Need Advice? Ask Your Question

Questions & Answers

Category: Prenatal Testing

Asked by a member

Q: OBS..can't hold my pee for ultrasound...intense anxiety thinking about it! Help?!

I have had 2 u/s thus far & both times I ended up in tears because I had to pee SO BAD. The thing is that my bladder was barely even half full. I am diagnosed with quite severe "overactive bladder syndrome". What that means is that my bladder will contract as if it is bursting when really it isn't even close to being full. It begins to contract violently at 8oz of fluid. My bladder is essentially useless. When I try to drink even HALF the amount they tell u to..I am in tears from the pain. It's hard for me to look forward to the u/s because I dread the pain. Thinking about it causes me extreme anxiety. & the u/s techs are always so rude & don't take my OBS seriously at all. How can I enjoy this experience instead of DREADING & LOATHING it? It sucks so much not being able to enjoy seeing my sweet baby :(. All I can think about is how happy I will be when its over (my u/s is tomorrow at 2). I am 24w..is it rly necessary to have a full bladder this far along?! I

This question was asked Mar. 6, 2013 12:02am
Category: Prenatal Testing

Answer This Question

Answers (8)

Answered by Marshaam - Apr. 15, 2014 6:05pm

Yes it is really necessary. If it wasn't necessary they wouldn't ask you to have a full bladder. There are two main reasons for a full bladder 1) it lifts the fundus of the uterus up away from your cervix so we can see and measure the cervix accurately (this is important). 2) the full bladder lifts the uterus out of the way of bowel and gives us a better window to see your baby.

The scans where you don't need a full bladder are the scans done in the first trimester aka transvaginal.

Yes, we can tell if you don't have a full bladder and can tell if you didnt drink the recommend amount in the recommended time window. So don't lie and say you did because we know you didnt and WILL send you back out to the waiting room to drink more. Suck it up buttercup. The ultrasound is a diagnostic test and its not intended to be done for your convenience and for your viewing pleasure.

Sincerely,
A Frustrated Sonographer

166 out of 370 found this answer helpful

Was this answer helpful? Yes No

Answered by kCharleneS - Mar. 6, 2013 11:37pm

I'd just lie and say you drank that much. The only time I've ever had to have a full bladder was in the beginning of my pregnancy. My doctor does all of my ultrasounds during my regular OB appointments and he always makes me pee first for my urine sample. Just say you drank that much. They will never know. There's no sense in causing you a ton of pain. Especially if you have a condition where you physically can't hold your bladder that long. They're just gonna have to get over that.

196 out of 367 found this answer helpful

Was this answer helpful? Yes No

Answered by Mommy~1Expectin~No.2 - Mar. 6, 2013 8:15am

you can drink 12oz before 1:30 and have a full bladder by your appt time my ob ALWAYS lets me empty my bladder part way once they get the measurments of my bladder my last ultrasound is 3/13/13 i hate having to pee but if it means seeing my baby again i'm quite happy :) I'm 33 weeks & 3days so i hurts quite a bit when i have to pee too :/ hope you get through it easily hun

193 out of 366 found this answer helpful

Was this answer helpful? Yes No

Answered by tickingbean - Mar. 6, 2013 6:52am

Can they do a transvaginal? I had to do my 12-weeks last time both ways because even with a full bladder, they couldn't get the measurements. And every scan after that was fine with a regular bladder. We did TV for all of them up to 12 weeks.

173 out of 366 found this answer helpful

Was this answer helpful? Yes No

Answered by LalaRiley - Mar. 6, 2013 6:28am

I was never told to drink anything specific before any of mine, and once the nurse asked if I needed to use the restroom first. Maybe there are different types of ultrasounds or machines used? I hope you get through easily, but I'd consider interviewing other doctors and switch if you find someone more sympathetic.

181 out of 354 found this answer helpful

Was this answer helpful? Yes No

Answered by lucyblue - Mar. 6, 2013 2:48am

I know how you feel hun!!

162 out of 330 found this answer helpful

Was this answer helpful? Yes No

Answered by lucyblue - Mar. 6, 2013 2:47am

The form I have for the ultrasound appointment says: "This examination requires an UNCOMFORTABLY FULL BLADDER. 32 ounces of water MUST BE CONSUMED one full hour before the scheduled time of the test. So if the appointment time is 2:00 pm - finish drinking by 1:00 pm. The patient is NOT TO VOID until after the exam. If patient is over 30 weeks pregnant, then 20-24 ounces of water is satisfactory. " All the parts I put in capital letters are actually in capital & bold lettering on the form. I called and asked if this was really necessary and they said if my bladder isn't full they will make me drink more water or send me home. That sounds totally ridiculous to me as I am literally PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE of doing what they ask of me. This is causing me so much anxiety :(

168 out of 334 found this answer helpful

Was this answer helpful? Yes No

Answered by Maybebaby - Mar. 6, 2013 2:09am

Every time I had a scan they requested me to fully empty it, it does make the scan clearer but not by much

164 out of 327 found this answer helpful

Was this answer helpful? Yes No

1

Answer This Question

You are not logged in.
Log in or Register to post an answer to this question.

Other Questions in Prenatal Testing