Has anyone had a private scan to establish gender? Would you recommend?

[electra]

I have had my 20 week NHS scan. I asked the sonographer to tell me if she could see baby's gender and she said it had its heel up but thought it looked like a boy. If it is a boy I would definitely like to know in advance because I already have two girls and no boy stuff at all, and I will struggle with names.

Has anyone paid for a scan to establish gender? Is it worth it iyo?

[mrsboogie]

I did - not purely to establish the sex but my nhs scan wasn't until 22 weeks and I couldn't wait. It will be worth it if you really want to know. As you are paying and because it is a sexing scan they wouldn't brush you off with saying they couldn't see - they would wait until he/she moved so that they could give you an answer (although they do say that its not 100%)

[electra]

Yes, apparently if they can't see you have a walk and then if they still can't see they will arrange a further scan free of charge.

[nailpolish]

my brother and his gf had a private scan - not only did they find out the sex but the got a dvd with a 'film' of their baby in the womb - like a moving 3D picture - its fantastic

[NellyTheElephant]

Like you I have 2 girls and really wanted to know in advance this time what I was having. Also like you I had (still don't have!) and ideas on boys names and no clothes etc for a boy. I was getting so impatient I decided to pay for a gender scan to put me out of my misery as I didn't want to wait until my 20 wk scan (which is tomorrow and actually at 21 weeks). So I had a gender scan 4 weeks ago at 17 weeks - it was amazing, really detailed - way more detailed than the NHS scans I have had, you could see all the facial features etc - wow!! and apparently I'm having a boy. She said she didn't give percentages, either she could see it or if she hadn't been sure she'd have asked me back for a further scan free of charge (which seems to be standard practice with private gender scans from what I have heard). For me it was worth it to find out (although I'm still worrying that at my scan tomorrow they will say it's actually a girl, and this despite the fact a have a very detailed picture of the boy 'bits!!). It's entirely up to you though - if you really want to be sure then go for it. It is a bit of an unnecessary expense i suppose, but for me it was important.

[mrsfossil]

Hi, I'm having the same dilema. At 20 week scan last week sonogreapher said she couldn't see any boys bits. This doesn't mean there aren'y any just that she couldn'y see them. My mw said to assume a girl because they arn't often wrong. We have 1 ds and really didn't mind which sex so i wish i hadn't asked at all. Now i feel i need to know definately so would like a private scan. Dh keeps saying its a waste of money because we will see the baby for real in just a few months. aaahhh!!!!

[electra]

Thanks for replies. The place I have heard about is babybond. Dd2 begged me to let her come to my scan at the hospitals but where I live they ask for no children to come. So at least she would be able to come to this one. I like to be mentally prepared - think it helps.

[BarbaraWoodlouse]

I did at about 23 weeks IIRC. It was Babybond at c.£75 (2 years ago)

It was nice to have confirmation of what we thought we already knew from the 20w scan, and as well as a professional assesment of gender and position the sonographer spent some time saying things like "chunky thighs" and "how cute" which was great

If you have the cash I'd recommend it but obviously it is in many ways a luxury.

[BarbaraWoodlouse]

PS DD still has chunky thighs and is indeed "quite cute" (most of the time)

[scorpio1]

i did, it was £95 for a 4d gender scan. was great!

[KKx]

I paid £250 full detailed 4D scan cd and pics 24 weeks. It was so expensive, but we thought it was great to find out.

[FarmerChristmas]

Think i was ripped off! We paid just shy £200 to find out the gender of DD. I had 2 DS's and was desperate to know whether to keep or get rid of all the boy clothes etc and make room for new baby.

At the 20 week scan they wouldn't/couldn't tell me and when I got outside I had a very pg hormonal fit of hysterics and wailed to Dp.I think he thought it £200 well spent just to calm me down (I went slightly control freaky during that pregnancy!)

At the scan, just bog standard stuff, we found out sex and got a very nice close up shot of her bits which I'm sure she'll treasure when she grows up!

[electra]

£200!! I don't think I would be prepared to pay that. But I prefer to know if possible - makes a lot of things easier in advance.

[SnowballsintheSky]

We used Babybond last year. About £80 for a gender scan and totally worth it. They were great and it was brilliant to know what we were having.

[cali]

We had 2 scans last year with BabyBond, 1st was anomaly scan as hospital where I was booked didn't do them. Wasn't going to find out but curiosity got the better of me and had a gender scan too.

Thought they were really good.

[electra]

That's good to know...I have an appointment with Babybond now - it is £79 which seems fairly reasonable. Thanks for replies

[tinkisahugexmaspudding]

we paid for a gender scan in 2-d and saw baby in 4-d as well definetly worth it.
couldnt tell us gender @ 20wk scan had legs together.
gender scan was great saw her bits and bobs really clearly.

[SnowballsintheSky]

That was the nicest bit actually, just having time to watch the baby and not feel like you were wasting their time instead of getting the screen swung round for 5 seconds and then back again. I don't mean that badly, just that obviously the hospital is there for medical checks and not so you can ooh and aah over your little king prawn on the screen!