Why during an ultrasound do you need to drink water an hour before...can it be closer to the time of the scan?

Question

i am so afraid i am going to go to the bathroom all over myself and the technician...please help!!!!

Answer 1

Start 45 minutes to an hour before, but you don't need to drink as much as they tell you to. Here, they tell you to drink 34oz of water..over a litre, and it's not necessary to drink that much. As long as you feel full, not to the point of nearly bursting, you'll be absolutely fine. You need to drink the water so they can view the baby better. A full bladder lightens up the ultrasound to see the baby.

Just in case, where a liner or sanitary napkin and bring an extra set of clothes.

Answer 2

They make you drink lots of water an hour before your ultrasound so that your insides/ bladder are full and they can get a better view of things.  I know its completely uncomfortable and it sure is hard to have to hold if for so long, but lets say you drank lots of water right before your appointment, the water might not have made it to your bladder before your scan and you would have drank tons of water for no reason.

Anyway, good luck and hold it till your done!

Answer 3

Try not to worry. I worried and it was pointless. You drink it so that they can see the baby better. Make sure it's cold water, it will make him or her more active. I drank one 16.9 oz bottle and had an orange. I had to pee and the baby was going crazy.

Answer 4

Your bladder has to be very full for them to get the first few measurements...then they let you up to go to the restroom.  

I however couldn't wait any longer and went about 2 minutes before she called me in the room....it ended up being ok, my bladder filled right back up very quickly!  

Answer 5

I started drinking the water 45 min before.  I drank 20 oz. and my bladder was plenty full.  the technician let me pee towards the end of the scan because she needed different pictures of the baby and she could tell I had to go.  If you have to go too bad, just let her know.  

Answer 6

I have had 3 ultrasounds so far this pregnancy the earliest being 8 weeks. I am 16 weeks now. Everytime I have stopped at a fast food restaurant right before leaving for the hospital and ordered a large drink. That is usually about 35 minutes before the ultrasound is supposed to start. I usually finish drinking it about 10 minutes before they call me back. Everytime we have gotten perfect pictures. And I haven't been so uncomfortable it hurts.

I have drank starting an hour before once and I was miserable almost crying from the pain. I should add that I was being scanned for a miscarriage that day and was not myself. And I already had pain from the impending miscarriage. After that I came up with a new system for drinking ahead of time that has worked perfectly three times now.

Answer 7

You have to drink water an hour before the ultrasound because the baby is right above your bladder. And by you drinking the water, it helps to push the baby up,so the ultrasound technician can get good pictures of your baby to make sure the pregnancy is moving along well.

Answer 8

It depends upon the machine they are using, because not all will require you to drink water an hour before. I had one ultrasound with my first (at 21 weeks) and three with my second (9 weeks, 20 weeks, and 31 weeks). I never once had to drink water beforehand.

But I have heard of that being common. Just follow instructions, and do your best. You definitely won't be the first to be in extreme discomfort. Heck they have probably had accidents before too. But you will be fine! Women do it every day!

Answer 9

You have to finish drinking the water an hour before so your bladder is nice and full....I've been through it a few times and while the feeling is very uncomfortable you will likely not pee yourself or all over the technician!

Answer 10

It depends on how far along you are....I went at 18 weeks for the gender scan, and was told to have  a full bladder and the tech told me I could go before the scan and was far enough along that I didn't have to do that.  

Answer 11

The reason is to push the baby up, so the ultrasound has an easier time seeing everything!  Don't gorge yourself, just drink enough so you are still comfortable.