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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Anyone had a private gender scan?

24 replies

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 15/10/2018 17:42

I’m debating having a private scan but am unsure how accurate it would be. We have an autistic ds and he’s so excited about the new baby but totally understand that our hospital scans aren’t for people to gawp at but actually diagnostic tools. We’d love to be able to take him to a scan though. I’ve had a look today and there are several places near us which offer various private scans. I’m 16 weeks and it seems they offer a sexing scan from this gestation onwards. Is it worth it? Should I wait a bit so it’s a clearer scan? We’ve already had 4 scans due to bleeding and previous miscarriage but I wasn’t able to enjoy them at all as I was so anxious about receiving bad news. I’m not feeling especially pregnant, I have no bump and thankfully my sickness seems to have worn off, and I think it would be rather lovely to have a scan that’s just to enjoy. At £60 it’s not too expensive. But are they a good experience? And is it worth waiting a few more weeks? Thanks x

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OutPinked · 15/10/2018 18:04

I had one at 16 weeks and it was brilliant. Took my three DC along because, like you, I wouldn’t take them to a medical scan. They loved seeing the baby in 3D. It was very clear and his sex was very obvious .

coffeekittens · 15/10/2018 18:08

I’ve had them with both of mine at 16 weeks, it’s our NHS trusts policy not to tell you however they do offer private scans a lot cheaper then other places. DD (5) loved finding out that she’s having a baby sister and was really interested watching the scan. Well worth it for me.

Stephisaur · 15/10/2018 18:13

I had mine at 17 weeks. There’s no doubt we’re expecting a boy 😂

I really enjoyed it because the images were incredibly clear and we were well looked after. It felt like a treat rather than a formality.

I think your DS would enjoy seeing his little brother or sister :)

Yogagirl123 · 15/10/2018 18:22

If you can afford it do it, a mum I know was told she was having a boy at the NHS scan, paid for a 3D one and was asked if she wanted to know the gender, it was a girl!

SoyDora · 15/10/2018 18:36

Yes, had them twice at 16 weeks and both correct (and very clear)

DeltaFlyer · 15/10/2018 18:42

I had one at 18 weeks and it was fantastic. Didn't have to but we did on Christmas eve and took both our mums - 1st grandchild all round.
The images were very clear and the sonographer was a really funny guy.
We had it done at babybond in Mothercare and it was 30% off.
When we went for our 20 week scan the images were rubbish so we were glad we went private 1st

EsmeeMerlin · 15/10/2018 18:47

I was really glad we did it with our ds2. Our eldest son enjoyed going, we would not take him to a medical one and we got some really clear photos which were much better than the ones we got from the nhs. It was also very clear baby was a boy and you can always double check at the 20 week scan if your hospital do tell you the sex of the baby.

Liland · 15/10/2018 18:51

I had one at 16 weeks - very clearly a boy! My 2 private scans have been much nicer experiences than my 3 perfectly fine nhs scans. They have time to point things out and just let you enjoy it :) The photos are great too.

Bluebell93 · 15/10/2018 19:00

I had one at 17 weeks and it was lovely. The sonographer was brilliant, said it was a girl and then gave us all the reasons why she thought so. At the NHS 20 week scan they said ‘it looks like a girl but it can be wrong so don’t go buying a lot of pink or anything’ (I assume as a caveat on don’t sue us if we’re wrong, but I’m glad we had the confidence of the earlier private scan to confirm the sex).

Original poster

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 15/10/2018 19:18

These all sound lovely experiences I think I’ll go ahead and book for this weekend

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BikeRunSki · 15/10/2018 19:22

We had one at 22 weeks. 20 week anomaly scan has been uncertain on sex. We took DS (then 2.8) - he couldn’t have been less interested. He’d decided that he wanted a brother. His reaction to being told the baby was a girl was “but we are having a boy too”. 7 years later he’s just about got over it.

Original poster

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 15/10/2018 19:30

Bikerunski, ds is 10 and absolutely determined that this baby is a girl. I’m hoping actually getting to see the baby will be his abiding memory of it rather than if his prediction was right!

