To find out the sex at 12 weeks

[Apples78]

I’m hoping to have a Harmony test at 10 weeks, which means that if I want to I can find out the sex at just 12 weeks. Has anyone else done this? It seems almost too early to find out in some funny way, but DH is keen! I’m not sure whether to find out now or keep it as a surprise for the 20 week scan...

Jees how much will that cost you?!! Just wait another 4 weeks and get a gender scan at 16 weeks.

I had the harmony test but it was offered after a previous genetic loss. In my experience it's for people with concerns rather than for people who want to find out their baby's sex early. I found out DD was a girl at 10 weeks pregnant but that was due to fears about her health after we lost a baby.

I did! Harmony test at 10 weeks and results back at 10+6 so I knew the sex and chromosomal probabilities really early. The NHS didn't do the 12 week scan and abnormality testing as I already had these results so a saving for them and cost me 400 quid. Worth every penny as an older mum, the peace of mind was incredible to have so early and knowing the sex meant when I told people I was pregnant I could say with a X and avoid bump speculation 🤣 I loved knowing from so early and I was excited for the whole pregnancy. With my first I found out at 20 weeks and I don't wish I had waited second time round, especially as my second was a different sex so I could sort what stuff to keep. Good luck!

I did the harmony. I wanted the most accurate result available.

We actually found the sex out at the scan before... I think was it 10 weeks! I asked the lady to tell me her guess and she said... well I think I can see little boy bits!

I loved finding out early... for me it helped with bonding but obviously it was more for the autism risks etc.

Oh and good luck! X

The Harmony test is a genetic and chromosomal profile so it is primarily an anomaly scan. Of course, it will look for specific chromosomal abnormalities that are linked to sex so you will find out the sex.

I think it OS possible, if you rest too early, to have the test before sex is fully established in foetus so you may get a nil return on the sex.

It cost £400 for this test in England unless you have markers or history for genetic or chromosomal abnormality.

And, at the end of the day, how much would you care about the sex if you find out your developing embryo has a life-limiting disorder? 🤷‍♀️

If people actually read the post properly Instead of jumping on this poor women! She never said she was having test to find out the bloody sex she was having test anyway and knows you can find out sex so was asking if she could or even should! Jesus honestly there's some nasty bored housewives on here! 🤷‍♀️

@ameliathomas84 didn't think my response was nasty, I just explained why I had the scan and I mentioned my lost baby. DD is now here and very healthy, and as I said yes we did find out the gender when we got the results. No judgement here. But thanks.

devilishlygood sex is established the moment of conception so as long as there's enough foetal DNA in the blood to do the test then you can find out the sex.

We did the harmony test and found out the sex really early. It was a lovely moment finding out and I think will be just as lovely whether you find out at 12, 16, 20 weeks or when the baby is born!

We did although we waited until after the NHS scan at 12w to have it done, as I was worried about a MMC and still getting charged £200 for the scan element of the Harmony if it was bad news. So we knew what we were having (as well as the chromosome testing- there's zero screening in NI unlike the rest of the UK) shortly before 14w. I have no regrets about finding out that early.

There's the added benefit of the sex being essentially 100% accurate as they're testing the chromosomes, rather than a scan which aren't always reliable.

I had NIPT and found out sex at ten weeks. Wasn’t my primary focus, obviously, but after knowing he didn’t have trisomies, knowing he was a boy so early has been awesome!

I did the harmony and found out at 10/11 weeks. We loved it. I would definitely recommend. We didn't have major concerns about genetic abnormalities but wanted to check and be prepared if necessary and wanted to know the sex.

Similar situation OP. We had Harmony test done at same stage as you as we were worried about chromosomal disorders due to 5 years of unexplained infertility followed by 2 miscarriages. So with this one decided to have Harmony after 2 early private scans showed a baby measuring right for dates and a heartbeat. I didn't want to know the sex and so they popped it in a sealed envelope for me, I'm 19+2 now and the envelope is still sealed. Maybe do the same and then open it when you feel ready to? Good luck for the test results with the trisomies hopefully coming back low risk.

amimissingsomethinghere, I do not think that the harmony test can give you any information about whether or not a baby has autism. I think that it checks for conditions such as Downs Syndrome which can be diagnosed through looking at a baby's chromosomes.

I had the harmony (for medical reasons) and opted not to find out the sex so you can do that if it feels too early?

Harmony/NIPT can't detect autism. It's not a chromosomal issue.

OP, personally I'd be wary of testing for the sex that early. If that's all you want to know though you can get a test specifically for sex for around £80.

Jees how much will that cost you?!! Just wait another 4 weeks and get a gender scan at 16 weeks.

Or another 8 weeks and you don’t need to pay anything - I’ve never understood spending money on a 16 week scan either when you get a free one just 4 weeks later. Hardly a lifetime of a difference

@PuffHuffle5 it depends on the Trust. My NHS trust stress that the anomaly scan is not a gender scan and they will only tell you the sex at the discretion of the sonographer and whether the baby is in a favourable position. If I wanted to find out the sex, I would pay for a private scan.

There seem to be some posters on this thread who think I’m having the Harmony test just to find out the sex. Why would I spend hundreds of pounds just to do that? I’m having the Harmony test for other reasons and finding out the sex just happens to be a byproduct of that.

If people actually read the post properly Instead of jumping on this poor women! She never said she was having test to find out the bloody sex she was having test anyway and knows you can find out sex so was asking if she could or even should!

Exactly - thanks @ameliathomas84!

@Apples78 honestly hun I've had it myself when I wrote a post people have nothing better to do than jump on you and start with insults! I feel sorry for them and their sad sad lives that all they have to look forward to is insult and argue online! If I was you go for it! Doesn't matter when you find out! I paid for a scan at 16 weeks as my other children were desperate to find out! All these saying they don't understand what it matters blah blah blah he well it's nowt to do we them! Hope the test is all ok xx

I personally wouldn’t spend £400 unless my 12 week NT tests had come back higher risk. I’m paying £45 at 16 weeks for a gender scan, much more reasonable! I’m desperate to know the gender this time around but I can spend £400 on mini break somewhere for the sake of waiting 4 extra weeks!

But if chromosomal issues are a real worry or something you need you mind eased & you can afford £400 then go for it! Don’t just do it for the gender though, it’s so much money!

But if chromosomal issues are a real worry or something you need you mind eased & you can afford £400 then go for it! Don’t just do it for the gender though, it’s so much money!

Of course I'm not doing it just to find out the gender, that would be crazy!

I'm an older mum and a real worrier, so I would really like my mind put at rest over Edwards, Patau etc. I've read lots of other threads on MN where people said it's worth every penny, so although it is expensive, I think I am going to go for it.

@Apples78 we chose to find out with the Harmony results - I just preferred to know. And as others have said, sometimes they can't see or refuse to say at the 20 week scan.

£400 might be a lot to some people, but everyone has their own preferences on what they spend money on. For me, it was better money spent on that than buying a new pram system (we saved over £400 getting a good condition second hand one)! 🤷 Equally if the OP is already having Harmony, why would she spend an extra £45 on a scan at 16 weeks that is less likely to actually tell her the sex?!

I was lucky to be part of a hospital research programme so they did the test for me. Over 40

Yes to doing it, as for sex entirely personal. There’s not much in it