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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Dating scan - help please!

17 replies

noodleysoup · 02/02/2010 17:50

I have my dating scan on Thursday and was told I would receive an info pack from the hospital but nothing has arrived yet. I called up the hospital and I was just told I needed to take my notes but I have read on other posts that you usually have to drink lots beforehand. How much do I need to drink? I'm already anxious about the scan and don't want to risk messing it up. I'm going to the Rosie Maternity Hospital if anyone else has been there. Thanks!

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BusyMissIzzy · 02/02/2010 18:20

You just need to have a full bladder to push your uterus upwards to get a better image. A big glass of water or juice about an hour before the appointment seemed to work for me. It's hard to time it though, if they're running late you can end up bursting for the toilet!

sky27 · 02/02/2010 18:53

I went for mine yesterday, and they were running late. I nearly wet myself! I had a glass about 45mins before and half a bottle while waiting at the hospital.

Do you have your notes, as mine were at the hospital and I took them from there.

Good luck, it really was amazing!!!

Bumbleconfusus · 02/02/2010 19:16

I think your meant to have a pint of liquid an hour before hand... I had a large frescato and that worked too :P yum yum

Original poster

noodleysoup · 02/02/2010 20:57

thanks everyone, Im looking forward to it a bit more now, and I like the large frescato idea Hopefully I won't have to wait too long.

OP posts:

ThisIsntOver · 03/02/2010 11:31

Don't worry about it - at my first scan, I was suffering such bad MS I could barely eat or drink a thing. I'd probably had a cup full of water all day by the time I had the scan and they could see everything perfectly clearly. They said clarity depends on lots of factors, one being the amount of fat you have on your tummy. If you're still quite slim, they'll be able to see much more clearly into the uterus.

I was never told to drink any more than usual before scans.

Good luck

WeakAtTheCheese · 03/02/2010 11:38

I think it depends on the scanner they use. Varies from hospital to hospital. It is agony though having a full bladder and then having someone push down on it with the wand thingy The wee afterwards is one of the best you'll ever have (followed by the one after giving birth )

Give them a call to check - at my hospital people have been sent away to wee as their bladder was too full.....

hippopo · 03/02/2010 12:45

I think I drank too much before hand (almost 2 pints) and the baby wouldn't get into position to take the measurements so was sent to have a wee and then they were able to continue. Also sonographer said slim women like me don't have to drink that much (am a size 12 and 5 ft so not that slim!)

emsyj · 03/02/2010 13:17

They didn't tell me to come with a full bladder then when I arrived the sonographer asked if I had a full bladder and I said 'um, no' but I got a super duper clear picture - really amazing. It wasn't a problem. I'm 5' 7" and size 12 if that is relevant further to hippopo's comments! Not tiny, but not huge.

Neeko · 03/02/2010 13:20

Don't drink milk or anything fizzy as it can distort the picture. Plain water is best. Hope it goes well.

Alicetheinvisible · 03/02/2010 13:27

Noodly i am going for my 12week scan at the Rosie on Friday and they say nothing in there about drinking before the scan.

Last time however, it was a pint of water 1hr before. That is what i will do, then i can always go for a wee if they need an empty bladder.

Is it the Nuchal scan? My MW said if you have the nuchal you need to go for blood while you are there, straight afterwards.

Hope that helps

hildathebuilder · 03/02/2010 16:48

I had my scan at the Rosie in November - which was a combined nuchal and dating scan. The letter said drink a pint beforehand, but was an old letter (from before the Rosie started to routinely do the nuchal) and when I got there they told me to go to the loo as they wanted me to have an empty bladder.

I should just add back in November the nuchal scan was very new - they hadn't had it in June when I was last pregnant (but miscarried) and they were unable to get the nuchal results they needed due to lack of time. Back then (which is only 3 months ago but seems ages) they did not have the option to rescan. The midwives were campaigning to get this changed, and this may have suceeded but I ended up going privately for the nuchal as that was the only option left.

Original poster

noodleysoup · 03/02/2010 17:01

Alicetheinvisible I like your plan so will do the same! Its just the dating scan tomorrow, hope all goes well for you on Friday

OP posts:

Alicetheinvisible · 03/02/2010 17:06

My MW told me that they do the nuchal as standard at the Rosie now. Have you chosen not to have it?

Good luck tomorrow

Original poster

noodleysoup · 03/02/2010 17:53

When I called to book my scan I was asked if I wanted a dating scan or a nuchal scan so I assumed I could only have one at a time, I'll ask tomorrow. I'm a bit confused now as my MW said about having a blood test for down syndrome at my Drs surgery, I didn't realise I could get it all done at once

OP posts:

Alicetheinvisible · 03/02/2010 18:03

I think it has all changed so recently. I am in Newmarket, so have a choice between West suffolk and Addenbookes hospital.

There were lots more bloods to have taken this time before the scan though, they didn't use to do any til 16weeks here.

meoww · 03/02/2010 20:08

i didnt go with a full bladder or take any notes, they loved me
it was fine

Alicetheinvisible · 05/02/2010 08:32

Noodly - how did it go?

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