Why drink SO much before some Ultrasounds?

[1sttimemama2b]

I am going to 2 ulstrasound appointments tomorrow. 1 for by OBGYN and the 2nd for a specialist to look at my uterine cyst. For the first appointment they did not specify me needing to drink before hand. But for the second appointment they said I need to drink 3-4 8oz glasses!! The last appointment I had for NT Scan said 18oz. Why does it vary from Dr. to Dr? Does it depend on the scan machine? Do I really need to drink 32oz of fluids? I am worried because the appointments are back to back and if I do in fact need a full bladder for both that might be tricky if my first dr. is running late (and she always is). I am wondering if I should reschedule the 2nd appointment. Does anyone know why the variation in drinking reqs?

 

[1sttimemama2b]

Well I just found out I don't have to drink before the OB appointment. Which is good. So if my appointment runs late I'll just have to down my 32 oz while I'm getting the 1st ultrasound.

 

[FierceAngel]

wen i had my 12 week 2 day scan i went to the toilet just before we left for the hospital

i drank 2 glasses of water in the waiting room and all was fine xx

 

[Lauraaraa]

i wonder this myslf

i had to drink half a pint for 12week scan and tht was bad enough!!
BUT have to drink a litre for next one?!
pretty worrid bout this as appointment is a 8:50am!!!! going to be a bit difficult! i just know!!!!

 

[smashley]

I think the ultrasound waves pass through liquids easier, but I could be mistaken. Maybe that's why they want your bladder full. I had an ultrasound done on a cyst once and it was so painful. The dr. was pushing on the cyst and my full bladder at the same time. Hope it goes better for you.

 

[Widget]

I have had quite a few ultrasounds and I only usually drink a medium sized glass of water beforehand (approx 30 mins) since I tend to pee my pants lately. All the ultrasounds have come out clear as well.

 

[lilprince]

Ive had many ultrasounds (pregnant and not pregnant) and one of the first ones I had I folowed my Dr's advice on how much to drink. Well, apparantly my Dr doesnt know my bladder because Ive never had to pee so bad in my life! It was so painful I couldnt stand up straight! Ever since I drink a large glass before hand and that usually does the trick!

 

[My_First]

The baldder pushes the uterus more forward, I believe, hence drinking. BUT aside from my early 8 weeks scan, it made no difference full or not...

 

[1sttimemama2b]

I think the ultrasound waves pass through liquids easier, but I could be mistaken. Maybe that's why they want your bladder full. I had an ultrasound done on a cyst once and it was so painful. The dr. was pushing on the cyst and my full bladder at the same time. Hope it goes better for you.

Was it a vaginal ultrasound or external? I'm guessing it must me external since they want me to drunk so much. I hope it's not too painful. They were pushing on it at my last u/s and the Dr. was asking it it hurt and I couldn't feel pain, just pressure from needing to pee. But maybe this Dr. will have to be more forceful to get a good view of the cyst. Did everything work out with your cyst? Mine is large and septated, hence the special u/s.

Also, I am wondering if I should bring DH along to both u/s's It might not be too fun for him and it's a lot of time to take away form work. But I know he wants to go to support me. And I might want him there for support in case they give me bad news like I have to have surgery. Also, there could be good news, like if I get lucky and someone decides to telling me the babies sex early

 

[Flick]

For my 12 week ultrasound, they wanted me to drink one and a half pints, an hour before. I was fit to explode, and the sonographer actually asked me to go and 'let a bit out' (but not all), because I was tight as a drum and she couldn't push down to get an angle to see anything!

I guess it's easier to let some excess out, than it is to wait for an hour to 'top you up' again? But no way I'm drinking more than a pint in one go, ever again!

 

[hanelei]

Here in Japan where we have lots of ultrasounds they don't say anything about drinking a lot before the scan- in fact from 16 weeks you have to fill a cup for a urine test right before the scan, so my bladder is usually close to empty!

 

[smashley]

I think the ultrasound waves pass through liquids easier, but I could be mistaken. Maybe that's why they want your bladder full. I had an ultrasound done on a cyst once and it was so painful. The dr. was pushing on the cyst and my full bladder at the same time. Hope it goes better for you.