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katie23913 · 15/10/2018 19:58

We had a private one too at 18 weeks. We went to babybond at mothercare and it was on offer for £39. It was really good too, she spent a long time with us and there was no mistaking he was a boy. I would say it was definitely worth it.

Mammybear3010 · 15/10/2018 23:13

Sorry to jump on your post but could anyone say if they think girl or boy off my 15 weeks 3 days scan please if they can tell me how to post a photo :)

Daisy2990 · 16/10/2018 08:04

I took my autistic son to one a couple of weeks ago st 16+2.
I am high BMI but gender was still very clear, even to an amateur.
My son got fussed over and loved it.

One word of advice... if they do a 4D freebie, you may want to do that before your son is in the room. Baby is really too small and weird-looking and sensitive children could find the 4D view scary IMO

8DaysAWeek · 16/10/2018 10:40

Haha Daisy that reminds me of when they did 4D on our son at 16 weeks during the gender scan and it scared DH! He did not like it at all, so good about for sensitive kids!

givemewaffles · 16/10/2018 14:35

We paid for a private gender scan with Babybond at mothercare too at 16 weeks and it was really good. We were originally just going to wait, but we had had some bleeding a week or so before and despite being scanned in the EPU and told everything was fine, it carried on and I needed to be reassured! The sonographer was lovely - although she struggled at first due to the babies position to determine that she was a little girl! The atmosphere was lovely and it felt like a real occasion :) you did get a little peek in 3D too but to be honest we couldn't really make much out of it. I would definitely recommend it :)

mumisalliam · 16/10/2018 14:45

I had a private gender scan at 16 weeks
It was incredible
I don't think I will ever forget that moment
My little boy (2) loved it even though he thought the 4d scan was a dinosaur??
We got a recording of the heartbeat into a teddy bear aswell
And had all the images online so was very good value for money

babystripes · 16/10/2018 22:13

I had one on Sunday at 18+1 day! Even I could see it was a girl! Private scans they won't tell you unless there sure!

Original poster

AwkwardAsAllGetout · 17/10/2018 07:08

I’ve booked it for Saturday when I’ll be 16+6. Ds is so excited and I think dh is practically bursting too. He’s even so worried about me before our other scans, I think it’ll be nice to have a more relaxed one just for the fun of it

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Sunflower2018 · 17/10/2018 10:26

I had a private scan as we wanted to find out the gender together and my partner was working away at the time. It was a nice surprise for him as he didn't know I had booked it until we arrived. I went with ultrasound direct and it was such a nice welcoming place. I was around 18 weeks at the time and I think it was £40 x

VSwin · 17/10/2018 11:09

I had a private scan at 15 weeks and it was amazing. We found out we're having a little boy. The only thing is that at this age they say they look a bit weird because they don't have any fat on them...and it's true our baby boy looked a bit like a gremlin....or Voldemort. We ended up passing on the pictures because I didn't want to immortalise him like that ha. I wasn't there for the picture I just wanted to know what we were having so I could call him or her by name and start buying stuff!!

I also had my 20 week scan last week and they confirmed it's a boy so I say go for it. xx

Flygirl94 · 17/10/2018 12:44

I had one at 16 weeks, was such a lovely experience. We didn’t want to be told in the room so they put it in an envelope for us to open when we were out for dinner later on. At the nhs scan 4 weeks later we pretended not to know just to see if we got told different, both saying boy

NewLevelsOfTiredness · 17/10/2018 13:11

Went with my girlfriend and her two little girls (4 & 8) on Sunday, my girlfriend was 16 weeks then. It took a while because the baby was determined to keep a leg in the way (my girlfriend had to get up and jump a couple of times!) but it was very nice, cosy and professional and the girls loved it.

They're not getting the little brother they hoped for though (although the 8 year old insists she only said that because she feels sorry for me being the only male in the house!)

It was very clear at 16 weeks, once she'd finally moved her leg out the way!

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