Beforehand, 20 wk AS

kp90 · December 2015

Hey ladies,

Tomorrow afternoon is my 20 week scan. It's been scheduled for some time and they never told me if there was anything to do before hand. I've heard some say to drink juice 30 min prior so they're active or is that a bad idea? If you've had yours already were you told any instructions? Or what should I expect?

Sunshinebins · December 2015

Nope, no instructions ahead of time. Just show up. I wouldn't suggest juice or anything to make them active. Just eat and drink what you normally would

lionstigersbears · December 2015

I'm always told to drink a certain amount of water. They do the abdominal ultrasound, send me to the bathroom, then vaginal. You could call to be sure!

yogahh · December 2015

lionstigersbears said:
I'm always told to drink a certain amount of water. They do the abdominal ultrasound, send me to the bathroom, then vaginal. You could call to be sure!

Really? Vaginal us too? I really don't want to shave

I have mine on Tuesday. Agree with pps- nothing special. No juice or anything sugary.

Sunshinebins · December 2015

yogahh said:

lionstigersbears said:
I'm always told to drink a certain amount of water. They do the abdominal ultrasound, send me to the bathroom, then vaginal. You could call to be sure!
Really? Vaginal us too? I really don't want to shave

I have mine on Tuesday. Agree with pps- nothing special. No juice or anything sugary.

Yeah they check your cervical length. I forgot about that.

mello13 · December 2015

I got abdominal only and was told to come with a full bladder.

Vivian0809 · December 2015

I've never had a vaginal ultrasound that late in pregnancy. Both my anatomy scans for my other two kids were abdominal. Drink and eat regularly, and maybe some juice 30 min before to get baby moving.

rufflifephilly · December 2015

My doctor said to prepare for a vaginal ultrasound at the anatomy scan to measure cervix and also check that the placenta isn't too close or covering it.

LadySamLady · December 2015

Mine was only abdominal. They told me just to eat and drink as normal and I was able to pee right before it, unlike my NT scan where I had to have a full bladder.

JoMunson · December 2015

I wouldn't do anything to make them more active. At my 20 week they had to do 90 different measurements and when baby would move it was hard for them to get that. You can see the heartbeat so you know they're doing okay.
Don't worry about a vaginal either. My baby was in birth position so they initially couldn't measure my cervix but they tilted me upside down and got a good shot.

finnybooboo · December 2015

My appt was in the morning and I ate and had some chocolate milk and sip of my hubbys coffee before my appt. Baby was moving around like crazy and then crashed face down and wouldn't move lol. We have to have a follow up since they couldn't get all of the measurements/pics they needed.

kbrands7 · December 2015

Mine was only abdominal. They recommended drinking 12oz of water 30min before the appointment.

Kennedy0830 · December 2015

My US place had me drink 24oz of water an hour before my appt and said I couldn't use the bathroom so that my bladder was full for the abdominal US. She had me relieve myself a couple of times throughout the scan so that she could get clearer measurements needed. I also had a vaginal US to measure cervix length but wasn't notified this ahead of time, so probably better to prep yourself for it even though some PPs didn't have it.

lalala2004 · December 2015

I didn't get any instructions, either. I actually did a poll on the second Tri board to see if I should drink caffeine or anything else to get baby moving. The majority said no.

I also didn't have a vaginal u/s at the anatomy scan.

Mainly they just didn't want me to pee right before hand. If you're drinking enough water as it is, there's probably no need to overfill your bladder unless they ask you to.

wsgjmw1 · December 2015

I had to drink 24 oz of water 30 mins before and was told not to pee so I had a very full bladder. And no vaginal u/s , just outside on tummy .

balamama · December 2015

Hmm interesting that some of us have abdominal only and some have abdominal and vaginal u/s at the anatomy scan. I had both like some of the PPs.

mmemartinez · December 2015

With DS they didn't tell me to do anything and had no vaginal u/s. It seemed like they got all the info they needed. With this one, I was told to drink water beforehand and not use the bathroom. I have a couple weeks still before the appointment so I don't know yet if they will do both.

tgortney · December 2015

Just adominal for me, I was asked to empty my bladder because the quality of technology at my office doesn't need a full bladder.

I ate and drank like normal, I would advise NOT to drink any caffeinated or sugary drinks because it'll only make the tech's job more difficult when they're trying to measure and take pics of cerebral length, kidneys, heart chambers, count fingers and toes, measure cervix, look at placenta etc.

My baby was so chill, she took 75 good quality pics for the doctor to look at. And when the tech wanted baby to move, she just poked and manipulated my belly and he'd turn on his own.

You should call before your appointment to see how your office does things.

dsmith211 · December 2015

I was told to drink 32 oz of water an hour before my appt so I had a full bladder, but that was it. I only had an abdominal ultrasound. I was also told to avoid sugary stuff bc it can make them more active, but usually it's too active to get good pictures.

gemini2005 · December 2015

I was instructed (all three times!) to drink 32 oz. of water before the scan. It always kind of ruins it for me since I'm so uncomfortable and scared of peeing myself. Usually, they do a bunch of measurements and then I'm alowed to empty my bladder a little bit and then they do the "fun" stuff like tell you the sex. I've never had a vaginal scan past the first trimester but the tech's have always said my cervix was fine (during the abdominal) so I guess they can check parts of it. I have my AS on Tuesday- nervous and excited!

helleebellee · December 2015

I've had 8 anatomy scans and 4 level 2 scans and not once have they done a vaginal scan. Any length checked was checked via abdominal. I'm told just to drink plenty of water.

evalynn24 · December 2015

Here is a picture of my instructions. I received the same thing for my last 20 wk scan. They want your bladder full to check cervical length and then let you use the restroom right after and they finish the rest of the scan. I have never had them do a 20 wk scan vaginally and honestly after a certain point it's easier for them to see things abdominally.