Was it a vaginal ultrasound or external? I'm guessing it must me external since they want me to drunk so much. I hope it's not too painful. They were pushing on it at my last u/s and the Dr. was asking it it hurt and I couldn't feel pain, just pressure from needing to pee. But maybe this Dr. will have to be more forceful to get a good view of the cyst. Did everything work out with your cyst? Mine is large and septated, hence the special u/s.

Also, I am wondering if I should bring DH along to both u/s's It might not be too fun for him and it's a lot of time to take away form work. But I know he wants to go to support me. And I might want him there for support in case they give me bad news like I have to have surgery. Also, there could be good news, like if I get lucky and someone decides to telling me the babies sex early

I had that ultrasound done back in 2007. It was external. I had been having really bad pain and went to ER. That's when I found out I had cysts and possibly endometriosis. The endometriosis may have been the cause of most of the pain, now that I think about it. I'm not trying to scare you. This was just my own personal experience. I had a laproscopy done where they go in through a small hole in the belly button a few weeks later by my gynecologist. He used some kind of laser thing and burned away the endometriosis scarring, untangled my fallopian tubes (they were all twisted up and covered with the endometriosis scarring), and confirmed that I had fibroid cysts on my uterus. One was large- half the size of my uterus. He left the cysts there, so I guess they weren't something he was too concerned about. I was under anesthesia during this btw.

At my last ultrasound a couple weeks ago my ob/gyn saw the cysts and said they should not hinder the pregnancy. Every now and then I feel a little pain, but it's tolerable for me. I think it might be the baby pushing or kicking a cyst.

I hope everything goes well for you. Don't stress too much. It's probably just a precaution your doctor is taking.

 

[LHill2010]

I have to drink 3 LITERS before my gender scan!! It's crazy!

 

[1sttimemama2b]

I have to drink 3 LITERS before my gender scan!! It's crazy!

Holy Cow!! That is a lot. Well I guess I will do my best to drink 3 8 oz glasses. Last time I drank 18 ounces and I was about ready to explode. But that was a week ago and I feel like I have to pee less often now.

 

[riokayak]

I was told to drink 30 oz and I was about ready to explode when I finally got in to see the tech. She started the US and said "wow! you really are full" so she quick took a couple measurements and then sent me to the bathroom. I think they want you to have liquids in your bladder, but too full isn't good either. I have another one tomorrow, too. Good luck with yours!

 

[1sttimemama2b]

I was told to drink 30 oz and I was about ready to explode when I finally got in to see the tech. She started the US and said "wow! you really are full" so she quick took a couple measurements and then sent me to the bathroom. I think they want you to have liquids in your bladder, but too full isn't good either. I have another one tomorrow, too. Good luck with yours!

That's funny.

I just wonder why they are so specific about the amounts? Maybe they figure people will drink less than they are supposed to so if they say a glass, people might not drink enough. So they say 30oz but don't really expect people to drunk that much. It's odd.

The good news is I don't have to drink at all before my OB scan (not sure why) so I will only have to be chug-a-lugging for scan #2

 

[LHill2010]

They told me to use the bathroom as often as I need to.. I think it just helps the baby float I'll be drinking 3 Liters.. and probably running to the potty every 5 minutes!

 

[Gonnabeamomma]

Mine is Friday and I have to drink 8 - 8oz glasses before 11 and an additional 3 glasses an hour prior to my scan. I am going to burst or pee my pants... this has me so worried I won't make it to the toilet in time!

 

[pinktigereyes]

we have to drink a pint of water and hour b4 appointment not good when i have to take 2 buses to the hospital lol apparently it pushes ur uteru forward so you get a clear scn pic and can get accurate measurings to. and helps to measure the pool of ammunotic fluid x

 

[1sttimemama2b]

we have to drink a pint of water and hour b4 appointment not good when i have to take 2 buses to the hospital lol apparently it pushes ur uteru forward so you get a clear scn pic and can get accurate measurings to. and helps to measure the pool of ammunotic fluid x

That makes sense, but why is there such variations in the amount they want you to drink at each place and why at my OB do I not have to drink anything at all?