How much do I REALLY need to drink before my ultrasound?

[Elisianna]

I have my 19 week scan today and was wondering how much water I truly need to drink. Last time, I measured out the proper amount and literally CRIED when the technician was taking me back for my scan because I was so full and in so much pain.

She told me to empty a bit out of my bladder and it was still too full. Then she said "Go empty about 1 cup." Then another time she said "Go empty 1.5 more cups" and again she said, "Go pee for like 15 seconds".

I clearly overshot a bit and don't want to make the same mistake again. Based on your experiences, how much has been a good amount for the 18-20 week scan?

 

[weejenb]

Hey hun,

As far as I'm aware, you don't need a full bladder for the 18-20 scan! They only make you do that at your 12 week scan so your full bladder pushes out your uterus and gives them a clearer picture - at 18-20 weeks, your uterus is big enough for them to see clearly on its own

 

[Beccaboop]

I got a letter to confirm my scan appointment and it said about where to go and how long it would take and at the the bottom it said you do NOT need a full bladder for the scan. I had a pee just before mine as they were running late and it was fine!

 

[cbass929]

I'm not sure why some people always say go on a full bladder because i NEVER have. I just simply can't!! I pee just enough for sample and nothing more. But that's just me, never had any problems with my scans because i didn't have a "full bladder"

 

[littlesteph]

i hardly drank anything for my 12 week scan, i just didn't use the loo for at least an hour and a half before my scan, and they had no problem seeing baby, even when she pressed down on me i didn't feel like i was going to pee myself

 

[BabyDragon]

I too didn't have to pee... not at my 20th week scan, or my 16th or my 12th week. My earlier scans... yes, but not the later ones!

 

[Here_we_go]

When I was pregnant with my son, I was told to have a full bladder at my 20 week scan. I arrived with a decent full bladder, but wasn't miserable.....UNTIL they made me wait nearly an hour because they were behind!! It was awful! The nurse asked if I could just go a little and I told her once the gates were opened, I doubted I'd be able to close them again!

This time, I was nearly 22 weeks when I had my ultrasound and wasn't told a thing about having a full bladder. I didn't have a FULL bladder but I could've peed. I asked the tech about it before I laid on the table, and she said it didn't matter but if the baby was low, it'd help "push" him up abit so we could see him better. SHe had no trouble seeing the baby, just had trouble measuring my dancing girl

 

[Elisianna]

Thank you sooooo much, ladies!! =D =D I am so happy! I want to enjoy this scan, not feel like I'm going to burst.

I won't fret about the drinking.

 

[Snoopee]

I was bursting for the toilet at my first scan, so relieved we don't have to do that again at 20 weeks. It's a wonder you don't hear any horror stories about people peeing themselves during the scan!

 

[Mazzy17]

I had mine yesterday and i didnt drink lots of water (had my glucose test before) it was lovely and clear. I have a little raspberry blower inside me!

 

[Mrs_Bump]

I have decided not to drink the full 500ml this time around because last time I had to i was in pain and had to waddle down the corridor. About half way through she asked me to half empty my bladder as there was too much pressure. I will drink an hour before but less this time.

 

[kirstylm]

I had a wee befor I left the house for my 20 week scan. But them my bladder is weak at mo as baby is so low.
The scan was amazingly clear and she didn't struggle to find anything he needed to!

 

[MollyMalone]

My 12 week scan was internal, but since my lil girl wouldn't turn around the way we needed they tried abdominally and we could see everything fine. I had just gone to the toilet before going in so my bladder was empty....

 

[mizzywizzy]

I dont know why these technicians/ultrasound places ask women to drink 1 or more litres of fluid before an ultrasound when its just NOT necessary. I have never drunk no more than 250ml of fluid before all my ultrasounds and even when i did, the technician has always asked me to go empty my bladder completely. Just drink 1 glass of water or OJ, anymore than that is unnecessary

 

[zombiedaisy]

For my son, they told me I needed to drink a TON of water within an hour of the scan and couldnt pee until part way through the scan. I didnt see the point, but I did it, and was still suffering from MS, and threw up a lot of it in the parking lot... fun times

That was 9 years ago. With my daughter, they said it wasnt necessary at around 20 weeks, and this time, they never even told me I needed to, so i didnt, and they could see everything just fine. I still had drank a bottle of water that morning, because I usually do after breakfast and when im nervous lol....

 

[Stelly]

I just had my 19 week anatomy scan- didnt have a drop in my bladder for it. Pee'd right before I went in. Mainly because the ultrasound lady asked me right before hand to go pee so I wasn't uncomfortable for the whole scan!

 

[sequeena]

I would drink 1 bottle of water and it was fine. When I went for scans in fetal medicine I drank loads and was told to fully empty my bladder.

 

[hopefulfor1st]

I was told I hadn't drunk enough and had to sit in waiting room and drink more!

 

[skye93]

I was told to drink at least a litre, so I did. By the time of the scan I was literally in pain the tech told me that I didn't need to drink and got me to go pee.
I think I went about 15 times lol

 

[Koukla]

I was wondering about this as well... at my 20 week scan with DS (different doctor's office) I wasn't told to drink anything, and went pee right before the scan. Now my 20 week scan with this bean is on Monday, and I was given instructions saying to drink 24oz of water 1 hr 15 mins before my appointment. With my first scan at 6 weeks, I drank the 56oz they requested and I couldn't walk by the time I went in for the scan, I was in so much pain. I didn't drink the "required" amount at my 8 week scan and I doubt I will this time either- or I'll wait until closer to the appointment. I don't want to spend the whole scan thinking about how much I have to pee instead of admiring my baby!