What kind of ultrasound am I having tomorrow?

[annettemarie]

I'm 11 weeks pregnant with twins. Will this be a drink a ton o' water ultrasound, or a stick a pole up there ultrasound?

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

I'm 11 weeks pregnant with twins. Will this be a drink a ton o' water ultrasound, or a stick a pole up there ultrasound?

drink a ton... just to be safe.

At 9 weeks we did not do a transvaginal... then at 21 weeks we did! Why? well... placenta previa and checking how bad it was (luckily not enough to be concerned over at all)

[jennica]

I would call and check. I was told at our 12 week that drinking a ton of water was irrelevant at that stage. In fact, the ultrasound tech had me empty by bladder during the scan in the hopes the baby would turn for a better view.

[annettemarie]

Well, it's at 8 AM so calling is unfortunately out. I just didn't think about it until tonight.

[MaerynPearl]

its better to go with a full bladder and empty it than to go with an empty one and have to sit there waiting while drinking for it to fill up. Even at my 21 week ultrasound they wanted my bladder full, just to check my cervix... then sent me to pee and came back to do the rest.

[MommaCrystal]

Wierd... in 3 pregnancies and 7 ultrasounds and 4 or 5 care providers I've NEVER been told to drink a lot before an ultrasound. Where does this come from?

[blue butterfly]

I have a 20 week ultrasound in a couple of weeks and they told to drink plenty of fluids a couple days leading up to the u/s but that it wasn't necessary to have a full bladder when i get there.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by MommaCrystal

Wierd... in 3 pregnancies and 7 ultrasounds and 4 or 5 care providers I've NEVER been told to drink a lot before an ultrasound. Where does this come from?

It comes from the fact that a full bladder basically acts like a window and an empty bladder acts like a wall you cant see through.

Its not necessary after 20 or 24 weeks depending on the care provider but anything before 20 weeks, unless they are doing trans-vaginal, should require a full bladder.

[splath]

I was never told to drink a lot of water before an u/s either until my 8 week one with this pregnancy. I had u/s at 4 weeks, 7 weeks, 9 weeks, 11 weeks and 18 weeks with dd (long story) and was never told to drink water prior to the u/s. There was never an issue with seeing anything either. Granted my early u/s with her were transavaginal, so I know that makes a difference. The 18 week wasn't though.

[annettemarie]

In case you wonder, it was the stick it up there kind and the babies were beautiful!

[MaerynPearl]

[CherryBomb]

Yay babies!

Drinking lots of water also increases amniotic fluid which makes it easier to see baby, iirc.

[2sweetboysmom]

YAY for beautiful babies!!!!!!!!

[annettemarie]

If anyone is interested, I have pictures here. I'll show my uterus to pretty much anyone these days, LOL!

[2sweetboysmom]

Squirmy busy babies!!

[ILoveMySofie]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

If anyone is interested, I have pictures here. I'll show my uterus to pretty much anyone these days, LOL!

[wolfmom]

actually, the full bladder is done to push the uterus up higher in the abdomen so they can get a better view when they are trying to do a trans abdominal u/s earlier in pregnancy. It's not necessary for a trans vag or for further along.

[CorasMama]

Originally Posted by wolfmom

actually, the full bladder is done to push the uterus up higher in the abdomen so they can get a better view when they are trying to do a trans abdominal u/s earlier in pregnancy. It's not necessary for a trans vag or for further along.

this. It becomes unnecessary, depending on the uterus, somewhere between 12 and 14ish weeks, for a transabdominal u/s. I have always been told that before 14 weeks, go in with a full/fullish bladder, and if they need it emptied either for the positioning of the uterus, or so they can do the dildocam, they'll have you go pee. And after your uterus pops up so you don't need a full bladder, an empty bladder is best, because they'll be pressing on that area, and it's very uncomfy if your bladder is at all full.