drink water before anatomy scan?

FeliciaTwo · January 2014

My husband just asked if I need to drink water before our anatomy scan like I did before the NT ultrasound. I hadn't been told that I needed to . . . . if you've done your anatomy scan: did they ask you to come with a full bladder?

lellymine · January 2014

I didn't

BabyCurtiss2014 · January 2014

No, mine told me to go pee beforehand...

NICOLEhf01 · January 2014

I was wondering the same... I've heard friends talk about how they were told to drink a ton of water before their anatomy scans. I have mine tomorrow morning and I was never given instructions to drink water before the test, so I'm not going to worry too much about it. I always usually drink at least a little water before my appointments anyway since I know I'm going to have to leave a urine sample. I'll let you know how it goes and ask the u/s tech if there's any benefit to having a full bladder for the a/s and report back tomorrow!

erey86 · January 2014

My OB didn't ask for me to come in with a full bladder but I have heard of others requesting this.

Sareynoo · January 2014

The paper that the ob gave me before scheduling the appointment said to drink 24 oz of water before I go in. I didn't see that until I was in the waiting room so I didn't drink much at all. They didn't have any problems with the u/s.

hopin4babies · January 2014

I haven't had my a/s yet but it is scheduled in a week and a half. No one has mentioned to me with any of my ultrasounds to drink a bunch of water. I tried to drink a 20 oz bottle before my NT scan but felt like I was going to throw up so I didn't actually end up drinking much. When I had my elective gender ultrasound (at a different place) they told me multiple times that there was no need for a full bladder.

sjn00 · January 2014

I was told to drink 24oz an hour before my appointment. Unless they want me to pee on the table that won't be happening. I'm going to pee before I leave my house and drink while I check in and wait.

Exactly what I do =]

zolastele · January 2014

I was told I needed to--they told me they didn't need me to have a full bladder to see the baby, but that it would help them see my cervix and the placenta better.

irenewslee · January 2014

No you do not. They didn't take my urine at the scan.

MollySm · January 2014

With my daughter they told me to drink a ton, then let me pee after the first part. For this one they said to just drink a little ( 8 oz). I think every place is different for what they like. If they didn't say to, I wouldn't.

bebemac · January 2014

Mine is next week and nobody said anything about water.

Valie18 · January 2014

The info sheet told me to drink 40oz so I did. The tech put the wand on me, said "your bladder is full" and told me to go pee. If I have to have another U/S while PG I am calling ahead to confirm the directions on the sheet.

kibean · January 2014

Mine is Monday and the sheet has instructions for a full bladder on NT scans, but not on the A/S, so I will assume they would have put it on the instruction sheet if they wanted it. No sense in being uncomfy if I don't have to be.

Also, I managed to mess up and not have a full bladder at my 6 week scan OR my 8 week scan and they were able to see abdominally at both anyways. I always thought that was funny because I am a plus size lady and the techs were impressed/confused both times.

hotsaucencake@live.com · January 2014

The sheet I got when I scheduled it says, "1 hour prior to exam, drink 32 oz. of water and DO NOT go to the bathroom." And she circled it. I'll probably explode before I even get to the doctors' office.

Gigi8212 · January 2014

I have never been told to drink water before a scan. In fact, the nurse always takes a sample beforehand!

kgyorgy · January 2014

I just had my scan Wednesday, and I was told to drink 20 oz beforehand. The tech said she had to do some measurements with my bladder full, and then measure again after I emptied it. She was nice and when she saw how much pain I was in she let me go. After I got to pee it was a much more enjoyable experience.

JulieSmiles · January 2014

I had to drink 8 ounces every 15 minutes before my scan. The tech measured my cervix and then let me go to the bathroom so I could be comfortable for the rest of the scan. She said that at this point, the uterus is large enough that you don't need all the water.

pcourtade · January 2014

I will because I have an appointment after. It's going to be totally fun because anytime I have any amount of pee in my bladder, baby likes to kick and punch it lol.

katekat8721 · January 2014

I have mine coming up, it's at 9am in the morning. They just said don't go pee in the morning. Sooo that, coupled with a two-one hour anatomy scans, that should be fun.

mrs_drc_rn · January 2014

I only had to drink 16 oz. prior to the a/s.

