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12-13-2012 at 9:39 AM
NeinerBopp...
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Ultrasound Question

Hi Ladies-

I have my first ultrasound this afternoon & the hospital called to tell me to drink 32oz of water, 1 hour before. However, I'm reading online that many women only drink 20oz, so they can enjoy the ultrasound (they say they were miserable drinking 32oz). How much water do you drink?

 
12-13-2012 at 9:43 AM
animalcrck...
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20 oz or 32 oz retained in your bladder, you will still be uncomfortable know matter what!  The water is necessary to get the images they need, etc.  Once they have what they need, you are allowed to empty your bladder and then they will continue with the rest of the ultrasound.  

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12-13-2012 at 9:43 AM
Michelle30...
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My doctor never said I had to drink water and the ultrasound came out clear.  If you are more comfortable with 20oz, go that route.  It is said if you drink water it is easier to see the baby and hear the heartbeat, but I'm not sure that is the reality.

 
12-13-2012 at 9:45 AM
MomlovesEl...
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You just need to make sure your bladder is full. I would just chug until you need to pee.
 
12-13-2012 at 9:45 AM
UberBiz
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animalcrckr:
20 oz or 32 oz retained in your bladder, you will still be uncomfortable know matter what!  The water is necessary to get the images they need, etc.  Once they have what they need, you are allowed to empty your bladder and then they will continue with the rest of the ultrasound.  

This. And if it does get too uncomfortable, I am positive they won't make you sit there til you wet the bed ;)


 
12-13-2012 at 9:47 AM
mariahrb
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i didnt really worry about it. i just picked up a 20oz bottle of smart water and went. at the beginning of the ultrasound not enough water was in my bladder to see my cervix, so she moved on. she measured other things and measured the baby. by the time she came back to measure the cervix there was enough water in my bladder. i would think 20oz would do it, it worked for me.  

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12-13-2012 at 9:48 AM
CarolynL8
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No one told me to drink before I went either. When I got there the lady told me I'm not allowed to use the restroom because they want my bladder full.

She was able to see some stuff but my bladder wasn't totally full. She ended up going in vaginally to get better images.

My bladder wasn't full but I still had to pee really really bad!!

Id probably drink 20 oz. Bring water with you just in case they want you to drink a little more. 

 


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12-13-2012 at 9:50 AM
Max'smom
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A moderately full bladder is what my OB requested prior to an ultrasound. This increases the quality of the exam. I don't know if it really matters how much you drink 20-32oz will give you a moderately full bladder. And an hour after drinking that much water I am going to have to pee.


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12-13-2012 at 10:08 AM
snok83
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I had this same question a few weeks ago.  Basically, when I called my OB office to check on the amount.  They simply told me to drink as much as I could and they realized/said that I would most likely not be able to drink the whole 32 oz and try to hold it :)  They said a full bladder makes it easier for them to see the baby. 

 On my ultrasound day, I guess b/c I was so nervous but I ended up going the bathroom before I left for the appointment and once I got there :)  b/c I couldn't hold it. Bad I know!  I brought a water bottle with me and drank this on the drive there and while I waited to go in.  Despite going the bathroom immediately before the US, they never said anything about not being full enough and were able to get all of the measurements needed.  I was even asked to go the bathroom at one point during the US b/c the lady was not able to see if it was a boy or girl.

 Bottom line- drink as much as you comfortable can before and on the way to the appointment and dont' necessary worry about getting in the exact 32 oz

 
12-13-2012 at 10:11 AM
MrsWindyCi...
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They never told me to drink water, and they actually told me to empty my bladder before both my big a/s.

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12-13-2012 at 10:20 AM
elmoali
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I find the amount of water normally suggested is bizarrely high.  When I went for my last u/s they didn't mention having a full bladder.  I had my normal amount of whatever I was drinking, peed about 10 minutes before the u/s and when I got in there the tech remarked "I see you have a nice full bladder for me!"  So really, even that small amount that had "processed" since I had peed was enough to push my uterus up to a place where it was easily seen.

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12-13-2012 at 10:39 AM
LibbyLouHo...
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My doctor told me a had to have a full bladder and recommended 8 ounces one hour before the appointment. You want your bladder to be full, but not to the point of being miserable, especially since they are going to be putting lots of pressure on you with the wand. If I were to drink 32 ounces, I would never be able to make it through the ultrasound.

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12-13-2012 at 10:47 AM
evelyntayl...
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You should be fine with 20oz. My midwife doesn't require this, but my OB did with my first and I was so uncomfortable with such a full bladder.

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12-13-2012 at 11:04 AM
Lovestruck...
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MomlovesEloise:
You just need to make sure your bladder is full. I would just chug until you need to pee.

This is what I did. I really didn't keep track of how much I drank.


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12-13-2012 at 11:09 AM
VPGIRL06
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I think as long as you normally keep hydrated you should be fine. I was told right when they let me in I couldn't go to the bathroom before I hand, so I didn't know I was supposed to drink a certain amount. 

haha it's funny, one thing throughout this pregnancy I am constantly complimented on (seriously, at least 3 different ultrasound tech's have mentioned something) is how hydrated I am, due to the level of fluid I have in there. And I don't feel like I drink an abnormal amount of water..in fact I feel like i'm constantly thirsty, especially when I wake up...


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12-13-2012 at 12:52 PM
pamperedgi...
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they told me to drink the 32oz. so i did. by the time i got to the place i just finished the water my bladder was full. i ended up having to go pee (just a little) 3 times before i was called back (they were short handed and were an hour behind schedule. the tech was still amazed at how full my bladder was.so now the most i drink is 16-20 oz. and i have been able to see the baby clearly every time (my dr does an ultrasound almost every appt.)

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12-13-2012 at 3:12 PM
beckyschel...
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The more water you drink the clearer your going to be able to see baby, and it will make their jobs alot easier to get their measurements, and find the sex if your wanting to know and don't already. I drink the recommended amount which is 1.5L of water. You wouldn't want to have a dark ultrasound and have trouble seeing just becasue you didn't drink enough. There is a reason they tell us to drink so much H20 the full bladder does suck to have when they are pushing on your belly.

 
12-13-2012 at 5:26 PM
hugmonkey
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I drank 20 oz and I started drinking 1/2 an hour before my appointment.  My bladder was so full they made me empty it so they could see more clearly.


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12-13-2012 at 7:43 PM
katie6/26/...
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none, it is not required where I go.  In fact the tech told me as soon as I got in the room that I could go to the bathroom if I needed to go.
 
12-14-2012 at 5:29 PM
prazenjc
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my first ultrasounds were very early (6 wks and 8 wks), so they did them internally and no full bladder required, in fact emptying the bladder is encouraged.

if you aren't very far along and they need to do an external u/s then you do need to have a moderately full bladder for the most effective u/s. can they do it w/less? probably, but i would want to ensure the best possible analysis, so i would drink the water and tough it out. it isn't the most uncomfortable thing you will experience with your pregnancy.


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