First Ultrasound and Baby Moving First Time

When you feel the first kicks can depend on the positioning of the placenta. I had an early US and they told me that I wouldn't feel kicking until about 21 weeks because my placenta was in the front and would block the feeling. The first felt like "flutters" and over time they got stronger. I so enjoyed feeling her moving, napping, then moving more, and hiccuping!

As far as water drinking for an US, I could never drink the amount of water they told me to, and I always had WAY too full a bladder. So we're all different.

Enjoy your 2nd trimester, I remember it being great for me. (I was still running into my 7th month, then all of a sudden I got "big" and had to slow down). Towards the end, you will not feel this is over too soon :) I didn't believe that would happen until the last couple of weeks, and then I was ready for this to be over! Good luck!

I drank a ton of water for our first ultrasound (ever, I was 10 weeks and they couldn't find the heartbeat.....) and regretted it! I was in so much discomfort and pain because my bladder was so full and they were horrible about letting me go even a little.

For every ultrasound afterwards (subsequent pregnancies), I only drink ONE bottle of water. They have had NO complaints about trouble seeing clearly. And I have been comfortable during the ultrasounds wich can take up to half an hour sometimes.

I think with our first viable pregnancy I was around the 20 week mark when I felt butterflies in my stomache. It was the coolest feeling EVER! But I wasn't all that sure of what it was at first. With our second viable pregnancy I felt him kicking quite a bit earlier but I think that was because I just knew to recognize it.

With my first pregnancy, they didn't require a full bladder for the ultrasound. With the second and third, they did. I think it depends on the dept policy (I had my first child at a different hospital than the other two). I was told to drink 32oz of water starting 1.5 hours before the ultrasound and stop drinking one hour before the ultrasound. In other words, I drink 32oz of water in 30 mins and then an hour later had the ultrasound.

I think Michelle M gave you a great answer! Congrats on your first baby!! I remember being nervous that I hadn't "felt" baby move and asked a friend of mine what it really feels like. It'll feel kind of like tiny little gas bubbles. My first would start to move mostly at night when I was trying to fall asleep...she was getting an early start on keeping mommy up at night! :) As far as the full bladder for the US, definitely follow orders. They need the full bladder to get good pictures of certain things (I don't remember what b/c it's been a few years since I had my last one). My US techs were usually really nice and made sure I was comfortable. If it was getting to the point where I couldn't hold it anymore, they'd let me go to the bathroom and then come back for the pictures of just baby (the ones for us to take home). Enjoy your US!

Usually for the 20+ week ultrasounds they want you to be hydrated! a bottle of water is a bit much. And remember if at any time you need to pee really bad, just let them know, they know they understand and are more then willing to let you go a little. I just went in for a 20 week and they had me come hydrated they did about 20 minutes into the u/s then had me go to the restroom and empty my bladder then they finished the u/s.

Baby's movement varies on each pregnancy and where the placenta attaches. if your placenta attaches in the front you are less likely to feel movement, especially early on. I am 21 weeks with my thirds and feel a lot of movement, but I did not feel this much this early with my first two. Hopefully you are getting a few flutter kicks...although being the first pregnancy you may not notice what they are. The easiest way to notice is to have some juice or something sugary then lay flat on your back and see what you feel. Give it a little time just in case the baby is not active right away.

Congrats on your first baby and for feeling better! Before you know it you will be showing a big ol' belly! And then it seems like time stands still as you are desperate to not be so big anymore!!! LOL

As far as water,I think that I drank about 20 oz, 1 1/2 hours before. They told me to drink 24 oz and to have it all drank about 1 hour before the appointment time, if I remember right. An ultrasound is so cool! :) congratulations...you'll enjoy seeing your baby for the first time. I felt my little girl move somewhere between 18-22 weeks. Having the ultrasound actually reassured me. I thought I had been feeling some movement, but when you have never felt it before, you're not sure what it feels like, & it's also not very strong when they first start moving. Having the ultrasound convinced me that she truly was moving, because I could see her! :)

I drank a ton of water and was actually told to go to the bathroom because I had too much water in my blatter!! Such a releif!!!

I think I felt her move around 5.5 or 6 months. The movements were very very small at first (I first felt it while sleepping on my tummy... she didn't like it).

Enjoy it and get as much sleep as you possibly can and see every movie you want to see and read every book you want to read over the next 4 months!

Hi! I just scheduled my 20 week ultrasound for my 2nd child and they told me to come with an uncomfortably full bladder. I remember with my first pregnancy I felt the baby move right after the ultrasound, so approximately week 20-21. But, I can certainly remember feeling worried about everything being okay...I actually feel the same way with this pregnancy too. Just can't wait to see my baby and receive some reassurance that things are good!
Good luck!

