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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Is it very common for the sonographer to get the sex wrong at 20wk scan?

21 replies

Lavender2020 · 02/08/2023 21:10

Not too fussed either way and didn't find out with my 1st pregnancy. Only reason I'm considering finding out the sex at my upcoming 20wk scan is so that I can prepare a nursery/decide what clothes I can reuse from my first child.
But it has made me wonder, in your experience, have they ever got the sex wrong, or have you guys heard of this happening to anyone?
I'm just trying to work out how common it is (I am aware this isn't the purpose of the anomaly scan and also that they can never be 100% accurate)
Thanks in advance for reading ☺️

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CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair · 02/08/2023 21:13

I’ve never known anyone to be told wrong but I understand that you’re more likely to be told it’s a girl when it’s a boy than the other way around. It’s easier to miss something than see something that’s not there!

LadyGeorginaSmythe · 02/08/2023 21:18

I was told girl but had a boy. He's now 12, so may be less common now...I'm not sure whether sonography has moved on, though.

LoonyLois · 02/08/2023 21:32

I’ve known two couples who were told wrong, in both cases they were told girl and it was a boy. I’ve never heard of a case the other way around

Original poster

Lavender2020 · 02/08/2023 21:47

Thanks for your replies! Ahh yes that makes sense that it's easier to mistake a boy for a girl than the other way around.

Also this is exactly what I was worried about. Really considering not finding out at all now! It's a strange one because although we're happy regardless of boy/girl, it's like your mentally prepare for one or the other if you find out!

@LadyGeorginaSmythe oh my gosh! That must have been a shock on the day?😂

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whatwhhat · 02/08/2023 22:04

I have only heard of the gender being wrong once. A friend was having twins and they said she was having boy/girl but it was boy/boy. I'm not sure if twins are harder to see the gender.

I asked to know the gender of all of mine but in my mind always thought there was a chance it could be wrong. I also had later scans (growth scans and one where they needed to check circulation I think) and they were always happy to confirm for me. They always said the same (and we're right!)

PuttingDownRoots · 02/08/2023 22:09

The sonographer wouldn't commit with DD2 as she couldn't get a good angle. It was just "probably girl, but could be either".

We didn't particularly care about finding out so were happy to wait a few months before finding out.

(We knew DD1 was a most likely a girl at 12 weeks as the scan was done by the radiography professor who asked if we minded explaining early indicators of sex to his students! But he said they could be wrong at 12 weeks....)

monpetitlapin · 02/08/2023 22:10

It's possible, but mine were all correct.

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 02/08/2023 22:10

A very close friend was told at 20 weeks she was having a girl. Her and her DH chose her name (will call her Bella) , 'spoke' to her as if she was Bella, planned as if she was Bella and felt like they had formed a bond with / prepared for a girl. When 'Bella' came out as a boy it was a shock. They were obviously delighted that he was healthy and happy but she said she almost melt like she was mourning 'Bella' - not that she was fussed rather way whether she had a boy or a girl. More thar she felt they had built that bond.

SouthLondonMum22 · 02/08/2023 22:13

It can happen obviously but no, it isn't common. Especially now.

I had a private scan at 16 weeks to find out the sex, the NHS scan at 20 weeks which confirmed the sex and a 4D scan at 28 weeks which also confirmed he was a boy so I'd have been super shocked if a girl popped out. 😂

WithASpider · 02/08/2023 22:20

I was told Girl for DC2 and they were right, girl again for DC3 and he's a boy! I said 'are you sure?' when he was born.
It's far easier to confuse the sex on a regular scan.

PickledScrump · 02/08/2023 22:47

I know lots that have had gender scans but only 1 that was wrong. Told girl and was boy. We only found out with number 3 but we also had a 4D scan which confirmed for us

ThisMustBeMyDream · 02/08/2023 23:01

I'm a midwife and have only cared for one woman who was told she was having a boy, and it turned out a girl. I've been in midwifery for 19 years. This happened in the last year (I was the midwife at birth!).
It is rare to be wrong, but not impossible.

KenAddams · 02/08/2023 23:05

I got told was boy and it was a girl

Blueberr · 02/08/2023 23:07

I haven’t heard of anyone getting the wrong result. With my dc it was very obvious he was a boy. Maybe the issue with some scans is getting baby in the right position?

Mummyo1 · 03/08/2023 07:36

Just confirm with a private scan

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 03/08/2023 07:39

I've know 2 women have the wrong result and that's why I didn't ever want to know the sex when I had ds.

Original poster

Lavender2020 · 03/08/2023 11:17

Thank you again all for taking the time to respond.
Ahhh such a difficult decision now, as mentioned building a bond, calling the baby by it's name that you've chosen etc. I mean I know worse things happen and it's not the end of the world but it would be such a shock 😂

If I find out at the NHS one, I will defo be having a private one to confirm. But also scary how some of you have mentioned being wrong on 2 or 3 scans!

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ZacharinaQuack · 03/08/2023 11:20

My mum was told boy but I was a girl. They think it was just an ambiguously positioned cord... That was a long time ago though!

Paperbagsaremine · 03/08/2023 11:36

I suppose the only real concern is if any chromosomal testing says boy but then the baby appears to be a girl - you'd want to test for CAIS, Swyer Syndrome etc so that you and the kid know what to expect.

RagingWoke · 03/08/2023 11:55

I've known one person told girl and boy popped out. But it was 15 years ago and the mum was very obese so tech of the time wasn't as clear as it would be now.

A 4d scan would give you a reassuring view though if you want to confirm (also a peek at the squishy baby face!).

WoolyMammoth55 · 03/08/2023 11:59

None of my ultrasounds would commit but they all said they thought likely a boy (which it was both times!)

I didn't care which it was but wanted to know! I had the Harmony test which gives a DNA result - it was 99% to find out if babies were genetically healthy as I was an older mum. But 1% to know the gender for sure was a nice bonus!

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