preparation for a 21week ultrasound?

[tea_berries]

Hi ladies!

I am supposed to go to my ultrasound in a few hours to find out how baby is doing and maybe if we are lucky we can find out what the gender is... wooohoooo!!!!

The problem is I don't know if I am allowed to eat anything prior to the ultrasound.  And how much water am I supposed to take .. PLease help... My ultrasound requisition is at home and I will have to pick it up before going to my appointment... mommies please help

[Avanaar]

I did my ultrasound (anatomy scan) and my glucose screening in the same day.  So I was watching what I was eating because of the glucose test.  For the ultrasound, I don't think it matters what you eat, only that you drink lots of water.

My water intake plan had been to have my final pee around 1, then drink my 4-5 glasses of water over the next two hours.  I was told to stop drinking 45 min to 1 hr before my appt (which was at 4pm).  My plan failed miserably tho!!  lol  I have to say, I have never been in more agony than having to hold my pee for that darn ultrasound.

I think I ended up peeing again at 2 ...then "breaking down" and peeing again at 3.  I felt like I was going to totally screw up my ultrasound!!  My instruction sheet said that if my bladder was not full, the ultrasound would most likely be rescheduled!!  After my unexpected 3pm potty break, I chugged another glass or so of water before I was supposed to stop.  

Even after all that worry, I still ended up having to pee sooooooo bad by the time I got to the doctor's office at 4pm!!!  Thankfully, the u/s tech only needed my full bladder to check my cervix and something else.  Then she let me go potty and we continued with the rest of the ultrasound.  

So my advice ...don't do what I did!!  lol  ...I would say to start drinking your 4-5 glasses of water about 1.5 to 2 hours before your appt ...you'll pretty much have to chug the water down, but you won't have to desperately go pee every 30 minutes!!

Good luck!!

[KM604]

For my second trimester scan I didn't have any specific instructions on what to eat or what not to eat (or drink).  I ate and drank as normal and everything was fine. But I don't know if your scan is different then mine - mine was where they checked the whole body and measured everything, plus told me we were having a girl.

[Avanaar]

That was what they did with my scan.  They were doing measurements on the baby and checking out the organs.  The only reason they had me drink all the water was because having a full bladder makes it much easier to see the cervix on the u/s machine.  The tech checked that first thing, then I got to go potty and come back for the rest of the scan.  By the end of it, I had to pee again ...yes, I drank a lot of water!!  lol

[LauraB78]

I agree w/ KM.

They never gave me any specific instructions. They did mine at 17.5 weeks, and told me I was having a BOY! And they measured all the body parts to be sure he is growing as he should. I have never had any dietary restrictions with any u/s. This is my first pregnancy and I am 28 weeks.

Good luck and let us know as soon as you get back from your appt!! =)

[tea_berries]

I only ended up drinking less than two glasses of water and I got pretty full bladder since baby is bigger than expected.  My due date was moved three days earlier because of this.  March 8 is the new date and it's a baby boy! :0)

I posted a picture with him punching in the air :0)

[LittleMissBeatz]

I'm so confused nobody told me anything about having to have my bladder full or any instructions at all for that matter, now I'm going to have to go and call my doctor to see what he says LOL...