Do i need a full bladder for my20 week scan?

[missnatalie]

Ive got my anomoly scan tomorrow and was just wondering if i still need to have a full bladder?

Natalie

yes

I was told no

I was told no, only for the 12 week one.

NO! NO! NO! Only for 12 wk scan.
Good luck and enjoy seeing your LO.

they made me drink water when i went to fill up

No

Just had scan and there was a problem with the baby's stomach (all OK in re-scan) but went to toilet halfway through, while we were waiting for baby to swallow. Sonographer said full bladder not necessary cos of natomy - baby higher than bladder at this stage anyway.

Hope everything goes well at the scan.

anatomy

have just done a search thru google, some say yes, some no, some say depends on hospital. very confusing.

I think it depends in the type of scanning machine the hospital has (and this is really a guess due to my experiences): For my first baby,I did not need full bladder for 12 week scan but did for 20 week. For second baby. needed full bladder for both scans. With your appointment letter there is usually a leaflet enclosed with any pre-requisites you need to follow.

Thanks ladies. I think ill opt for not having a full bladder. Theres no way ill be able to hold a full one. Findidng it impossible to hold a trickle in at the moment .

How long does the scan last for? Was told approx 30 mins?? Is that right?

It does depend on the equipment used. I was booked for a 3rd scan to check placenta position after my 20wk scan and they couldn't do it because my bladder was empty.

my scan was running 45 mins late so they only had about 5 mins of me with a full bladder before I ran off to the toilet! The radiographer was pretty unimpressed by this and I kept having to go and come back because of the position of the baby. However they eventually saw what they needed to despite a virtually empty bladder. But they were CROSS with me, so maybe this made things difficult to see easily! They refused to tell me the sex as revenge.

On her 1st pg, my poor SIL was under the impression that she needed a full bladder for a 17 week scan. Eventually, she hobbled up to the staff at reception and asked how much longer she'd be as she really needed the toilet. Staff all laughed and told her she didn't need a full bladder at this stage. She said she never ran so fast for a toilet!

ring 'em and ask !

and good luck

Can depend on your physique to a certain degree, but if they can't see adequately it may mean hanging around waiting to fill and being rescanned that day if they can fit you in, or being rebooked because they can't assess everything and you worrying unnecessarily.

The best fix is to empty about an hour beforehand and then drink 1 litre of water over the next half an hour. When you arrive for your appointment, check that they are running to time with the appointments and if they are running more than 20 minutes late, try and let a little bit out, but not everything.

Hi,
I think it depends on hospital. I had my 12 week and 20 week scan at one London hospital and didn't have to have full bladder but I've since moved to another London hospital and I've noticed signs up in the antenatal clinic reminding women to drink a few pints of water before their scans.

Not sure if it's to do with different equipment or just different hospital protocols?

Good luck anyway.

If you have a full-ish bladder, and baby is in an awkward position, the sonographer can send you to the loo in the hope baby might move. If you're a bigger build, or well padded round the middle( like me!) a full bladder can help get a better view. Try to have something in your bladder, and if you're uncomfortable SAY so!
Sometimes scans do keep to time (often delays are for emergencies or sad reasons- not just vindictive sonographers knowing you'll have a full bladder!)
The real challenge- if you can't wait- is the trying to 'part-empty' your bladder! Trying to hang on to something can help, though, esp if this isn't your first, might be impossible.
good luck, hope all goes well, and don't panic if your little one is awkward and you have to go back another day for a rescan (its VERY common).
(yes, I'm a snogger who'll probably be grumpy later with morning sickness and being v. tired coz I'm up this early!)

I have had two children ... never needed full bladder for either 12 week or 20 week scan.
Even when I had a miscarriage and I was at the 12 week stage when I started bleeding did they ask me to have a full bladder.

I have had scans at less than 12 weeks though, and scans when not pregnants and those times, yes, needed full bladder.

I was made to go and have a wee halfway through mine as they could't see baby properly because of the huge bladder in the way.

We get told a full bladder for 12 week scan but for anomaly scan come as you are ie don't go within half an hour of your appointment.

I think how long the scan takes depends on whether baby is lying in a good position and how much it's wriggling. With ds1 we were in and out all afternoon then had to do back a week later as they couldn't get a good view of the heart. Pregnant at the moment and the scan only took around 5 minutes - sonographer said he was the easiest baby to scan she'd had all day.

Good luck