How sure is "pretty sure it's a girl"?

[isaidno]

I had my 20 weeks scan last week, and I'm all excited that the sonographer was pretty sure it's a girl (I have 2 DS already).

Am I safe to buy a few pink things? And decorate the nursery a bit girly? How often are they wrong about the absence of a winkle?

[DontCallMeBaby]

My cousin and I (two years apart, different parts of the country) were told exactly the same thing: 'I can't see anything to indicate it's not a girl'. We both had girls ... I didn't rely on it to buy anything pink though, I don't know about my cousin! There's more to it than absence of a winkie, apparently there are two white lines to look out for on the sonogram (vulva*, I guess).

• I think this is the earliest in the morning I have ever used the word 'vulva', go me.

[belgo]

I think it's safe to buy a few pink things, as long as you keep the receipts!

I wouldn't decorate the nursery girly yet though.

[Bky]

I would buy the pink and keep the tags on just in case. We have had THREE pretty sure it's a girl this pregnancy.

I had to have two 20 week scans as baby wasn't in a good position to measure and they both thought it was a girl. We also went to a free 4d sexing scan that a local company was offering and even they couldn't tell for sure as baby refused to open legs.

I am 37 weeks now so not got too long to wait to find out for sure. I think I would be wary of going crazy with the spending though, I think girls are a harder to recognise than boys.

[PortAndLemon]

If they give you a percentage for "pretty sure" they normally say 70%. I know people online where a "pretty sure" girl turns out to be a boy, but in real life everyone I know who's been told that has indeed gone on to have a girl.

[belgo]

oh my sil was told 'probably a boy' and that turned out to be a girl

[isaidno]

I have bought one pink dress... couldn't help myself!

[ceebee74]

I got told at 20 week scan 'I think it is a boy' and she wouldn't say anything else - but I couldn't resist buying a few 'boy' things (baby was due during the World Cup 2006 so there were loads of really cute England outfits around ) but still decorated the nursery neutral as we were not sure. Turns out it was a boy after all.

[Botbot]

I think they say that sort of thing to hedge their bets, so you don't sue them if it does turn out to be a boy. There is always a slim chance they'll get it wrong.

Mine said 'it looks like it might be a girl' - similarly vague. She's a girl. I think if they genuinely don't know, they'll say so.

We decorated our nursery when dd was 14 months old

Yep, buy pink but keep the tags on.

[goingfor3]

Mine said that I am having a girl, she said she could see the shadow of the labia. I have bought quite alot of pink, not that I needed to as I already have 2 girls, I hope she was right!

[PortAndLemon]

With DS the ultrasonographers both just had to vaguely point the probe in the right direction for a second and then confidently said "it's definitely a boy". This time we've had one "I'm not sure ... [scans some more] ... looks like a girl ... [scans some more] ... yes, I'm pretty sure it's a girl" and one careful scan of the relevant area followed by "yes, I'm pretty sure that's a girl". So I think there are different levels of being sure.

[isaidno]

Thanks everyone; sounds like I should be able to use the pink dress!

As for the nursery I will only be using paint, not expensive wallpaper / matching cot bumper / etc so if baby does have a willy a quick repaint will be required!

I actually have another scan at 34 weeks due to low lying placenta so I can ask them to double check then.

[LOVEMYMUM]

Am 38 weeks pg. Had 21 week scan by Prof Leonides in Harley Street who said "definitely a girl", NHS scans at 22 weeks and 36 weeks (cos LO was breech but now turned) both said looks like a girl.

Have only bought white things and no pink. Mind you, i still can't believe I'm pregnant!

[twelveyeargap]

I just had a gender scan done and only because we got a very clear pic of the penis and scrotum, am I sure it really is a boy. But it took 45 mins (it was a private scan at 17 weeks because we're impatient!) to get the baby in the right position to see for sure.

With last pregnancy, on my 20 week scan, there were two sonographers in the room and both were "sure" it was a girl. "Pretty sure" could mean, "the umbilicus is in the way, but we can't see a penis poking out from behind it."

Buying pink things and keeping receipts would be ok in your case, I think, but you need to hold off until nearer due date so you're within a reasonable return time and in the same season! I wouldn't go decorating unless you have another scan. Gender scans are much cheaper than the 3D/ 4D ones and spending £75 on a scan to be sure, is cheaper than decorating an entire room in pink and then feeling like you want to change it if the sonographers made a mistake.