For all of you ladies that have already done the anatomy scan:

MunchkinMoon · December 2013

Good morning!

So I know I have to go in with a full bladder. I also know it usually takes about half an hour (depending on how stubborn the baby will be that day! Haha). I also know that since becoming pregnant, the bathroom is my second home.

My question: HOW full should my bladder be? Haha as in, did you ladies drink an entire glass prior to going in for the ultrasound? Or did you just not go to the bathroom for a while before? I'm just worried (well, not really worried, just curious) as to how I'm going to hold it in for so long, especially since they'll be pushing down on me!

Although I'm sure once I see the baby, I'll forget all about going to the bathroom!

Also, I read that some drinks are better than others to intake prior to the US (sugary drinks ensure the baby is more active, etc). Is this true? Any suggestions?

All advice is greatly appreciated!

Mrsgattis11 · December 2013

I was told to drink 6oz before mine. Mines the 20th.

PattyTC · December 2013

We go in two weeks but I was told just to be hydrated. She said NOT to have a full bladder.

CaliVal · December 2013

I actually heard the opposite with the anatomy scan, you shouldn't need to do anything crazy.

Also I was advised not to have anything sugary. But if you do go that route, I heard orange juice does the trick.

momo214 · December 2013

I wasn't told anything. At my NT scan I wasn't given instructions either and it all went well. I didn't have to pee but I always carry water with me so I'm always drinking.

kmk312 · December 2013

Ours is coming up on the 20th. They told me to empty my bladder an hour before and then immediately drink 16 oz of water.

Jillzy86 · December 2013

I always have to take a pee test before I see the doctor or get a U/S. I've had five u/s already and each time they ask if my bladder is empty. I don't go in for the anatomy scan till I'm 20weeks but I haven't heard any different.

MissLadyTay · December 2013

Mine is Monday and I intend to drink my morning coffee on the way and pee right before.

Solorzano75 · December 2013

They usually make me give a urine sample everytime I go to my appt. They didn't change the routine, and everything went well.

flowerx2 · December 2013

They didn't tell me anything. Mine is on the 17th.

coyadlik · December 2013

I haven't had mine yet but I was told to empty my bladder 1 hour before and then drink 16 oz of water.

MunchkinMoon · December 2013

Argh, that's confusing. My US is not done with my doctor but at the OBGYN US section of the hospital, and they specially told me not to empty my bladder if I'm between 12-20 weeks for a "better scan" (I'll be 18 and change when I go in on Monday). So now I wonder if I really don't! Thanks, ladies!

CamrynnsMommy · December 2013

Mine requires a full bladder and we were asked to drink 20 oz.

dollface777 · December 2013

These are the instructions I got from my ob:
Empty your bladder an hour and a half before your ultrasound
Drink 32 oz of water within a half an hour
Do not go to the bathroom until you get to the office.

With my dd, I had to pee like crazy. They had me hop on the table, do a few quick measurements, then had me go to the bathroom. The rest of the ultrasound was happy and I wasn't painfully needing to pee!
Call your doc and ask them how they prefer you to come in.

TeamKrueger · December 2013

I was told not to use the bathroom for at least an hour before hand. I'll probably just use the bathroom an hour before and then have some OJ or something in between.

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hbird0723 · December 2013

Mine didn't tell me to have a full bladder she just said to drink like a chocolate shake to get the baby moving and she even had me empty my bladder before going in.

pandadair · December 2013

PattyTC said:

We go in two weeks but I was told just to be hydrated. She said NOT to have a full bladder.

Second this. The u/s tech always has to get me to pee, actually, because my bladder is so full the baby can't move around. As long as you stay good and hydrated the week or two before, you don't need to go in with any special amount of liquid in your bladder.

ETA: I love how almost every person has a different answer. Best to call the doc's office!

CamrynnsMommy · December 2013

lovesarahmarie said:
I already had mine, I was given instructions to drink 3 - 8 oz glasses of juice or water 45 mins before my appt. they u/s tech allowed me to empty my
bladder in the middle of the appt. Call your doc and check, I'm sure they all have different instructions.

I second calling, my office gave me a slip of paper with several instructions. Each office is different.

dutchess546 · December 2013

I just had mine & she didn't require a fill bladder. I had no special instructions & everything was great! I agree with PP's.... Call to find out what your dr needs, they are all different. Good luck!

MunchkinMoon · December 2013

For real! Every place has their own instructions!

Thanks for all of the helpful feedback, ladies! I called my doctor's office and they told me to have a semi-full bladder and they'll let me empty it out if needed during the exam.

I'll make sure to join the ranks of the sex revealers on Monday!

