Dating/Nuchal scan - full bladder?

[sarah00001]

Hi, I had my dating/nuchal scan today at 12+2 weeks. My appointment letter was on a piece of plain paper and wasn't signed and the special instructions section was blank. I've since found out that you are usually required to have a full bladder and I think they may have forgot to put this on the letter. I'm really worried now whether part of the reason to have a full bladder was to protect the baby from the ultrasound waves. I'm hoping I'm completely wrong, but I'd really like some reassurance.

i'd emptied my bladder at 7am, then had a mug of tea and nothing since. My scan was at 8.45am, so my bladder had a bit of fluid in it but not much.

Does anyone know if it is safe to have a dating scan without a full bladder?
Thanks, Sarah

[nataliejayne1]

I think the reason of having a full bladder is actually to push baby up and gives a better picture. I may be wrong though.,not an expert lol

[bakingtins]

Nothing to do with safety, it's to provide contrast to make the scan image clearer, and to lift the uterus up out of the pelvis a bit.
You don't need a full bladder for later scans.
Don't worry, they could see what they needed to and no implications for you or the baby.

[sarah00001]

Thank you. I worry so much x

[ILiveOnABuildsite]

Absolutely fine and safe. The full bladder is just to help push baby up a bit to make it easier for the sonographer to see everything they need to see. Sometimes at this stage of the pregnancy the baby is still quite low so makes it's hard for the scan. Most of the time the bladder doesn't need to be that full to be honest.

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

My hospital dont ask for a full bladder for any scans so its perfectly safe

[CBo79]

Yup agreed. I wasn't told about having a full bladder either! But I did suspect you might need to having done research online. However, having quite a weak bladder anyway I hate the sensation of having a full bladder and knew the drive to the hospital would be stressful (we'd been told that parking is rubbish due to the hosp basically being a building site) I thought I'd 'load up' on water in the waiting room, and arrive early to do this. Backfired as we got there right on time and were seen straight away! It did make it more difficult to see baby and I got mildly scolded by the sonographer 'see that shape on screen? That is your bladder and it is NOT FULL!'. But as everyone else says, it's nothing to do with safety, just making for an easier picture!

[naty1]

Ive got a filter water bottle and drink water on tge way there, usually for blood tests