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Original poster

Don't need a full bladder for first scan?

37 replies

womma · 01/10/2013 14:28

I've got my 13 week scan tonight, and apparently these days you no longer need a full bladder before the scan. Fancy that! Is this right? My DD was born in 2008 and everything seems to have changed since then.

So I won't be peeing myself on the bus tonight!

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EeyoreIsh · 01/10/2013 14:38

I was told I needed a full bladder (well, to drink a point of water before), only 10 weeks ago. But maybe your hospital has more up to date scanners!

valiumredhead · 01/10/2013 14:44

I didn't in 2001Smile

Mogz · 01/10/2013 14:54

You need at least a little something in there else they'll have to resort to an internal scan, which can be a bit uncomfy. But so long as you're not very dehydrated (like I was) you should be fine.

hettienne · 01/10/2013 14:56

Did they not send you any instructions? My hospital did - drink a pint of water an hour before the scan - and was sending women back into the waiting room to drink more if necessary.

JRmumma · 01/10/2013 14:58

When i went for mine, my bladder was uncomfortably full, and the very rude scan lady made me 'go and empty a bit out' 4 times before making me completely empty my bladder to get a good scan. She spoke to me as if i was a child to have drank so much, but i only had what they told me to. I told her this and that also it might not have been so full if i hadn't waited an hour past my appointment time!

I reckon it depends on the person do assume you need to start with something in there and then you can adjust accordingly once you are in there.

Lj8893 · 01/10/2013 14:59

Yeah, mine didn't advise anything so I thought I better make sure I had at least something in my bladder (which wasent difficult as it was so hot in the waiting room I was flagging water like crazy!) but I did have to empty my bladder on one occasion to try and get a better view of baby.

valiumredhead · 01/10/2013 14:59

Mogz, you don't honestly. I wad told it wasn't necessary and that was 12 years ago. Just do what you've been told to do OP. Maybe it does depend on the scanner.

TwickyWoo · 01/10/2013 15:03

The instructions for my 12 weeks scan was to have a full bladder (only done a few weeks ago)... but maybe your hospital has a different scanner/procedures? Might be worth drinking something just in case! :)

AhoyAhoy · 01/10/2013 15:04

Iwas the same JR. Was sent for 3 wees till bladder was pretty much empty.

justanuthermanicmumsday · 01/10/2013 15:08

Mine was to drink lots before scan. To be honest I just had a standard sized bottle of water in the 15 min drive to the hospital and every time the sonographer said I had done well to drink enough. I don't think you need to glug down 8 cups of water tour entire count for the day to get a good pic I think I'd feel sick.

Don't stress worse case scenario you're sent out to drink more?

fuckwittery · 01/10/2013 15:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PinkWitch803 · 01/10/2013 15:24

I was told to have a full bladder, but not uncomfortably so

Cupcake11 · 01/10/2013 15:39

I was told not to have a full bladder for mine too. She said if I came with one I'd be told to empty it before I came in.
How strange they all say something different!

puddleduck16 · 01/10/2013 15:45

I was told to have a full one too. So drank a bottle of water 45 mins before appt. And then it was too full and had to empty!!

JRmumma · 01/10/2013 15:52

Fuckwittery - i never thought of it like that but in that case im well chuffed with my pelvic floor!

I'm just off to test it to see if i can manage post-birth!

Mogz · 01/10/2013 15:56

Valium, I wish someone had told my sonographer that. I did not enjoy being dehydrated, sick and having a bloody cold probe stuck up me!
Seems like its probably best to drink as normal so you're not uncomfy.

juneybean · 01/10/2013 15:58

My boss is 21 weeks and was told they no longer need a full bladder.

ananikifo · 01/10/2013 16:00

My letters told me to eat and drink normally, then avoid going to the loo for one hour before the scan. I guess the bladder shouldn't be empty jut they don't want you really uncomfortable. If your bladder needed to be more full, a lot of places let you try to drink more, wait 15-30 min and try again, or they do an internal scan.

bundaberg · 01/10/2013 16:04

yes, we don't need a full bladder here either

FacebookWanker · 01/10/2013 16:04

I didn't have (and wasn't asked to have) a full bladder on any of my school any of my scans...must depend on the hospital and their equipment...

FacebookWanker · 01/10/2013 16:07

What is up with this Kindle????? It can't handle fast typing...

AmandaPandtheNightmareMonsters · 01/10/2013 16:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Floggingmolly · 01/10/2013 16:13

God, everything gets turned on it's head eventually, doesn't it?
Three times I had the miserable experience of being poked and prodded while full to bursting; and it wasn't necessary???
Practically ruined the magic of it; feeling on the verge of drowning in wee from the inside...

Beanypip · 01/10/2013 16:16

I had my 12 week scan today and I needed a full bladder I think it just helps depending on babys position my bladder was 'pathetically empty' the womans words! but baby was in a good position so she managed to scan me ok. id go with a full but not uncomfy bladder as its much easier to empty than fill!

valiumredhead · 01/10/2013 16:45

My scans were at a teaching hospital, wonder if that's why as they have super duper equipment or something?