20 Week Scan, full bladder?

[Natzer]

I have my 20 week scan and can't wait to find out whether im to have a girl or a boy.

Does anyone know if I still have to have a very fully bladder like I did at my 12 week scan please. One person I know who had her scan last week said she was told she didn't need to, however it says on the back of my appointment letter that I do indeed need a full bladder.

[babybear5]

hi. I'm a midwife and have had 5 children. A full bladder isn't necessary for your 20 week scan as uterus is now risen enough to be seen easier. Hope this helps and all goes well with your scan

[lilmamma]

yes you do,and its a more detailed scan so you need to hold on to your wee for longer haha.good luck,hope you get what you wish for .

[lilmamma]

ooops maybe you dont,but my daughter went for hers and was told to drink plenty..

[babybear5]

could be that different areas have different rules natzer. Im pretty sure you dn't need to but you could always give them a phone a check.

[PGWomble]

I think Babybear's right. I didn't have to have a full bladder at either 12 or 20 week scan. Was told it was due to the type of equipment used at the hospital I go to.

[Natzer]

yes thank you, its probably down to their equipment, hopefully I dont have to as they always weight me after I've drunk about 2 litres of water !

thanks

[onadietcokebreak]

The letter said to but we were delayed and I had to go toilet. Sonographer said not to worry.

[GlitteryBalls]

I went in with my bladder full, but then was asked to go and empty it half way through 20 week scan. Though sonographer said it was handy to have bladder full at first, but then needed to see different angle or something and asked me to go and empty it...

Maybe keep it full, then ask sonographer just as you are going in if that's right or not. You can always nip out for a quick wee if nec, but can't refill it once it is empty!

Definitely requested bladder was full for 12 week scan in my paperwork - but uterus is so much smaller then, so having the bladder full makes it come up higher in the pelvis. Didn't get letter for 20 week scan though, so wasn't sure of the official advice.

[lowrib]

AFAIK, it depends on what type of equipment they use. At the hospital I went to, I didn't need to have a full bladder, and they said this was because the equipment was more modern than those scanning machines that you do need to have a full bladder for.

[AlpinePony]

Another one here who went along with a full bladder, the sonographer scanned me and promptly sent me off for a wee because my bladder was twice as big as my uterus and the poor baby was squished at a funny angle!

*Not so great is the running commentary on the DVD of this scan between my bf and the mw laughing at me waddling off to the loo trying not to wee myself on the way.

[JBrd]

It says on my letter that I don't need a full bladder - thank God for that, I thought I was going to wet myself when I had the 12-week scan and she pushed the scanner really hard into my tummy!

[saffy85]

I made sure I had a full bladder for my 12 week scan on monday and nearly pissed myself in the process! Wouldn't mind quite so much but after prodding away on my belly the Sonographer complained she couldn't get a decent image up and could I please go empty my bladder and come back in 5 minutes. (althought not really as it worked, got a decent picture that told me that baby was fine and was not only sticking his tongue out but waving at me

[stegasaurus]

My letter for my 20 week scan says to go with a full bladder, but, from these answers, it seems to vary in different places. It would probably be best to go with a full bladder and then empty it if it's not necessary. That's probably easier than trying to fill it quickly (so speaks the voice of experience who wasn't told that my hospital appointment at 9 weeks was my 12 week scan and that I needed a full bladder).