LovetoLive614 · January 2014

My sheet says to drink 24 oz of water before I go. Weird how there doesn't seem to be a consensus. It seems like this would be something that is either done or not done now a days.

flerlgirl · January 2014

I didn't have to have a full bladder for this one. With DS they made a big deal over having a full bladder and then told me to use the restroom beforehand, sooooo yeah. If they didn't mention it to you I wouldn't worry about it.

JelloBean1 · January 2014

They didn't give me any instructions for mine. When I got there I gave my usual urine sample that they request each visit, and then I had my scan and they could see everything fine.

k2k2tog · January 2014

My requisition said to drink 40-60oz of water an hour before the u/s! I have no idea how they expect ANYONE to do that. I had a cup-a-soup for lunch 1.5h before, then a single water bottle on the way - 16oz - and was exploding by the time I got to the clinic. They let me pee out 1 cup, then the tech let me pee out 2 more. Halfway through, she had me pee out another 3 cups. It was brutal. I'm kind of jealous of you ladies that didn't have to drink anything.

My tech told me that the full bladder helped with measuring the placenta and my cervix.

Gigi8212 · January 2014

Love to Live said:
My sheet says to drink 24 oz of water before I go. Weird how there doesn't seem to be a consensus. It seems like this would be something that is either done or not done now a days.

Maybe it depends on the equipment? I am considered high risk, so I have to get my scans done at a different facility, not my OB's office. I am just guessing though. I have no idea.

MrsCase1 · January 2014

I don't care what the paper says, I am NOT drinking how much they recommend. Nobody has asked me this time, BTW. I am always miserable and I don't care to piss my pants. My tech is typically very rough.

diagonalley · January 2014

I did, and then they wanted me to do my urine sample before my U/S, so I don't think it's necessary.

owlcup · January 2014

Mine says to drink 24oz of water. Since I do not want an internal, I will be drinking. I had an emergency ultrasound at 15 weeks and was scolded because my bladder was empty and the tech couldn't see my cervix.

SecondTimeinMSU · January 2014

My sheet says 32 oz an hour prior. Blah. They made me do it all three times last time though I did cheat and will probably cheat again. My friend who was a med student at the time said that if you drank 16 oz at the hour mark and 16 oz at the half hour mark you'd be ok and it worked so I'll do that again. Last time they actually had me go pee during the thing because they couldn't get the measurements they wanted and were hoping that would move him around I guess. I have never leaked so i am hoping my body holds it together this time around too. I might wear a liner just in case.

PinkKEL9 · January 2014

They didn't tell me to and I didn't. My scan went just fine and they were able to see everything.

KeyLime81 · January 2014

My dr's office requires a full bladder for the a/s. With DS, they got a few measurements, then let me go to the bathroom, then they finished up. They tech said that some measurements are just easier to get when there's a full bladder.

As others have suggested, just go with a full bladder. They can always let you go to the bathroom if it's not necessary.

DagnyDoo · January 2014

I was told that a full bladder helps them get a better picture of the cervix, but it isn't needed to actually see the baby. IC is a concern for me to they had me drink up, but I'm unclear whether or not that's standard practice.

Lynnja616 · January 2014

Mine did. Apparently, it's to help if baby is not positioned well to see everything they need to. My LO was positioned great and the tech said I would have been fine without. It was 32 oz of water 1 hour prior.

jewels1199 · January 2014

My us tech said to drink 2-3 glasses of water before the scan. I pee so much anyway so Ill prob do the 2 glasses.

CrysW08 · January 2014

I didn't. My bladder filled up about halfway through the scan and the tech had me go empty it so she could get better pics of the baby.

lola4411 · January 2014

hotsaucencake@live.com said:

The sheet I got when I scheduled it says, "1 hour prior to exam, drink 32 oz. of water and DO NOT go to the bathroom." And she circled it. I'll probably explode before I even get to the doctors' office.

yup exactly like mine

Luna C · January 2014

I asked and was told no. Generally they want you to drink some early on to get a better view, but at this point, it's not really needed.

RedMar · January 2014

Drink water!! You can always pee there if you find out you don't need to have a full bladder. At my scan, they were not able to see certain things clearly because my bladder was empty.

emfoxc · January 2014

I had to for the NT scan (so uncomfortable) and just called yesterday to ask specifically about my a/s later today. She said I do not have to drink water this time.

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