Drinking water before ultrasound

MrsRo731 · May 2013

Title for mobile users: Drinking water before ultrasound

So I had my first ultrasound last week and everything looks terrific. Our LO was jumping around and dancing like crazy for us. We are beyond thrilled.

I had to drink 32 oz. of water 1.5 hours before the ultrasound so they could get a good shot of LO. I'm just wondering, am I the only one who had a very hard time with this? I did everything they told me to - emptied my bladder and then began drinking the water about 1.5 hours before. I finished probably about 45 minutes before the appointment. Well, the hospital sent me to the wrong office 4 times - yes 4 times. By the time I got where I needed to be it was half an hour past my appointment. My bladder was seriously about to explode. I'm just curious if I'm the only one who felt tortured by this. I know they need us to do it so they can get a clear shot, but it was terrible. Seeing our LO made up for it, though. Sorry, I guess this is a little bit of a vent. I'm just very nervous for NT scan next week when I have to do the same thing.

74dragonfly · May 2013

I have NT scan today and am freaking about the water thing.

ScarlettV · May 2013

I have mine next week and I'm pretty sure I'm going to accidentally pee on the u/s tech.

MrsRo731 · May 2013

SailorTink:
I'd personally like to see their tally marks of the number of pregnant women that have peed during an ultrasound bc of this!

Me too! I was dancing around before the appointment and it was so embarrassing. The lady behind the desk said it happens all.day.long.

jmb527 · May 2013

I just had my NT scan this week, and brought a 16 oz bottle of water with me in the car. I peed before I left home and finished that bottle before I got in to the appt. All went great and my bladder was FULL with just that amount

They had no problem seeing the baby. 32 oz is ALOT

mameally · May 2013

I'm no expert but here is my take your full bladder pushes the uterus up in your pelvis so they can get a good view. If its your first pregnancy your baby will stay in the pelvis later into your pregnancy than if its your second. I'm 11 weeks tomorrow and saw my dr a few days ago. He was surprised at how high my uterus already is. So I won't be drinking as much water this time as last time. With that said the tech last time told me I could go pee before the exam because she would see from my body it wouldn't be too low. I hope that makes sense.

adlamritter · May 2013

No. I had a hard time too. Then found out I didn't need that much. There more worried that you maybe not hydrated.

golfingdarwinfish · May 2013

SailorTink:
I'd personally like to see their tally marks of the number of pregnant women that have peed during an ultrasound bc of this!

Coincidentally my obgyn's office just called to confirm my NT scan on Tuesday, so I asked how much water I should drink beforehand. She put me on hold, consulted the tech and said, "enough to feel full, but please do not be bursting or uncomfortable!" which makes me wonder if there have been a few messy ultrasounds in their practice.

Nattie24 · May 2013

I've had two internal US so far, and both times they made me empty my bladder. I have my NT next week, I wonder if I'll have to fill my bladder. I guess I'll have to call and see.

abbief584 · May 2013

With my first pregnancy I drank way too much water and the ultrasound tech actually had me go empty my bladder because it was too full. With my 2nd pregnancy I just drank one bottle of water while waiting in the waiting room. My bladder was full and the u/s tech had no issues. With this pregnancy I didn't even have a full bladder at my 10 week ultrasound and they were able to get good shots. I definitely think 32 oz is way too much.

Amazing450 · May 2013

I found it to be absolutely torturous as well. Making a pregnant woman drink that much water in a short amount of time and sit with an empty bladder for at least an hour is cruel and unusual punishment. But I guess whatever it takes in order to do whats best for "baby next one"

backoffunicorn · May 2013

I had an unexpected u/s yesterday. I had had three glasses of water before my appt but had given a urine sample when I got to the office since I didn't know I'd be having a u/s. they found the bean with the abdominal. For my NT scan next week they told me 1 bottle of water was fine

MrsRo731 · May 2013

Thanks everyone for your responses! Next time I'll drink a little bit of water but no way am I doing 32 oz.

notkateanymore · May 2013

jmb527:
I just had my NT scan this week, and brought a 16 oz bottle of water with me in the car. I peed before I left home and finished that bottle before I got in to the appt. All went great and my bladder was FULL with just that amount They had no problem seeing the baby. 32 oz is ALOT

Yeah, I just drink a big bottle on the way and in the waiting room, always fine.

AmesRNRT · May 2013

That's weird because at my 8 week u/s the tech said my bladder was full and made me go pee. Then she had to use the "dill dill" cam as my other pregnant girlfriend calls it lol.

golfingdarwinfish · May 2013

AmesRNRT:
That's weird because at my 8 week u/s the tech said my bladder was full and made me go pee. Then she had to use the "dill dill" cam as my other pregnant girlfriend calls it lol.

Bladder is supposed to be empty for t/v u/s, and t/v is pretty much standard < 12 weeks, though I know some practices switch over around 10 weeks.

Nattie24 · May 2013

katyj25:
Nattie24:
I've had two internal US so far, and both times they made me empty my bladder. I have my NT next week, I wonder if I'll have to fill my bladder. I guess I'll have to call and see.
Yes, most likely.
Internal ultrasounds do not require a full bladder, but abdominal ultrasounds do.

