Sonography slip up?

[footprintsintheslow]

Before I start I want to clarify I am happy with either a boy or a girl. We had the worst news possible at a 20 scan last year so we are just happy we have a healthy baby in there this time.

But what happened was...

Yesterday we had our 20 week scan, the sonography was lovely and knew our history. When we knew all was we well we asked NOT to know the sex if possible.

Then throughout the scan the sonographer used the term 'baby' but called it 'he' twice. I didn't like to ask as I didn't want to interrupt them when they were taking measurements. Also I wasn't sure if my husband noticed so I didn't highlight it.

Then she gave us the photo...
What does anyone think?

I'm not cross with the sonographer as she may just use the term he or it might be a slip up. It must be hard to not subconsciously say he or she once you've seen it on screen.

Looks like a girl to me- isn’t a horizontal nub indication of a female

I don't know about the nub theory. I just thought a sticky out but was a boy 🙄

*sticky out BIT

All our sonographers (and we had loads as I was scanned every other week from 28 weeks) said they used he as a default as baby or it were too impersonal. They said it was like an unwritten rule at different hospitals that they used either he or she.

OP they said DD1 was a boy.... and then they said it was a girl! Next scan (if you want to know the sex) ask them to see from below. Otherwise I personally don't trust anyone until I see it clearly. That could be a bit of leg or the umbilical cord.

Can't tell nub this late.

And that is not necessarily a boy, you'd need a shot from below so you can see between the legs properly.

That could still either be a boy or a girl.

I didn't realise you get get 'too late' to see the nub.

If we are back to square 1 and it could be a boy or a girl I think we'll hang on for a surprise then.

When I had my 32 week growth scan the sonographer kept referring to the baby as "she". We already knew we were having a boy. Maybe the sonographer just refers to all babies as she by default. I wouldn't necessarily think that she's given away your baby's sex.

Our hospital says he or him even when they know it's a girl. It's to prevent slip ups. So my scan would literally go something like: it's a girl, see the three stripes? That's the vulva. And half a minute later she would comment on "his" stomach and "him" swallowing.

Hmm interesting stuff. Thanks everyone for the reply.

I just thought the photo was glaringly obvious but what do I know!?

With my first baby, I was very clear we wanted a surprise & the sono grapher referred to he & him throughout the appt!! She turned out to be a girl 😊 I think as others have said it's more personal than it

All HCPs I've seen throughout my pregnancy have used 'he' by default, even well before a point where sex could be told; I think they just dislike saying 'it'.

I'm no expert so won't try to interpret the picture.

Contests on your pregnancy, hope everything is smooth sailing for you going forward xx

Thanks everyone, only another 20 weeks for our surprise!

There was a similar thread not long ago - it's just a turn of phrase - I'm sure they sometimes get tired of calling it baby or "it"

To be it looks like a boy as the nub is pointing up a bit

My best mate is a midwife. She said they use 'he' to describe the baby (when the sex is not known) so that it's clear whether they're talking about baby or mum. I have no idea why they can't just use 'it'!

@bumpyknuckles

My best mate is a midwife. She said they use 'he' to describe the baby (when the sex is not known) so that it's clear whether they're talking about baby or mum. I have no idea why they can't just use 'it'!

That makes sense I suppose.

I would possibly say girl from the skull, but I am no expert!

Erm, that's a 20 week scan
What you're looking at is legs and feet. You literally cant see a nub or genitals on those photos

Youd need what's called crassy a 'potty shot' at this stage.

OP you still have no idea what you're having. I promise.

It's super hard to tell if you aren't doing the scan but that looks more like umbilical cord to me. To be honest though you can make pretty much anything look like anything with the right angle on a scan, saw a radiologist post Marge Simpson the other day from a liver ultrasound . [not a sonographer though so don't take anything I say as gospel]

@ExCwmbranDweller off topic but I'm an ex Cwmbran dweller too. Great username!

@NotYourHolidayDick you've made my day with that. Obviously we want a healthy baby first and foremost but second to that I'd love a surprise!

Hey! How cool, I met the nicest people when we lived there. Had my children in the Gwent.

Sonographer here. That ultrasound image does not show any visible genitals. They can only be viewed from a particular angle, not side on. Everyone uses he or she, whatever they randomly say, in order to avoid offending people with ‘it’. It means nothing that they said he.

O could have posted this exact post right down to a previous devastating 20 week scan.
Sonographer said he numerous times.. I am adamant I wanted a surprise and was feeling a little bit annoyed .. we had a girl.

When my SIL sent us a pic of their scan you could definitely see a willy. Except the baby was a girl. (Presumably it was the umbilical cord.)

With my dB and SIL they were told by the sonographer that the baby was a girl. Except he came out with an extra bit! Luckily DB and SIL loathe pink!