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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

12 week scan - how much water to drink?

19 replies

PrincessSugarPlum · 12/12/2011 11:01

The letter says 1-2 pints an hour before. My problem is the scan is 8.30am tomorrow and when I drink much water I vomit it up again!!

Am thinking I could try just not going to the loo in the morning.

How little have people got away with drinking and still having a clear ultrasound? Thanks.

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Nanny01 · 12/12/2011 11:12

I would take a bottle of water to sip while you wait. Otherwise if there is along wait like we often have in the hospital then you will be busting for the loo. I definatley found this worked for me

MillyStar · 12/12/2011 11:16

Oh god go to the loo in the morning you need to get that first yucky wee out lol

It depends on the size of your bladder, i had 2 cups of tea and 2 glasses of water for mine, i was in agony in the waiting room then half way through the scan i had to empty it a bit as it was too full - it's sooooooo hard to stop mid wee!! I didn't let enough out and in the end she said just empty your bladder and i've never peed for so long in my life lol

I had my 20 week scan a couple of weeks ago, i waited till i got to the hospital and just drank 2 little cups from the water cooler there and i was fine, still wanted to wee myself when she pressed on my belly tho lol

The good thing is you should get seen pretty quickly at 8.30am the hosp won't have got too backlogged by then, i've got another scan at 23 weeks on Thurs and it's not till 3.40pm gonna be waiting for ages boo hoo cant wait to see her again though ;)

MiauMau · 12/12/2011 11:31

I find it really odd, because I wasn't asked to drink any water for my 12 weeks scan, and they found the little one and managed to do all the necessary checks without any problems.

melliebobs · 12/12/2011 11:38

i had my 12 week scan at 11+3 and it was at 8:45in the morning. No way i could drink 2 pints of water. I had a 500ml bottle and started supping from 7:30 and managed fine. 20 week scan you don't need a full bladder so if you a early one then you'll be fine

morethemerrier · 12/12/2011 11:49

Every scan I have ever had I have always been given a sympathetic "oh my you have a very full bladder", and that was having drank the requested amount of liquid!

I agree with above, just take in what you can comfortably manage, worst case scenario they will just send you back into the waiting room to drink a bit more!

Better than being horrendously uncomfortable, or making your MS worse!

My last 20 week scan with DC4 due in April, I was so bloody uncomfortable that I couldn't enjoy seeing my little one dance around the screen! Just wanted to get out and relieve my poor exploding bladder!

puzzletree · 12/12/2011 12:38

wee first thing and then just have a drink of something at breakfast time, and take a bottle of water with you to sip if you feel thirsty- don't drink loads as if you need a wee before the scan then you're back to square one whereas you can always top up a little if required. i've never drunk as much as they recommend in the letter, and have always been fine at scans.

kiki22 · 12/12/2011 13:31

I've had 2 NHS scans and 2 private and never been asked to drink anything, the pics have all been good and had no problems doing the medical stuff.

Original poster

PrincessSugarPlum · 12/12/2011 13:35

Excellent. Thank you people. I will take it all with a pinch of salt then. Will do the best I can, but not go overboard.

If they can't do it, I'll blame MN!!!

OP posts:

banana87 · 12/12/2011 13:39

Don't worry too much. At my 12 week scan I had drunk very little and they said that was ok. All was seen without a problem

DizzyKipper · 12/12/2011 14:37

I was specifically told in my letter that there was no need to drink a lot of water before the scan. So either they're planning on vaginal or else there's not much need.

Onlymydogunderstandsme · 12/12/2011 14:54

I went to the loo about hour and a half before my scan and then drank 1/2 pint of water. I was busting by the time my scan came around, the sonographer could tell so I was allowed to half empty my bladder which was sooo hard but a relief! I have found with these scan that I need a lot less water than they say as a few times by bladder has actual been to full for them to do the scan!! If your bladder isn't full enough they will just make you wait a little while and you drink some more water. Enjoy, I was so nervous for mine last Friday but as soon as I saw baby and the little heartbeat I could then relax and watch baby wriggling and kicking away it was amazing!

MiauMau · 12/12/2011 14:56

Midway through both the 12 and 20 weeks scans I was actually asked to go for a wee. At King's, they also do a vaginal scan for a treat

mrsmandm · 12/12/2011 21:03

TBh it kind of depends on your weight, skinny woman are easier to scan so bladder fullness less important.

Original poster

PrincessSugarPlum · 13/12/2011 18:44

Perfect. Thank you for all the advice. I had half a cup of tea, half a glass of water and sipped a bottle whilst I drove there. She didn't comment at all (although did say she has to ask some people to go to the loo!) and the scan was wonderfully clear. I wasn't uncomfortable either.

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dreamfeeder · 13/12/2011 18:47

lol, i think it's a myth. I vomited and vomited and vomited the morning of my 12 week scan, had virtually nothing in my bladder and got a clear picture of my twins!!!! (twins!!!). Sounds like you got it spot on

Original poster

PrincessSugarPlum · 13/12/2011 18:50

It was cos the letter specifically said 1-2 pints...and yet before I'd even got on the bed, she said leave your shoes on as i may need you to go to the loo. Wish they hadn't put it in the letter - I worry over everything!

Congrats on your twins. She did have a good look, as this is a clomid baby. But it's definitely just the one :)

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dreamfeeder · 13/12/2011 21:15

I was so not expecting twins princess- I was so sick with DD everyone said 'oooh, maybe it's twins' and I was almost hoping for two on the scan. This time, when I was crippled with even worse sickness , people started saying it again and I thought oh for goodness sake, been there, done that, I think it's a boy! (incidentally, I'm right, it's 2 boys!). No twins in the family or anything, i'm just lucky!

I had to part-empty my bladder first time too- the sonographer said the guidelines haven't been changed for ages but the technology is way better with the scanner so actually you just need some fluid in your bladder, not a full one. My letter this time still came with 1-2 pints. I got such a dirty look from the sonographer when she said 'so have you drunk the water?' and I confessed to none!!! But it was fine. I worry over everything too. Still worrying about this pg...

I didn't drink anything for my 16 or 20 weeks scans if that helps, great pics, but I am also much, much bigger this time.

dreamfeeder · 13/12/2011 21:21

and congratulations on your pregnancy princess!

smilesy · 13/12/2011 21:22

I had to wee during my scan as my bladder was too full as they wanted baby to turn round. There are usually water fountains so you can have drink if you need and they will just send you out to do this, wait a little then call you back in if they need to.

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