hour or so before the appointment. Bring a chocolate bar or something too for a bigger sugar rush (or since it's breakfast time a breakfast bar). For your bladder, mine has no problem getting full within 10 mins of drinking something so i doubt it'll be a problem for you. Once you check in, keep a full bladder and ask them if you should empty it or not at check in. I get both vaginal and abdominal ultrasounds everytime so i usually have to have an empty bladder and the technician did not have issues getting measurements with either metric.

So you'll be ok. Don't stress about it. 

Yes, to this. At my scan with DD, they told me to drink a milkshake beforehand so that she would be active.

courtney198078

I have mine in 2 weeks and they didn't tell me to do any of that and usually have me empty my bladder prior before ultrasounds since the NT scan.

BCIndychick

My scan is tomorrow and I haven't been told any of those things. Mine is at 2:45 in the afternoon. Maybe they suggested you eat because the scan could run long? Idk. Good luck.

ammnam14

For my first ultrasound they told me to have a full bladder. Before we started she had me empty it. Every ultrasound after that they had me go to the restroom prior to it. I say eat/drink what you can and don't stress too much. good luck!

Marchmellow2

They had me empty my bladder before mine. Also they say to drink orange juice or something sweet so baby is awake. I wouldn't worry too much.

candimann

Don't worry about the eating but absolutely drink the water (doesn't have to be water but it shouldn't be carbonated) and if need be they will as you to empty it. It doesn't have to be a big amount of liquid either....just enough to fill your bladder (I usually do a bottle of orange or apple juice). Everyone is told different because everyone will be going to a place that has different equipment. My first 4 ultrasounds I had to have a full bladder because of the place I was going....my next one is at a new place where I need to have an empty bladder.

colsen4

I was not told to do anything before mine. I think as long as your bladder is full so that baby is pushed up you should be good. Drinking or eating something right before that has some sugar in it will help make the baby active so you can see lots of movement. 

TomekiaB

I was told to drink 32oz of water, I have a morning appointment. They gave me a handout but I didn't read it for any other instructions yet since my ultrasound is still 2 weeks away. They said the full bladder pushes the intestines out of the way so they had a better view of the uterus...I have no idea if this is true or not (I am a medical provider but ultrasounds are outside of my scope of practice).

amw2133

I wasn't told jack before any of my scans. Haha they had a bit of a hard time at my 1st NT scan because baby kept showing us his/her butt. But other than that I haven't had a problem.

ChiccoBeanz

 To OP, I had an anatomy scan this morning and I didn't eat, drink or have a full bladder. Mine was scheduled last minute as they thought I may need an amnio for a spine issue they may have found. But, I'd say call the doc's office and tell them you have been having these issues. They may have solutions for this or may tell you don't worry about it. Either way, asking the people who will do the scan may be best as they know what they can work with. Plus this is what they do...I'm sure you are not the first and won't be the last mommy with these issues. Hope that helps. 

Mizuiro007

My last pregnancy they told me to have a full bladder for the anatomy scan. I don't know if I was dehydrated of what but I drank three liters of water throughout the morning before the scan, no bathroom breaks, sonographer gave me grief about "didn't they tell you to have a full bladder". It went fine anyway. I had a different sonographer for a later scan and she said she doesn't like doing them with full bladder (lo was snuggling my bladder and turning away so we couldn't see his face). I think it can be preference for who's doing it so asking would be good.

That being said I'd just do what you can and maybe wear a pad for accidental leakage.