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Original poster

Has anyone had a private gender scan at 16/17 weeks and how accurate do you think it is??

37 replies

FollowMe · 15/03/2011 19:25

I went to BabyBond for a scan at 16 weeks. The sonographer said he thought it looked like a boy (I could def see something there between the legs too) but he also said sometimes its not too clear at 16 weeks so could we come back in a week to confirm.
I didnt really get why we needed to go back as it seemed clear to me, but went back at 17 weeks as requested.
At the second scan the same sonographer said it is a girl! Apparently the 'something' we could see at 16 weeks was swelling of the girl bits due to hormones.

I'm not sure whether to be convinced or not!! A couple of people have said 'well he thought it was a boy last week, how can he be sure this week that its a girl, it might be different again next time' etc

Is it a common thing to see the swelling of girls bits?
How accurate are these gender scans do you think?

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mungojerrie · 15/03/2011 19:49

I reckon its about 50% accurate ;)

We had one, they were right about her being a girl.

You'll have your 20 wk scan soon and that should tell clearly.

Loopymumsy · 15/03/2011 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

FollowMe · 15/03/2011 20:02

He did say about there being 3 lines that he could see as well.
When I asked if he was sure he said 'you can never be SURE but I'd say 98% sure' so he seemed pretty confident.
I just couldnt believe that there was something there that looked very much like a willy only a week before and now was gone!

Funny thing is, if I'd just gone at 17 weeks and they had said girl I would believe it completely. Its only because we went the week before and they said 'probably a boy' then, that I am doubting it!

OP posts:

harrygracejessica · 15/03/2011 20:13

I had one babybond scan just before 16 weeks and they got twin girls right and this time at just over 16 weeks and they got twin boys right too. Everytime they have taken a pic of the relevant bits and explained it all too.

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 15/03/2011 20:22

if you google how boy and girl bits develop in the womb, you'll see how easy it is to mistake girls for boys at the beginning. there is a link that keeps floating around various boards that has detailed photos and explanations, but I can't find it right now..

seeker · 15/03/2011 20:25

I don't think they are any more accurate if you pay for them!

DuelingFanjo · 15/03/2011 20:27

I met someone today who was told her baby was a boy but it turned out to be a girl! What seeker said!

MandaHugNKiss · 15/03/2011 20:28

I'm due to have a gender scan at 16+1 in two weeks... I'll report back with my experience!

JJWMummy · 15/03/2011 20:31

I've had gender scans done with Babybond with DS2 & more recently DD, both at bang on 16 weeks and both 100% right.
That said I still doubted it with DD, was totally convinced she was another boy!!
However, it was confirmed at 20 wk scan and we also forked out for a 4D scan at the same place, as it happened it was repeated times cause she wouldn't get into a good position, so again it was confirmed 3 times!!

All in we had it confirmed 5 times, but I didn't believe it till about the 4th time, and I still had to check again after she had been born, just to confirm

If you're still bothered about it after the 20 wk scan I'd say go for a 4D, bits can be seen clearly on that so very few mistakes made.

HTH

Geepers · 15/03/2011 20:38

I had a scannwith my twins at Babybond at 16 weeks and they said they thought it was a boy and a girl but to go back in two weeks to check. Second scan confirmed boy/girl.

I had two boys.

KittyChat · 15/03/2011 20:57

Just out of curiosity, why do people have gender scans this early? Is it just to find the gender or is it for something else you are worried about? Just wondering why you wouldn't wait till the 20 week scan?

FannyLogan · 15/03/2011 21:04

I had an NHS scan at 16 weeks prior to an amnio and it was 100% clear even to me it was a boy. The amnio confirmed boy.

AppleyEverAfter · 15/03/2011 21:05

My sis-in-law had late 1st scan at 14 weeks, they told her it was a boy, then the 20 week scan sonographer told her it was a girl. I now have a little niece so looks like the later you leave it the better!

MandaHugNKiss · 17/03/2011 11:57

Just to answer from, obviously, my own perspective, kittychat

My DS2 has just turned one this month. When I went for my 12 week scan with DP and he in tow (nobody to leave him with in the day, unfortunately), we were told DP would have to wait outside with him (even though he was quiet, happily sitting on DP's lap) Not even given the option of 'of he gets fractious, leave the room - fair enough)

DP pipes up last week that he's really not feeling connected to this pregancy/baby - I suspect because he hasnt seen it wriggling about on the screen. With a private scan we can either take DS2 in with us or arrange an evening appointment so he can be left with family. In addition to that, DP feels he'll also feel more connected to 'his som' or 'his daughter'. Was a it of a surprise as with DS2 he wasn't too pussed on finding out the sex but I guess not seeing the 12 week scan has had quite an impact on him.