Hope this helps

Soontobejones33 · December 2015

No drinking water for me. Thank goodness. I used the restroom before I my appointment and again before they did the vaginal to check my cervix. The difference might be that because I'm AMA

, I was sent to a specialist. Equipment was way fancier than the doc office. They do a little more for us old girls. Only the NT scan required a full bladder.

kp90 · December 2015

Thanks ladies. Your responses have been helpful. Maybe I should just call this morning before to see what they recommend. Majority sounds like drinking water. Not to thrilled about the idea of having to hold my bladder for that long. Eeek. I'll do my best. Very excited yet very nervous for this scan! And yes it's odd some had vaginal and some didn't. I guess it depends of the doctors.

missnc77 · December 2015

I would definitely call your own doctor's office. Mine just told me to be sure to eat but nothing about water. Sounds like everyone is told something a little different.

hellogoodbye2 · December 2015

I have never had any instructions prior to any of my previous ultrasounds.

rlworzalla · December 2015

yogahh said:

lionstigersbears said:
I'm always told to drink a certain amount of water. They do the abdominal ultrasound, send me to the bathroom, then vaginal. You could call to be sure!
Really? Vaginal us too? I really don't want to shave

I have mine on Tuesday. Agree with pps- nothing special. No juice or anything sugary.

I had to have a vaginal cuz LO wouldn't cooperate and we wanted to know the sex. I think they will only do vaginal if they are not able to get the pictures and measurements they need through the abdominal.

rlworzalla · December 2015

Like pps have said, call to find out. If your bladder is full they just have you go to the bathroom. I had to have 2 on separate days to find out sex and second day I had some orange juice and he moved around more. I wouldn't say you need much but it's better than soda.

yogahh · December 2015

hellogoodbye2 said:
I have never had any instructions prior to any of my previous ultrasounds.

My only instruction are to be 15 minutes early!!

countrygrl5533 · December 2015

yogahh said:

I have never had any instructions prior to any of my previous ultrasounds.
My only instruction are to be 15 minutes early!!

15 minutes early and a full bladder are all I have ever been told.

gemini2005 The full bladder/worried about peeing myself thing always takes away from it for me too. I actually am not a huge fan of having to have ultrasounds for that reason. Full bladder, wand being pushed right into it....never fun. I like getting to see the baby but wish I wasn't so preoccupied with pee the whole time.

hellogoodbye2 · December 2015

I actually had to pee really bad before my a/s and was allowed to do my "pee in a cup" thing right before. No problems with my ultrasound at all.

Dantzscher32 · December 2015

I've never had any instructions. However, I would advise against juice before hand. I had orange juice with breakfast that morning and and early appointment. Baby was so active, the tech was having a hard time getting measurements.

gemini2005 · December 2015

countrygrl5533 said:

yogahh said:

I have never had any instructions prior to any of my previous ultrasounds.
My only instruction are to be 15 minutes early!!

15 minutes early and a full bladder are all I have ever been told.

gemini2005 The full bladder/worried about peeing myself thing always takes away from it for me too. I actually am not a huge fan of having to have ultrasounds for that reason. Full bladder, wand being pushed right into it....never fun. I like getting to see the baby but wish I wasn't so preoccupied with pee the whole time.

@countrygrl5533 I'm glad it's not just me! I remember crying in the waiting room before getting my first AS. I was even sore the next day haha! Oh well, this time I may very well have an accident so I'll wear a big pad or something.

hollyjones2 · December 2015

yogahh said:

lionstigersbears said:
I'm always told to drink a certain amount of water. They do the abdominal ultrasound, send me to the bathroom, then vaginal. You could call to be sure!
Really? Vaginal us too? I really don't want to shave

I have mine on Tuesday. Agree with pps- nothing special. No juice or anything sugary.

I have been told to drink lots of water. It helps to get the little in a better position. I haven't had a vaginal since I was 8 weeks.

rufflifephilly · January 2016

I'm glad my doctor did a transvaginal u/s today- they found vasa previa which is rare (1/3000) and almost 100% fatal to the baby if I go into labor. It can only be detected via transvaginal. Luckily, because I had the transvaginal u/s in addition to the abdominal anatomy scan, I will have a planned c-section and there's a 97% survival rate for baby.

gemini2005 · January 2016

rufflifephilly said:

I'm glad my doctor did a transvaginal u/s today- they found vasa previa which is rare (1/3000) and almost 100% fatal to the baby if I go into labor. It can only be detected via transvaginal. Luckily, because I had the transvaginal u/s in addition to the abdominal anatomy scan, I will have a planned c-section and there's a 97% survival rate for baby.

Wow- that is great news that they found it before the baby could be harmed. Did you have any symptoms? It's so rare but so very scary if they don't catch it.

rufflifephilly · January 2016

I have no symptoms at all! I never had any spotting since conception. Of course now I'm petrified to move even an inch for fear of rupturing a vessel... I'm on pelvic rest until the recheck at 24 weeks. I think that's when they decide if I need to be hospitalized from 30-36 weeks. Ugh. How does one survive on hospital bed rest for a month?!?

gemini2005 · January 2016

rufflifephilly said:

I have no symptoms at all! I never had any spotting since conception. Of course now I'm petrified to move even an inch for fear of rupturing a vessel... I'm on pelvic rest until the recheck at 24 weeks. I think that's when they decide if I need to be hospitalized from 30-36 weeks. Ugh. How does one survive on hospital bed rest for a month?!?

It will be hard but worth it to know your lo is safe and being watched carefully. Do you like to read? Crochet? I'm sure you will have people keeping you company. Wishing you the best of luck at your next appointment!

Beforehand, 20 wk AS

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