Sonographer referred to baby as 'he' during scan..

[dietcokeandwine]

...even though we had specifically said at the beginning that we don't want to know gender . It was a private scan we'd booked so that our two DC could get to see the baby (hadn't wanted to take them to the anomaly scan in case any problems detected). I'm almost 23 weeks and can't help feeling that she made a bit of an accidental slipup - she quickly corrected herself saying something like 'he, no I mean it' - and that she has, albeit unintentionally, told us we are having a boy...

DH reckons it's just as likely that they use the term 'he' as a generic one rather than saying 'it' all the time. Is that the case do you think (it sounds plausible enough) or is it more likely that the sonographer has inadvertently let the cat out of the bag? Should add that I would adore another boy (and secretly, I've always assumed this is another boy and every shot I saw on the scan seemed to indicate a willy ) - but we really didn't want to know before D Day and I can't help feeling a bit deflated that it might not be a surprise any more...

Hi there just wondering what sex your baby was in the end? Same thing happened to me!!!!

I've just come across this zombie thread and wondering what the outcome was. Has anyone had the 'generic' "he" which ended up being a girl?
Same happened to us yesterday :(

@TheRhythmlessMan we had it the opposite way round, the sonographer at our private scan referred to the baby as "she". She said she just has a habit of saying she as she has a daughter but I wasn't convinced. Although he is a boy!
It's still a 50/50 chance, either she did slip up and it is a boy, or it was just habit to say he and it could be a girl

I have no idea if my 20 week bump is going to be a boy or a girl, but I always refer to baby as he. Don't know why really!!

I’m a midwife and always refer to babies as he! It’s not intentional just habit.

Thank you for the recent responses. Good to know. Though she also printed out a photo for us and although we said we definitely didn't want to know the sex, I reckon I can see a little willy there- our sonographer was young and so perhaps a little experienced (though I may be jumping to conclusions)

I think it is just something they do. At my 20 week scan the sonographer kept calling my baby a little dude until she told us the gender. We are having a girl and she called her a little lady. I think a lot of sonographers just don't like to call the baby an it.

Re finding out the gender, each to their own. I didn't with my first but fell pregnant quickly with my second and wanted to feel closer to the baby so I found out. Out current baby is our 3rd and last and I found out simply because I want to be organised, I may end up on bedrest for some if not all of the last trimester so for me it pays to be organised. We don't have family help and my dh whilst great will be working and taking care of our older two.

Disregard what the sonographer said, congratulations on your pregnancy x

Surprised at how many sonographers still do this! I’m an academic and using the generic ‘he’ in academic writing is considered outdated as it’s not inclusive - it’s certainly not something that is taught to students when writing essays anymore.

Not sure what’s wrong with saying ‘he or she’ or ‘they’ rather than ‘it’

@dietcokeandwine

Thanks everyone - we will just have to wait and see.

Laurapalmer - I know you are right, and it might sound bonkers, but for me, knowing the sex for definite in advance of actual delivery would spoil the joy of giving birth. I love the fact that both my previous deliveries have been surprises, on the day, in the delivery room, with the baby to cuddle seconds after finding out the surprise! Tbh I even find it hard to get excited about friends' babies when they've already 'found out what it is' - you get the call / text about the birth and it's just like 'oh ok, the boy's here' or 'the girl's here' - no woo hoo factor at all, other than being pleased baby is healthy etc. Whereas when you don't know in advance, the announcement has complete wow factor. Finding out the surprise at a scan just wouldn't do it for me - I will never, as long as I live, understand why people would want to know in advance. But I appreciate everyone is different

Sorry whaaat? 😂😂 surely the birth of a new human life/ person is what is amazing (wow factor). What is “wow” about whether it is a boy or a girl? All babies will be identified as one or the other, along with roughly 50% of the rest of the planet. That’s like saying “wow it’s got brown eyes” or something and that’s what’s most exciting about having a baby 🤷🏼‍♀️.

It was generic for us- sonographwr referred to baby as "he" right up until she asked if we wanted to know the sex and "he" turned into "she".