12 week scan... and bursting for a wee just thinking about it!

[RachaelCatWhisperer]

Hi everyone,

I have my 12 week scan tomorrow at 11.30, and will need to drink 500ml one hour before. I practised yesterday and managed 90 mins before I was fit to burst, but today I had a snack with the water on the hope that it would help me hold on and only managed an hour.

So how will this work then? They say the appointment takes 20 mins, so if I drink at 11 that should mean I make it through until after.

I'm dreading being so desperate for the loo that I won't enjoy the scan. And god knows what will happen if they're running late!!

I had the same worry but it was fine, I just took the water in a bottle and drank it in the car on the way!

Ultimately if what they want is a full bladder, I can do that in 20 mins! Thanks doorknee

I remember being absolutely bursting for one of my scans with dd. I must have given that desperate omg what am I gonna do panic face. Fortunately the very kind nurse took pity and told me to have a slight pee to relieve myself as I was so so desperate scan went ok so must have still had plenty in there!

I have always forgotten until I'm driving to the scan chug chug chug!

You just need a full bladder. I drink water in advance but not that much that far before I'd never hold it in. It's only a guideline.

chloesmumtoo I don't know if I could do half a wee!

Thanks all - an hour is rather ambitious!

With my first I was bursting and the sonographer laughed at the size of my bladder on screen and asked why I drank so much! Second baby, I had to go for wee as soon as I got hospital for 12 week scan (couldn't wait!), so i then just drank a few cups before I went in and scan worked fine.

An hour before will be too long. They are often running late too!

Try 20 minutes before ;)

I did a trial run as well and was absolutely bursting by an hour. In the end I decided to start drinking 40 minutes before, and ended up going in 10 minutes early, but the sonographer didn't have any complaints and the images were all clear as day. Ultimately it's about having a full bladder, so drink whatever achieves that for you.

I drank a good 2 liters and was told not to eat anything (turns out that was a load of rubbish) but i did it because i was already scared enough for the scan as it was and i was worried they wouldnt be able to do the scan if i did something wrong. The sonographer asked me to uncross my legs and i said i couldnt otherwise i'd pee myself, she just laughed and said go for a wee. She said i wouldnt empty my bladder completely by going for a wee, just enough to make me not want to go anymore. Also, i had a scan at 8 weeks - wasnt even a proper scanning machine, just a little trolley scanner - and i had nothing to drink as i was asleep for 12 hours and then was woken up for the scan straight away (wasnt on a drip or anything so had no fluids for at least 12 hours) and they found my little boy fine. He was tiny tiny tiny at 8 weeks and even without a full bladder they found him, i wouldnt worry too much:) x

Have you definitely been advised to drink all that water? I wasn't for my 12 week scan and it wasn't even necessary to have a full bladder. My 20 week scan there was no instructions about drinking water but they did require a full bladder. The appointments were running late on the day and I had to have a "half pee" and it was all fine.

I had mine yesterday. Saw the midwife and she said don't pee before you get your scan. I thought I would be waiting another 30 mins or so, went to the loo. The second I got back I was called. Just had a small glass of water and it was all good. Doctor said it was fine and you can usually see at 12 weeks without a full bladder.

Good luck!

I didn't need to drink anything before mine, i think because it was an enhanced scan, but my bladder did end up really full at the time. I literally do not know how i held it in :D

I drank 45 minutes before mine this time, they were running 15 minutes behind and they sent me for half a wee a few minutes in to my scan because I was too full! I love that you had a practice! Good luck tomorrow

I am on my 2nd pregnancy, so two 12 week scans, and was never told to drink water beforehand. In fact at my first 12 week scan they told me to go to the toilet at the start of the scan because my full bladder was making it difficult to get the right measurements!

Yep, there is a card with instructions stapled to my notes. I'm glad so many of you have had the same fears and experience. I'm worried enough about it without wet knickers to contend with!

I had to drink a litre before mine! But then as soon as the sonographer started looking she told me to go pee as my massive bladder was squashing the baby and then I had to go again 10 mins later as it was filling up again. Similar story at 20 scan. I'm not sure why they specifically say to drink so much when it's not necessary. I believe if you're quite a bit larger then it's more important, I can't remember where i read that though.

Ha ha, I remember feeling like this before my scan! I was so paranoid I wouldn't have a full enough bladder that I drank a glass of water before I went and was sipping from a big bottle of water on the way in the car, we got to the hospital for the scan, they were running a little late but I didn't feel too bad/uncomfortable. I got called in and it turned out that my bladder was TOO full, so they told me to go do a wee for about 20 seconds (very hard to stop once I started!) then they carried on with the scan and it went fine. I had another scan a few weeks later and the same thing again - I drank too much! So really, I think my advice would be to maybe just have a glass, don't go to crazy to the point you feel your bladder is going to burst! I don't think it's that essential, really. Hope all goes well!

Totally sympathise, I have a tiny bladder and have always found them to be running about 30 mins late it's agony! After nearly being in tears at my 20 week scan with my son I was really worried this time around. For my scans this pregnancy I drank about 3/4 pint but only around 40 mins before the appointment time ( had a few scans due to issues) and they always commented how full my bladder was - I guess we all have different sized bladders. I'd practice and see how long it takes for your bladder to feel full, but not painful, and go with that. You'll want to be able to hold about 30 mins after your appointment time (although they say it takes 20 mins mine have always only lasted about 5 mins). Good luck!

Also just to say that at my 20 week scan this time I got called in 15 minutes early. I was super panicked as I could feel my bladder wasn't at all full yet and the sonographer said it was fine. She said the full bladder helps, especially if baby or placenta are in an awkward position, but 9 times out of 10 they can get what they need without a full bladder.

just drink all day and pee when you need to but if you pee just before scan make sure you drink some more water.

i cant hold my pee at all. i just drink and pee drink and pee. i didnt have any problems apart from a wriggly babe and im fat

drank water on way to scan appt. They were running late, so I couldn't wait. But did do the sample they decided they needed for glucose dip.

Scan went fine.

Half a glass before 20week, closer and smaller hospital, scanned and out before appt time!

I fully wet myself at one of my scans, i think about 10 weeks, they did an internal scan instead. It was fine

Ah I remember that. We don't drive so I had to get the bus. Dh was laughing at me the whole time. But it was worth it, seeing our little person (our first scan was late so we could have found out the sex if we wanted, but we didn't want to know).
Karma was on the way home, dh was desperate to go, so I laughed all the bus ride home

Oh billy what a nightmare!

Thank you all for your advice. Fingers, toes and legs all crossed for tomorrow! Xx