Btw- sex revealers makes it sound like a group of individuals with a sexual issue or flashers. I'm so awkward. >.< LOL

RedInLove · December 2013

The office I was seeing when we were on the road working had told me I would need to go in with a full bladder if I had my a/s with them. We got back home, and when I made my a/s appt with my regular doctor and asked this, they said it wasn't necessary. I have my regular check-up Monday and the a/s Thursday, so I'm going to ask again Monday.

SurprisePartySue · December 2013

I actually went to the bathroom right before I entered the ultrasound room. They didn't have any problem seeing the baby or telling the gender. I went at 15 weeks.

jenb_99 · December 2013

I was instructed to stay well hydrated for 3 days prior to the scan, then drink 32 oz of liquid an hour before the appointment. The sonographer actually recommended that 8 oz of the 32 be something sugary and/or caffeinated.

At all the sonos I've had that required a full bladder, I felt like I was going to pee on the table. It's uncomfortable and actually pretty painful.

At my 21-week appt with DS, though, I got lucky and she let me empty my bladder beforehand. She said the uterus was big enough at that point that the bladder didn't matter.

MrsT2008 · December 2013

There is very little reason to need a full vs empty bladder for the anatomy scan. It typically only matters early on because of how low the baby is (a full bladder can help push it up to make it easier to see (but for a transvaginal they tell you to pee first because a full bladder can get in the way).

If they didn't tell you anything specific, then don't worry about it. My OB never mentioned one way or the other.

boymum2014 · December 2013

I had to wee so bad by the time they called my name but she wouldn't let me go til after!I didn't even know it had to be full but drank oj on the way there.Saw his bits immediately!

kramja01 · December 2013

I haven't had mine yet, but I received very specific instructions. For my 8am scan, I need to drink 16 oz of water between 6:45 am and 7 am and then hold my bladder. The doctor explained this was to ensure some of the measurements at the top of the uterus were accurate. After the tech gets those, I am allowed to empty my bladder for the rest of the scan.

FunSizeGrl · December 2013

Mine is coming up and my instruction sheet says to drink some absurd amount of water. I told my husband I'd probably pee on the table if I drank as much as they suggested lol And they told me water, not to drink other liquids. Every places is going to be different.

candrew05 · December 2013

Mine isn't until the 23rd but I was given instruction to have 2 glasses of water aprox an hour before my appointment.

Cynthia6206 · December 2013

I have mine in a week and a half n I received no instructions....I'll be 20 weeks at 16 weeks I had the gender scan where I was instructed to drink a cold OJ 30 min before my appoint

Allibob · December 2013

The reason that some places request a full bladder is to get a better view of the cervix to measure cervical length. My hospital takes those measurements first, then lets you empty your bladder. It doesn't make a difference for the baby's measurements.

caballo718 · December 2013

Mine is on the 23rd and they didn't tell me anything at all. I'll go with a full bladder just in case.

PaulnLece · December 2013

I was told your bladder doesn't have to be full if your 20 weeks but if your under 20 your bladder must be full.

ho11yday · December 2013

For most ultrasounds, I normally try to down at least one large glass of water or a 32 oz water bottle (which I'll normally drink about 3/4 of before leaving the house and then nurse the rest until I get in there).

sthomas1222 · December 2013

You shouldn't need to have a full bladder for this. For earlier abdominal u/s you need a full bladder to push up your uterus but by 20 weeks give or take a week or 2 your baby & uterus are big enough that it's not necessary & can actually get in the way.

typeset · December 2013

My anatomy scan did not require a full bladder.

knash87 · December 2013

Last time I was told to drink a lot of water (I don't remember the exact amount) but I know I have a small bladder even when not pregnant, but I just went by what I thought I could handle rather than what they said and it worked out just fine!

KiminATL · December 2013

Cynthia6206 said:
I have mine in a week and a half n I received no instructions....I'll be 20 weeks at 16 weeks I had the gender scan where I was instructed to drink a cold OJ 30 min before my appoint

codik86 · December 2013

I drank a little G2 Gatorade about 30 min befote my appt and baby boy was pretty active. We had no problems. I think my bladder was kind of full but not so full it hurt or I was super uncomfortable.

madelined633 · December 2013

I was told to come with a full bladder also. It helps the picture to be more clear apparently. I did have a friend, though, who came with a full bladder and then they told her it was too full, to go empty it part way. Haha, she said that was the hardest thing to do! How can you just stop peeing midstream- how annoying haha!

Mommyj14 · December 2013

I drank water before I went in. They checked a few things then she let me go to the bathroom. When I came back we finished the scan.

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