Full Bladder for 1st Ultrasound?

Annaeliz84 · August 2012

I'm getting my first ultrasound on Monday (so excited!) but am worried about what they told me to do to prepare. I'm supposed to drink 32oz of water an hour in half an hour an hour and a half before the appointment and then hold it until after the ultrasound is complete. Has anyone else had to do this? It sounds like torture considering how much I've had to pee lately!

Hopefully it'll all be worth it to see the results!

watermellens · August 2012

Yes I need a full bladder. They didnt specify how much, just said full.

I remember from the first one with DS, I just drank a ton in the car on the way over.

For one u/s, I had drank a lot and they didn't have a good view, so I was told to use the bathroom and then the view was more clear. Just do what you can.

YAY! Baby K · August 2012

yes you need a full bladder.

I did it yesterday and it wasn't too bad.

jess10/17 · August 2012

Yes they told me the same thing. I ended up drinking 20oz. starting about 30mins before the appt. and then finishing it on the way. It wasn't too bad and they had no trouble seeing! Good luck!

phdwyfe2013 · August 2012

Yes - my instructions say though that I should be finished drinking the water an hour before my appointment. Whaaaaat?! I'm not sure if I can hold not going to the bathroom for that long

They really want me to be doing the pee dance during the u/s.

Justinlove · August 2012

I am always amazed by these posts requiring patients to consume vast amounts of water for an ultrasound. With DD, I ended up having a lot of u/s and was always asked to empty my bladder before the u/s. The tech never had a problem seeing anything. With this baby, I had an abdominal u/s at 10 weeks...again, with an empty bladder. No problems.

jamiedsgirl · August 2012

I think they need the full bladder in order to get a good (external) view of your cervix. Then, they have you empty your bladder for the internal ultrasound. My instructions specified 16 oz, and that wasn't too bad. I had to do 32 oz once for a non-pregnancy related ultrasound, and that was HARD.

Mrs Babs · August 2012

I had to do this too and it was very hard. I ended up needing an internal u/s though so she had me go pee before she did it. I guess a full bladder can mess up the signal with an internal so you really only need it with an external u/s.

synchrosally · August 2012

Yes. I had to do that for all my u/s last time. It sucks more the bigger you get. You can drink all but 8 oz before hand and drink the last 8 right before. That's the advice my last u/s tech gave me.

stilts1 · August 2012

Not for me. The tech actually asked if I wanted to pee before I had it. Yes please!!!! They had no problem locating the baby/ heartbeat during my exam.

njgal26 · August 2012

For my first u/s at 6 weeks the nurse actually told me to go the bathroom b/c it was better to have my bladder as empty as possible-i guess every doctor is different

CloudBee · August 2012

I was told to have a cup or two of water right before heading over, and that I could empty my bladder partway through the ultrasound. (Which is tomorrow.)

Spacebunny19 · August 2012

I had to do this with DD #1 and it was difficult, and so I ended up peeing when I got to the appointment, then drinking again, and was still then told to go pee after they started. Future u/s's the tech didn't bother having me drink because they got a good view of DD without a full bladder.

mandamerlot · August 2012

I went for my first US last week and then had instructed me to have a full bladder (3 8oz glasses) over the phone when I booked the appointment. I drank one of those big ol' bottles of water (1.5L) and by time I got to my appointment I thought I was going to burst. My technician said that since they can't ask how much you weigh over the phone, they tell everyone the same thing. She told me since I'm very slim, next US I'll be fine with 1/2 of a SMALL bottle of water. I guess depending on your weight (or how much of it you carry in your waist) would affect the amount of water you would need to fill up your bladder so they can get a good look at your LO.

k8edgerton · August 2012

They need you to have a full bladder so they can see the baby.

Jasmine1082 · August 2012

32 oz seems a bit much considering your bladder typically only holds about 18 oz, https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/DanielShaw.shtml . I was never asked to do this and I had to have several u/s early in my preg. GL

Lhyacinth888 · August 2012

When I had mine with my DS it was WAAAAAAY too much water for me to drink. The tech ended up having to do a transvag ultrasound and let me empty my bladder beforehand. Right afterwards could literally see my bladder filling up right afterwards in the ultrasound! I am only 5'2 and weighed about 103 then and that is WAY too much water for someone that size. I remember waiting in the room to be called back and telling my DH that he needed to go up there and tell them because I was afraid to move!

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