FOr me, I'd happily wait until the 20(ish) week scan (and find out then! would like to know whether I can rewash all DS2's little bits or if we need little dresses!) but now it's booked I'm eager to get to the scan in the hope DP will start to feel more comfortable/connected (we have both sexes already so it's not even about desperately wanting one or t'other).

Sparklies · 17/03/2011 13:09

With DC2 I had a private scan at 16w2d - she said 80% boy but couldn't be totally sure it wasn't the cord or something as baby was in a bad position. At 18 weeks she was clearly all girl and she's now two - definitely a girl!

With this baby I had an NHS scan at 16 weeks for cervical length check, and the sonographer was kind enough to look and he was 100% boy. It was really clearly boy bits. It's been confirmed by amnio and about 8 scans since too (love being high risk..!)

eastegg · 17/03/2011 13:42

Was going to ask followme the same question as kittychat. Why make a special effort to find out the sex this early rather than wait for the 20 week scan? Surely the earlier it is the less accurate it's going to be so why not just wait? I hope these private firms fully explain the accuracy issue before you pays your money. If they do, it perplexes me even more why people do it.

Rosebud05 · 17/03/2011 14:18

I sort of think the same. If I was going to pay for a scan, then I'd leave it until nearer 30 weeks when the accuracy is higher and you'll be able to see so much more.

Otherwise, you can do the 'is it a girl, is a boy?' discussions for free!

Sparklies · 17/03/2011 14:28

It's pretty accurate by about 16 weeks if the view is good which is less likely that early, and usually very accurate by 18-20 weeks so long as there is a clear shot. So much depends on the view - sometimes baby is at such an angle that they can't even tell later on.

I think people who go for 16 week scans do so in the hope they will get a clear view which they often do. For lots of people, they are absolutely desperate to know as soon as possible, because it does help with bonding with the baby for them.

Most places will (or at least they should) give a percentage ratio on how likely they think that sex is.. nowhere really gives 100%.

Original poster

FollowMe · 17/03/2011 15:59

To answer the question on why I had a scan at 16 weeks instead of waiting for the 20 week one - there are a few reasons, that added all together made it worthwhile for us...

Firstly, I've got 2 older DCs who are old enough to be interested in the new baby and want to be involved in whats happening, but who are at school for the usual NHS scans. I thought it would be lovely for them to see their baby brother/sister themselves on the screen and they seemed very interested in doing so.
I didnt particularly want to take them to the NHS scans (even if they hadnt of been at school) as the main purpose of those is medical to check all ok with the baby and I didnt think it appropriate for children to be there. With a private 'for fun' scan after the NHS 12 week one, so knowing all was ok with baby so far, and that could be booked for a Saturday, it would be the ideal chance for the DCs to be part of it.

Another reason is that my eldest DC has autism. He finds it harder to understand about the baby in my tummy and wants to know exactly 'which baby is it?'. We felt knowing the sex of the baby and deciding on a name so we could give him more details on 'who the baby is' would help him understand it all better.

With the gender scan at babybond, you get a selected number of views during the scan in 4D. This being my last baby and added to the the above reasons, I thought why not hve the opportunityy to experience this myself? I'll never get the chance again!

Also, a lesser reason but one that influenced me a little bit when deciding to book the scan - is that my DH was very keen on having a DD ( I think one reason being that we are nervous of having another DC with ASD and I think that is much more likely with a boy). I know that if it was a boy he would come round to the idea, but I wanted to find out as soon as possible to start that process and so I could stop worrying about how he would react and so that he could get used to the idea well before the baby is here!

It says on the babybond website that the accuracy rate of gender scans after 16 weeks is >99%
So I am hoping that they are right this time too!!!
I like to be sure about things so I am glad to have had this scan already so when they tell me at me 20 week scan it will be an extra confirmation so I can be extra sure!!

Hope that answers your curiosity a little!

OP posts:

Loopymumsy · 17/03/2011 16:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MandaHugNKiss · 29/03/2011 11:40

Just remarking my spot, as it were, as it's fallen off my active threads and I'm having my scan this evening!

BornAgainDomesticGoddess · 29/03/2011 11:43

The best time to work out gender is around 12 weeks if you have a lateral scan shot. The 'nub' (that ultimately becomes either the penis or vagina) is different for boys and girls at this stage. It is fairly easy to work it out, if the nub is visible.

TigerFeet · 29/03/2011 11:44

I had an anomaly scan at 17/18 weeks, we were told we were having a girl. Confirmed at 20, 22 and 34 weeks. I did indeed have a girl.

elliesp93 · 04/10/2012 22:51

i've been told its completely fine to go for a gender scan at 7w by babybond. i'm doing it at 17 weeks as at my 20w scan they don't disclose the sex of the baby at the hospital i'm with, so i figured if i'm paying for it i may aswell have myself all prepared :)

picnicbasketcase · 04/10/2012 22:53

I had one at 23 weeks, they said it had to be after the 20w scan for some reason.

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