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Pregnancy

should I pay for another gender scan?

21 replies

lavendar80 · 05/12/2012 09:50

Hi all I went for a gender scan at 17+5, the lady told me it looked more like a boy, as she said she could see the testicular shadow, and she went on to show me 2 areas which I presumed was the scrotum...really I didn't have a clue what I wear looking at! Anyway left the scan thrilled.....already have DS and I would be happy to have a boy or girl this time.
We went for our anomaly scan at 20 weeks and thankfully baby seems healthy. At the end of the scan we were asked if we knew the sex, I said-"yes, a boy", at which point she said that she would have guessed more girl...SHOCK! She showed us 2 white lines and a possible 3rd line in between...but baby started moving lots and so the rest of our views were limited.
So now I am confused....should I pay for a 2nd gender scan privately or accept team yellow status??!! Which scan sounds more accurate? Knowing me I will probably fork out and pay for another scan which will hopefully give me a definitive answer...I had a surprise with DS1 but this time not knowing is driving me crazy!
Thoughts on scans please?

OP posts:

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Wishfulmakeupping · 05/12/2012 10:01

Hi OP if you want to know for sure to be prepared then get another scan done privately, how far gone are you now- think if you are still around 20 weeks then you would be better off waiting a few more weeks as its more accurate then. But if you don't mind the neutral clothes then wait for a surprise? (we couldn't wait but we had to have a growth scan at 30 wks and have been told she is deffo a she :) )

weeblueberry · 05/12/2012 10:02

Depending on the place you did the private gender scan I would go back to them and ask for a complimentary recheck at 22 weeks. I know with Babybond (who my private scan was with) she confirmed that if I was told one sex there and another at the NHS scan they would bring me back in and recheck. So before you book and pay for anything, call the private clinic and explain to see what they say. Most have a recall procedure for this sort of thing.

thereinmadnesslies · 05/12/2012 10:05

We had the same situation - told girl first, then boy. It was driving me crazy not to know for sure so we paid for a baby bond gender scan at approx 30 weeks which was actually a really nice chance to see the baby again. Baby turned out to be a boy, as predicted by the 20 week scan.

mysteryfairy · 05/12/2012 10:11

I don't think you should. This will be a second scan for non medical reasons and I don't think it is absolutely certain that repeated scanning has no effect on the baby

YDdraigGoch · 05/12/2012 10:13

Why do you need to know the sex of the baby? If you don't mind whether you have a DS or DD, then what's the point of having a third scan?

weeblueberry · 05/12/2012 10:15

YDdraigGoch you can easily not mind which sex the baby turns out to be but still want to know which it is... Not everyone who finds out is necessarily looking to have one or the other...

SecretCervix · 05/12/2012 10:16

mysteryfairy, are you serious? My SIL had numerous growth scans during her pregnancy and her baby is fine, lots of people have to have more than the standard two. There is no evidence to suggest it harms the baby, I'll be having my third scan this pregnancy, all medical reasons but that isn't the point.

SecretCervix · 05/12/2012 10:19

in 2 weeks I'll be having my third scan this pregnancy that should say.

SantaIAmSoFuckingRock · 05/12/2012 10:22

if you can afford it, go for it.

SavoyCabbage · 05/12/2012 10:26

I would contact the place where you had a private scan and ask them if they will do another one. Congratulations.

BuntysFestiveCollocks · 05/12/2012 10:38

Your private scan place should offer a free rescan given the circumstances.

lavendar80 · 05/12/2012 12:02

Hi, thanks for the replies...in answer to some questions, I don't know why this time I really want to know the gender, I think part of it is 2nd time around I feel I have hardly any time to think about the baby growing inside as I'm so busy with DS1, working full time etc.....It would help me to start focussing more on DC2 I think. I am going to try contacting clinic I had 1st scan at and see what they say....if it's a no I think I might go ahead and organise a scan for next week, when I will be 22+3.
And as far as ultrasound technology in pregnancy I think there is no evidence that it harms the baby....and statements saying it does just makes mums feel bad, especially those who need them for medical reasons. Just my opinion.....

OP posts:

gardenpixies32 · 05/12/2012 12:45

If you want to go for the third scan, then do! I personally would want to know.

I had 14 scans when I was pregnant with my twins. They are now 9 weeks old and healthy as can be.

rrreow · 05/12/2012 14:32

Are you not getting a third scan as standard? My hospital now offers a growth scan at 32 weeks as standard. I'm not sure if it's NHS-wide or just the hospital I go to.

From what you describe it sounds like both sonographers weren't really sure to give you a definitive answer. When I had my 20 week scan last time they didn't doubt it at all that it was a boy (there was such a clear penis + scrotum! Got a picture to prove it haha). I think sometimes depending on how the baby is positioned/is moving it can be difficult for them to know for sure.

RileyTheLittleMonster · 05/12/2012 14:41

They told me I was having a boy, then girl, then boy, girl and finally boy we went with her instinct and it was a boy :-). You can never be to sure though!

Bagofspiders · 05/12/2012 14:42

I'm trying to work out how many scans I had for medical reasons. At 1 point they were weekly & went down to monthly. Must have had at least 15 I reckon! There's no evidence that they are in any way harmful.
I would go for it if you want to know. Good luck!

fairimum · 05/12/2012 14:46

i had 19 scans with my most recent pregnancy and DD is fine x

YDdraigGoch · 05/12/2012 18:22

Weeblue - but that desperate that you'd pay for a scan??

Dogsmom · 05/12/2012 18:33

Call the place you originally used and tell them, they will charge you but if they were wrong will refund it, they don't automatically do them for free because some people were abusing the service and telling fibs about the 20 weeks scan just to get a free rescan.

They don't tend to get boys wrong but from your post it sounds like they weren't certain, at my gender scan they told me they were positive (girl) and put our scan picture next to a boys and girls and it was identical to the girls, on the boys you could see definite penis & testicles, not just a shadow.

weeblueberry · 05/12/2012 19:57

YDdraigGoch Um....yes? Why else would people go for private gender scans unless there was a clear demand for them?

maximusminimus · 05/12/2012 20:55

I've having #2 in the US and I am being scanned at every single appointment (every 4wks to 28wks, and now every 2wks until 36wks, then every week). I'm not high risk and the scans aren't particularly long (3-5mins max each), but I can only assume that there's no associated risk with this high number of scans (compared to having a grand total of 3 during my first pregnancy with DD).

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