Oh, Sorry first timer here.

bumpuser204685 · May 2013

MrsRo731:
Title for mobile users: Drinking water before ultrasound

So I had my first ultrasound last week and everything looks terrific. Our LO was jumping around and dancing like crazy for us. We are beyond thrilled.

I had to drink 32 oz. of water 1.5 hours before the ultrasound so they could get a good shot of LO. I'm just wondering, am I the only one who had a very hard time with this? I did everything they told me to - emptied my bladder and then began drinking the water about 1.5 hours before. I finished probably about 45 minutes before the appointment. Well, the hospital sent me to the wrong office 4 times - yes 4 times. By the time I got where I needed to be it was half an hour past my appointment. My bladder was seriously about to explode. I'm just curious if I'm the only one who felt tortured by this. I know they need us to do it so they can get a clear shot, but it was terrible. Seeing our LO made up for it, though. Sorry, I guess this is a little bit of a vent. I'm just very nervous for NT scan next week when I have to do the same thing.

WOWZA that is a lot!! I have a repeat U/S today to check on SCH and am 12 weeks. I was told 16 ounces of water finished 1 hour prior (which is the same thing they told me last time at 10.5 weeks.... and that was tough for me! It ended up being like 1.5 hours though because they were running late but gosh I can't imagine 32 ounces!

golfingdarwinfish · May 2013

SweetSouthernMomma08:
VCGolfNYC:

AmesRNRT:
That's weird because at my 8 week u/s the tech said my bladder was full and made me go pee. Then she had to use the "dill dill" cam as my other pregnant girlfriend calls it lol.

Bladder is supposed to be empty for t/v u/s, and t/v is pretty much standard < 12 weeks, though I know some practices switch over around 10 weeks.

See, for mine, it ended up being my 7wk5d u/s....But, they did abdominal u/s and found the baby and hb just fine. So ::shrugs::

My practice prefers to image the ovaries and entire uterus in the early stages of pregnancy so they continue with t/v until at least 10 weeks. Especially if a patient had any sort of spotting/bleeding/intense cramping. My u/s's tend to be at least 10 minutes each because of all the imaging and measurements!

notkateanymore · May 2013

AmesRNRT:
That's weird because at my 8 week u/s the tech said my bladder was full and made me go pee. Then she had to use the "dill dill" cam as my other pregnant girlfriend calls it lol.

Do you mean dildo cam? I've never heard it called a dill dill. LOL

L Ros · May 2013

Oh my! It's going to be so hard for me to hold all of that in!! Yikes!

sometimesalwayschaotic · May 2013

jmb527:
I just had my NT scan this week, and brought a 16 oz bottle of water with me in the car. I peed before I left home and finished that bottle before I got in to the appt. All went great and my bladder was FULL with just that amount They had no problem seeing the baby. 32 oz is ALOT

I bring my32 oz nalgene and start drinking about 30-45 min before. I can't imagine finishing it 45 min before..that is torturing yourself! Your bladder wills till be full even if you finish it just shortly before.

AmesRNRT · May 2013

That's weird because at my 8 week u/s the tech said my bladder was full and made me go pee. Then she had to use the "dill dill" cam as my other pregnant girlfriend calls it lol.

lynseyadamson · May 2013

I had to have an early scan because of bleeding. I was 7 weeks and was told I needed a full bladder. I went to the toilet at 7am and between then and my 12pm scan I had one cup of tea and two bottles of water. By the time my scan came I was desperate! To make it worse, I was early for the appointment but they were running 30 mins behind so it was 12.30 when I went in. I was literally crossing my legs. When I lay on the bed and just kept saying how much I needed a wee! He did the quickest us ever and said he's never seen a bladder so big and full. He even told the two assistants in the room to look at how full and big it was! As soon as he finished, he told me to go pee before it was too late while they talked about the scan with my OH! It was the longest and best ever wee I've had hahaha

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Drinking water before ultrasound

Re: Drinking water before ultrasound

Tried for 2 years before diagnosed with DOR and low Progesterone. MC at 16 weeks in June 2010 (Told Placenta Previa contributed to the loss)
Mommy to one darling & amazing little girl Born September 9th 2011 (C-Section at 38 weeks for Placenta Previa)

Surprise!! EDD 12/13/13 (Hoping for a VBAC!) Off home bed rest and now just monitoring a large SCH. Stable in size but not going away. SHRINK PLEASE!

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Drinking water before ultrasound

Re: Drinking water before ultrasound

Tried for 2 years before diagnosed with DOR and low Progesterone. MC at 16 weeks in June 2010 (Told Placenta Previa contributed to the loss)Mommy to one darling & amazing little girl Born September 9th 2011 (C-Section at 38 weeks for Placenta Previa)

Surprise!! EDD 12/13/13 (Hoping for a VBAC!) Off home bed rest and now just monitoring a large SCH. Stable in size but not going away. SHRINK PLEASE!

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Tried for 2 years before diagnosed with DOR and low Progesterone. MC at 16 weeks in June 2010 (Told Placenta Previa contributed to the loss)
Mommy to one darling & amazing little girl Born September 9th 2011 (C-Section at 38 weeks for Placenta Previa)