I noticed first movements around 5 1/2 months. Felt like a butterfly was fluttering around. Enjoy the ultrasound - bring a VHS tape (or maybe even a CD). My tech was able to record each of our ultrasounds - I later made video for grandparents as a gift. If interested, you should call and check what to bring.

do what they tell you. i know i had to have a couple ultrasounds with a full bladder. it helps them with something, though i cant remember exactly what. they dont put you through it long, they do their quick measurements or whatever, and they let you go to the bathroom. i had an ultrasound much earlier than you are having yours! LOL
just go with it. :)

i felt my baby moving VERY early - they say something like 18 weeks you should feel it but i know it was earlier than that. ;) its the cutest feeling ever. :)

anyway, just drink a full bottle or large glass of water. :)

I drank a full 24 oz of water one hour before my ultrasound. like the previous poster said they do some pictures then have you empty your bladder and they do more pictures. I felt my son move at about 16 weeks, no denying it was good kick he kicked the table i was sitting at and my husband said what was that. i said wow i think that was a kick. my son was a VERY VERY active baby and that didn't end after he was born. lol. my husband was able to feel him give really good kicks around 19 weeks. it was easier to see him move then for other people to feel him move. i hope all goes well with your ultrasound. We spent a few months looking at the ultrasound and seeing what else the baby looked like. my son kind of looked like a bear, ha ha ha

I can totally relate to all that you are feeling right now. With my first, I didn't feel him moving around until I was around 28 weeks. I found out at the 20 week ultrasound that the placenta was in the front which makes it more difficult to feel his movements. I was so nervous during my first pregnancy (after trying for 2 years to get pregnant) that we rented a fetal doppler to listen to his heartbeat when ever I wanted. It was so reassuring to hear it when I couldn't feel him moving around in there.
My doctor told me to start drinking the water an hour before the appt. By the time I got there, I was so uncomfortable, but they take a look at what they need to see with the full bladder and then let you relieve yourself before finishing the rest of the ultrasound. I guess it helps lift the placenta up or something.
Don't worry about the pregnancy going too fast. The first portion of my pregnancy was a breeze, but once I got to 8 months it slowed way down. I was extremely large with both my babies, my belly measuring at least 3cm larger than the amount of weeks I was. With my first I retained a ton of water, so in addition to having a huge beachball, I had elephant ankles too..lol. Looking back it seems like it went by fast, but I vaguely remember in that 9th month feeling completely ready to be done with it and have my baby in my arms already!
Enjoy it all! And remember, every pregnancy is different. My first and second were complete opposites!
Congrats!

I don't remember much about my first pregnancy (my son is 10.5) but my second pregnancy I fully remember because it was a high risk pregnancy because my first pregnancy resulted in a baby with Down syndrome. My first ultrasound was done at 10 weeks so they could do some measurements to see if this pregnancy was going to be another down syndrome baby. I had to have a full bladder shock beyond shock the ultrasound tech informed me that my high risk pregnancy took on another high risk, I was carrying identical twins. I had tons of ultrasounds. The ones that they told me to have a full bladder was the 10 week one, the 20 week level two ultrasound and the 24 week level two (I had two level two's because the doctors were worried about twin to twin transfusion). All other ultrasounds that I had (2 a week starting at week 28). Even though I didn't have to have a full bladder I always ended up half way through the ultrasound having to empty my bladder. I felt the girls moving around rather early - I think it was just because there were 2 in there.

Ask the question whether your placenta is anterior or posterior. My firstborn was anterior which meant I felt about one kick a day on the side for the whole pregnancy. The placenta was blocking the movement. With my other two it was posterior and I felt everything from about 14 weeks. Good luck!

I had several ultrasounds during my first pregnancy because of some bleeding and growth issues...my first one at 7 weeks was one where you needed a full bladder and I had to drink a couple bottles of water an hour beforehand.

At about 5 months I had the typical ultrasound that most moms get now, and they never told me to drink anything specific beforehand. (I remember being very relieved to NOT have a full bladder..you never saw anyone run to the restroom faster than me after that first ultrasound with the full bladder!)
I wouldn't think you'd have to drink too much too far ahead...otherwise you'll be crossing your legs in the waiting area!

As for feeling baby moving...I felt my first kicks during my first pregnancy around 20-22 weeks...and around week 14 during my second pregnancy. You are probably feeling it and just not realizing it. My ob also told me that he believes that a woman's nervous system doesn't recognize these new feelings with the first baby, but that your brain learns the signals during the first pregnancy and can recognize them the second, third, fourth time around much better.