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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

how often do they get the sex wrong at 20 week scan?

29 replies

soppypreggyloon · 15/12/2010 09:20

basically i was expecting one thing but got told differently. i was totally thrown but am fine with it now as long as they are healthy etc.
but i can't shake the nagging feeling that they've made a mistake!

so how often do they get it wrong?

i think its the hormones making me wonder/ doubt them

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pinkpeony · 15/12/2010 11:11

Usually if they tell you it's a boy, it's pretty sure it's a boy. Sometimes if they tell you it's a girl, it can be wrong. According to my consultant (who did my scans), at the 20 week scan, they get it right 95% of the time (so still 5% chance they get it wrong). Had a friend who was told all through pregnancy she was having a girl, and a little boy was born at the end.

Original poster

soppypreggyloon · 15/12/2010 11:19

they said girl which is fine. but to be completely honest i hadn't realised i actually wanted another boy till they told us it was a girl. then i felt AWFUL for it! the shock has subsided as i was sure i was another boy and i'm just grateful if they arrive healthy and happy as i've had a fairly eventful pregnancy - food poisoning, car accident, early bleeding.

but i can't help thinking they've made a mistake! which is daft as i couldn't tell anything much other than large body parts - head, heart, legs etc so no way i would have spotted a willy or lack of.

i think i should just embrace the girlyness and if we are one of the 5% (which i doubt when i'm being rational) then at least we have all ds' clothes etc!

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StiffyByng · 15/12/2010 11:28

My best friend had a boy this autumn, when she had been told it was a girl.

But as you say yourself, best to embrace the thought of a girl and get excited about that, rather than hoping things will be different. I'm sure as time passes that will become easier!

pinkpeony · 15/12/2010 11:33

I was in similar situation - have a DS and thought I was going to have another boy! then at 20 week scan was told it's a girl. Glad I have the time to get used to it before the birth! Am now quite excited that will have one of each. Had another scan yesterday at 34 weeks and confirmed it's definitely a girl (he pointed out her girlie bits so no mistake there). You can always check with another scan if you have doubts!

nocake · 15/12/2010 11:51

It depends on the position of the baby. DW had a scan at 16 weeks that was very clear. At 20 weeks the baby was being a bit shy so the sonographer would only say that she what she thought it probably was but couldn't be sure. Even if they think they're sure it's still not 100% accurate.

smoggii · 15/12/2010 14:36

In each case i have heard where they got the sex wrong it has been that they were told boy but got a girl! We had a scan at 20 weeks then a 4d at 29 weeks both times they have said very modest girl... they think. We've embraced the idea it's a girl with our purchases so if it's a boy his first 6 months will be very pink!

mrspercival · 15/12/2010 14:52

I had a scan at 36 weeks. I'd had a rubbish 3rd trimester so asked whether boy or girl in order to give myself something to look forward to/feel pleased about. Was told that it looked like a girl. My gut feel was always boy. 4 days later I was induced and hey ho our son arrived, healthy.

bibbitybobbitysantahat · 15/12/2010 15:13

I had a girl first and was convinced all through my pg that I was having another girl. The pregnancy was quite similar - same level of sickness, same shape bump etc.

I had a long and detailed 20 week scan because the baby was in an awkward position and the sonographer, who was Spanish, kept referring to the baby as 'she' although we hadn't asked to be told the sex.

We had a boy!

I couldn't quite get my head around it for a nano-second, didn't think I could "do" boys, but am absolutely chuffed to bits with him now (as I would be if I'd had another girl, of course).

Petalouda · 15/12/2010 17:46

I've had a scan at 20 and 24 weeks, and checked both times.

And both times, he is definitely a boy - even to my untrained eye! I don't think there can be any way of getting that wrong!

And the lady said they did a study a few years ago at the hospital, and they had a 100% record. But that they couldn't publish that, so went for something more reasonable sounding!

CrazyChristmasLady · 15/12/2010 18:59

Oh god I knew I shouldn't have read this thread!

We have a DS and on his scan it was very obvious that he was a boy.

This time it was a difficult scan and we have been told that its a girl, 85% sure but as she was in such an awkward position I didn't think he would have said if he wasn't sure. I was already convinced it was a girl anyway. I saw the screen and it looked like a girl to me. We have our girls name and I have just got loads of amazing clothes from my friend, plus I have been buying pink.

I would have been very happy to have been having another boy but I am so used to the idea of a girl, plus we have been referring to her by name so DS gets used to the idea!

I could be in for a shock!

The sonographer did say they can pretty much guarantee it with boys, but girls are harder to see.

