Best practice for anatomy scan: Caffeine or no?

lalala2004 · December 2015

I hadn't planned on doing anything special for my Anatomy Scan on Friday, but a coworker suggested that I drink something with caffeine or sugar so the baby would be active. My concern is if the baby might be too active for the scan!

What have you been told, what did you do? I had no idea what the general consensus on this was.

goldie987 · December 2015

You want the baby to be still so they can get the measurements and views that the techs/doctors need. Sorry but your coworkers seems completely wrong on this one (IMO). I've heard of techs being grumpy that someone had a sugary meal before a scan because it makes their job much more difficult. I'd say do whatever you normally do foodwise

photomama142 · December 2015

I thought i remember being told to drink done orange juice before, so baby would be awake...that was a few years ago though maybe I'm wrong...

goldie987 · December 2015

photomama142 said:
I thought i remember being told to drink done orange juice before, so baby would be awake...that was a few years ago though maybe I'm wrong...

I could be totally wrong then! In the end, if your doctor recommended drinking something before, do it. If they didn't, then go about your normal food routine.

photomama142 · December 2015

I could have a bad memory too, I'd just ask your doctor...and who knows, often different ones have different recommendations...

kynbar5 · December 2015

Mine has always recommended not changing what you've been eating but discourages against large amounts (outside of normal) of sugar and caffeine.

SarahFoley725 · December 2015

I didn't have anything before my AS and my kid was still all over the place. I did however drink OJ before our sex scan in hopes it would have her move around enough to get a good shot. I don't think it made a difference because she was way more hyped at my AS with no help

sarahufl · December 2015

My doctor said not to go into it sugar/caffeine loaded but that they often need to give women orange juice to get things moving. But I wouldn't go into it that way, only if they recommend it.

misstopsail · December 2015

8 ounces of water, 1 hour before.. My doc was very clear on that.

kalanieileen · December 2015

I was told 32 ounces of water 1 hour before my appt and to hold my pee like my life depended on it. My little guy didn't move around that much but she was able to get him to switch positions by me turning from side to side and kind of bouncing my stomach a bit.... Which made it very freaking difficult to hold my pee lol

splsmama2016 · December 2015

I was told 16oz water an hour before. Mines late enough in the morning (10:30) that I can get up, have my morning coffee and still have a couple pee breaks before that 16oz water.
My sister drank half-caff frappuccinos with my niece and she slept through her anatomy scan. With my nephew, they didn't want to know the sex, but it was all good for them because he refused to stretch out belly-side up for his haha.

kynbar5 · December 2015

The water is to actually help the u/s tech to see better. It's not really any correlation with movement.

lalala2004 · December 2015

My OB never said anything about water either, but I have an appointment with her right before, so maybe they'll tell me to drink water or something else. I'll probably just stick with my decaf coffee to be on the safe side. I could always drink more, but I could undo what I already drank!

lalala2004 · December 2015

Oh, I didn't mention before that my coworker is a man :P . He has 4 kids and is super involved and knowledgeable about babies, though, but I was skeptical

KarenM1118 · December 2015

I was never told anything about changing my diet the day of. My 1st a/s was in the afternoon though, and my baby was super active and wouldn't cooperate. I had to come back for a 2nd. I scheduled it for the morning, and limited caffeine and had a light, non sugary breakfast, and I still had to come back for a 3rd ultrasound. For me, what I ate and drank didn't matter, my baby is crazy!

Ready4theParty · December 2015

I was told to come with a full bladder and no carbonated drinks. I followed it and it was still difficult to get baby to cooperate for measurements.

tgortney · December 2015

I just had my AS Wednesday and ate as normal. Baby was very cooperative and the tech got 75 pics off of him (said the doctor who had to look at them lol).

Whenever she wanted him to turn, she'd manipulate him by poking my stomach with the device.

He stayed still enough that we saw all 5 fingers and toes on both arms and legs, even saw ears

she got great head measurements and was able to estimate that he was 9 days ahead of schedule and how much he weighed.

I wouldn't do anything you normally wouldn't do. The tech let the device stayed still and we saw that he was active enough.

kyraaD · December 2015

misstopsail said:
8 ounces of water, 1 hour before.. My doc was very clear on that.

i was told this too. drink water so the tech can see better. i would imagine drinking sugary/caffinated drinks would make the tech's job harder.

satuttle1014 · December 2015

I wasn't told to do anything for it since the baby will do what he/she will do. I just ate my typical breakfast, I had an 8am appointment and that was it The technician was able to get all the measurements and find out what I was having.

jonesl12 · December 2015

You want them to be still. If they need the fetus to move usually they will have you lay on your side

DrillSergeantCat · December 2015

It really depends on your doctor and their equipment. I see a specialist for my ultrasounds so his equipment is very good. I was told there was no need to drink any extra water and they actually ask if I need to relieve myself before they begin. The last ultrasound, my boy was head down facing my back and they couldn't get the pictures they needed so they had me roll on my side and they poked him a little until they could get the measurements.

katy0990 · December 2015

I had about half a glass of orange juice before mine and the baby was moving so much that I ended up having to go back because they could not get all the images of the heart that they needed.

lalala2004 · December 2015

I ended up not drinking any caffeine. Baby wasn't super cooperative, but I doubt it would have helped if I had done anything differently. After two different techs and a high risk doctor, they got the images needed.

arcanejinx · December 2015

I had caffeine that morning but drank water was my prep the hour before. Baby girl was comfortable and didn't want to move for the tech. She hated the noise and punched me a lot but it still took an hour to get all the shots she needed (she was hiding her right hand and her feet). The tech needed to invert me and jiggle my belly. Some babies don't want to cooperate and that's ok-they had appointments open each day for women who had to come back. DH and I agreed baby girl was our daughter as she was comfortable and didn't want to move-just like we both get.

MrsPittman13 · December 2015

I had a sugary drink before mine and she was moving so much it made it difficult for the tech to get the measurements she needed. I kept having to turn this way and that to try to get her to be still long enough for the tech to snap the pictures she needed.

I probably wouldn't recommend it. If they need the baby to move more than he/she is im sure they will have something for you to drink/do at the appointment.

AnnikaSkywalker · December 2015

If you want the baby to be active, eat carbs which convert to sugar. Caffeine fortunately doesn't affect the baby and only plays a minor role in early miscarriage if you have a risk already.

I drink caffeine for my own sanity because I'm about to have a baby around my first ones first birthday.

Synnovus · December 2015

@AnnikaSkywalker I'm pretty sure caffein effects the baby since it passes through the placenta

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