Drink 32 oz of H2O before 37 week u/s?

[Lyndzies]

Seriously? I'm calling BS.

My midwife ordered an u/s for fetal position (she couldn't tell for certain by palpating, and I'm not dilated at all, so she can't really tell internally, either).

I'm not going to the peri as I have for other u/s this pregnancy, because this is just a quick check, and it doesn't make sense to go to the peri when I've got a radiology place right around the corner from my house.

HOWEVER, I was given instructions for the appointment to empty my bladder at 3pm, drink 32oz of water from 3-4pm, and then hold till my appointment at 5:00.

Are you kidding me? Is this for real? I didn't need to hold any urine for any of the u/s I had past 8 weeks earlier in this pregnancy (at 12, 19, and 25 weeks); is there really a necessity to do so at 37 weeks to check for position?

Anyone who knows or has similar experience, thanks for sharing. At 37 weeks, I can't imagine holding 32 oz of water for 2 hours (or more, depending on the waiting room situation). Yet the person I scheduled with was VERY insistent.

TIA!

[StarMama]

I call BS as well. I've never had to have a full bladder to check on the baby after 20 weeks, and even at my anatomy ultrasound I simply went for a full bladder by *my* estimation (I drank about 14 ounces starting an hour before the appointment started). If I were in your shoes I would do that again if they wanted a full bladder (but at 37 weeks I'd drink a lot less ).

[nova22]

Originally Posted by StarMama

....I simply went for a full bladder by *my* estimation....

I did the same thing at my 18 (?) week ultrasound. I can understand why they want you to drink a lot of water for a really early ultrasound, but I can barely hold 8oz down these days and I'm only 25 weeks. I'm starting to wonder if there is some secret obstetric care panel that meets to discuss ways to torture pregnant woman...32oz of water in the third trimester, fasting for three hours for a glucose test, GBS screening...

[Kellyh_01]

Completely unneccessary!! Absolutely no reason to do that for a position ultrasound at 37 weeks. My midwife did one in the office last Friday, also at 37 weeks. I had an empty bladder and the transducer was on my skin for all of about 10 seconds. A full term baby's head is not something you can miss. All we needed to see is if the head was in my pelvis or in my fundus.

[finnegansmom]

LOL. I drank water before my 12 week and the tech laughed and said, go empty your bladder you are fine. And it was totally fine. if they are having troubling locating the 7-8# baby with their equipment, I would suggest they buy new equipment.

[Lyndzies]

Okay, so you are all confirming what I already knew... I thought it sounded absolutely ridiculous.

Thanks for the responses!

[honeybee]

That much water does seem ridiculous.

However, as they may also be looking at amniotic fluid levels also, I would just make sure you are well hydrated (as you should be doing regularly anyways) for the u/s.

[Monkey Keeper]

Yup....I had a position u/s at the peri at 36w3d, and I peed immediately before getting on the table!

[Galatea]

BS. They don't even make you drink water before a 20 weeks US anymore.

[butterflies]

Maybe this radiology facility doesn't do as many pregnancy scans? Because the idea of holding 32 oz is completely hilarious. I've had frequent u/s this pregnancy and the tech always tells me to empty my bladder before we begin.

[Stitches]

Don't do it! That is just cruel. Where I come from they tell you after 30 weeks no need for a full bladder. I'd say the person you were talking too had no idea what they were talking about (overly officious, first day on the job? Who knows).