TooImmature2BMum · 15/12/2010 20:33

I was convinced it was a boy and the sonographer said girl. It took me a surprisingly long time to get my head around the idea but am beginning to get more used to it now. If she turns out to be a boy now I will be so confused! I won't get another scan as far as I know, so will just have to go on that one.

sarahscot · 15/12/2010 21:06

I'm also starting to worry about the pink walls and drawers full of girly clothes. Wish I'd never read this!!

1Catherine1 · 15/12/2010 21:52

I'm like TooImmature. Was convinced I was having a boy and was told at my 20 week scan that I am having a girl. My sonographer seemed convinced and even shown me between the legs and said "look, nothing there". It was quite convincing but I still have a niggley feeling when I walk into a baby shop and opt for the cream or white option rather than the pink one. I think I will feel unprepared if it is turns out to be a boy as I've now already spent the last 6 weeks always referring to her as "her", "she", "my daughter" or when speaking to my OH when she is beating me up from the inside "your daughter". I am also not expecting to get another scan so will have to wait until she comes to see if the sonographer was right or not!

CrazyChristmasLady · 16/12/2010 10:04

1Catherine my friend was really really convinced she was having a boy. She had a girl. Feelings are not always right.

SuzieHomemaker · 16/12/2010 10:15

When we had the 20 week scan for DS it was totally obvious he was a boy. We hadnt asked to find out but DS was keen to show himself off!

This was 12 years ago and the imaging was nowhere near as good as it is now.

hatsybatsy · 16/12/2010 10:22

out of all my friends, no one has had an incorrect scan - so the 95% figure seems rather odd as that would mean 1 in 20 were wrong so i should know at least 5???

felt the same at our 20 week scan - was convinced it was another boy although didn't realise this until sonographer said it's a girl! glad i had time to get used to the idea and was nice to buy pink stuff!

then in the delivery room, they took her away to be weighed and anaesthetist said "don't worry, he's fine, he'll be back for a cuddle in a minute" and there were a few seconds of panic - luckily a midwife overheard our conversation and shouted over "it's a girl!"

TwinklePants · 16/12/2010 10:29

Very interested to read this as I am convinced we are having a boy - although our scan is not until the 13th Jan. Will be interested to see if our instincts are correct - seems that that's not always the case!

Leilababyno1 · 16/12/2010 15:22

We had our 20 week scan yesterday, and our baby was being very naughty, not letting the sonongrapher measure properly. He was struggling to tell us the sex, but finally got a quick image in between the legs which he stilled and zoomed. He said that there appears to be nothing between the legs, so by his opinion we are having a baby girl!! He did mention though that his verdict isn't 100%. Still, I am going to start buying a bit of girly stuff but part of me won't be convinced untill she's (he's) born!

jcp123 · 17/12/2010 16:44

There are a number of messages indicating a feeling or instinct for one or the other which turned out to be incorrect.

Even if sonographer refers to he or she in passing that can just be turn of phrase and considered unreliable.

There seems to be relatively few posts who have been told by the sonographer that they can expect one sex then end up with the other, so purhaps 95% accurate is realistic.

I chose not to know the sex of my next baby (I'm 34 wks) but if I had I think that I would consider it to be a guideline rather than fact (unless proved via amnio/cvs dna analysis) to avoid disapointment - and besides, it's fun choosing two names!

AnnaLorak23 · 02/01/2015 08:39

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bubalou · 02/01/2015 09:19

I know one person who was told a girl. He was a consultant and him and his wife very excited and spent thousands of pounds on a nursery etc - all pink and girly.

Yes a boy came out.

But that's only one person I know of.

coastergirl · 02/01/2015 10:16

I know a girl who was desperate for a little girl, and was told at the scan she was having a boy. She was gutted, spent the next few months getting prepared and buying boy things. A girl arrived. She was delighted!

Tranquilitybaby · 02/01/2015 10:28

You can always book a private scan to double check. If you're near London, I can highly recommend the Fetal Medicine Centre.

Christelle2207 · 02/01/2015 10:46

I reckon it must be easier to tell for sure it's a boy- did you see a willy yourself?
At my 20wk scan last week sonographer said probably boy but he didn't sound convinced and I didn't see anything to suggest it. But then he turned and flashed his willy at me and we all agreed there was no possible doubt.

leanne963 · 02/01/2015 11:25

I had a private gender scan at 16w4d and was told girl. The sonographer showed me the bits and said that the tiny nub was the swollen female genitalia.

Well I will be suprise if next week they tell me it is in fact a boy ha! We will see if I will be one of the 95% or one of the 5% ha!

But as long as the baby is healthy

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