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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Sexing scans - how reliable?

21 replies

Cheekster · 03/03/2008 14:05

We recently found out from our 20 week scan that we are expecting a boy. She showed us the anatomy and seemed sure enough - she didnt give us the 'I can only be 90% accurate' as I know many get. But I had a dream last night that he was actually a she and I had to change the nursery and take back all the boys clothes I bought.

Anyones experience of incorrect sexing from a 20 week scan - please do tell.

OP posts:

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itchy8 · 03/03/2008 14:36

all my scans have been right especially the boys if you know what i mean!!!!

Overrun · 03/03/2008 14:37

Its is extremely unusual for them to get it wrong that way round, more common the other way. I researched this when I was told my dts were both boys, as was really hoping that had got one of their genders wrong They hadn't of course

catsypug · 03/03/2008 16:00

Well - I asked this a while ago too. Not many people replied so I guess it is rare for them to get it wrong these days, and from all the internet research I've done on the subject, it does seem that it is more common for them to guess girl and be wrong than the other way round - although I have seen stories of them wrongly guessing boy too.

My 20wk scan 4 weeks ago was a really odd experience. Our Sonographer said that she really wasn't sure but thought it could be a girl, but that she wasn't going to put it on the report and told us not to go buying any pink. We'd actually asked if she could write the sex down for us so that we could open it later and she was really funny about even doing that - as if she just didn't want to commit to putting it on paper - even just for us, let alone the report - so I took charge and told her to just say what she thought (talk about dithering!!!)- the word I remember her using was 'ambiguous'

We really wanted to know for sure to be able to tell our DD1 (plus DH was REALLY hoping for a boy!) So - I'm just assuming it is another girl which of course will be lovely (and already dreaming up names) and then if it's otherwise then it'll be a really nice surprise. (Would still really like to know for sure though - but can't really justify spending £80 on another scan - especially if baby unco-operative again).

Interesting you mention dreams because I've been having loads of girl dreams! Plus, before the scan I did feel like this one was a girl too, just because I look and feel similar to how I was with DD1.

Good luck

mears · 03/03/2008 16:03

Sexing scans are not 100% so that is why sonographer will not commit.

I have seen it wrong only a handful of times though - one last Monday!

Truffy18 · 03/03/2008 19:03

A friend of mind has just come out of hospital after having her second child. The lady in the bed next to her had been expecting a girl (already had 2 boys). The NHS 20 week scan said girl and she paid to have a private 3/4d scan which claimed to be 99% accurate and also said girl. Alas, out popped a boy! She had painted the nursery pink etc and was going to write a formal complaint to the private scanning place so maybe you can't ever be too sure - having said that, I bet her story is rare.

I'm 30 weeks pregnant with second (already have boy) and was told at 20 weeks it looked like a girl. Having a private, 3/4d scan next week to check as I'm so desperate to know! (also checking my placenta as it was low-lying). In 9 weeks I'll let you know how accurate they were!!

pedilia · 03/03/2008 19:07

I am PG with number 4 and all my sexing scans have been right so far, but they can never be 100%

LittleMissTickles · 03/03/2008 19:09

My DD1 was going to be a Nicholas! She is 4 now, so perhaps outdated information already. They were accurate with DD2. If I were you I would assume that your baby is a boy, but hold back just a touch on the shopping, just in case.

LittleMissTickles · 03/03/2008 19:10

Oh, need to say that with DD2 the scan was so clear that I could see for myself that it was a girl, so we had no doubts at all then.

TheDuchessOfNorksBride · 03/03/2008 19:21

Snap! with pedilia.

This pregnancy is almost definitely a boy, the sonographer was able to zoom in and it looked very clear and the cord was also visible, so not a mix-up!

Original poster

Cheekster · 03/03/2008 19:40

Thanks for all your comments, but I think you may be right with the comments about holding off with the shopping.

We are keeping it a secret from the family that we are having a boy so to be honest we cant do much shopping for 'blue' we know we would probably see someone if we did.

We too are going for a 4d scan in 8 weeks time so I will keep you all informed as to what they say then. Keep us up to date Truffy when you have your 4d scan.

OP posts:

FourPlusOne · 03/03/2008 20:35

I only know one person who asked rhe sex of the baby and it was wrong. She was told it was a boy, and also had a couple of late scans for other reasons, and they confirmed again that it was a boy. She had a girl.

Saying that, I don't know of anyone else who this has happened to - it seems to be uncommon.

JingleyJen · 03/03/2008 20:38

Our 20 week scans both times were very clear cut.
if you imagine looking up the toilet when someone is sat on it, that was the view we got of both babies it very clearly showed a willy and 2 testicles. both times we got a print of that shot.

20 weeks later we had boys both times. haven't heard in rl of any friends or acquaintances where they have been wrong with suggestion of a boy.

maxbear · 03/03/2008 21:03

I looked after a woman several years ago who was told she was having a boy. Once the baby was born 'he' went up for a cuddle with mum, skin to skin but covered with a towel so that 'he' didn't get cold. About 10 minutes after the birth I suggested that they should just check that it definately was a boy. It wasn't, they were delighted with their girl thankfully. Ever since I have checked straight away though!! In 14 years I have come across three or four who have been incorrect.

Truffy18 · 04/03/2008 18:46

Will do Cheekster! Only a few more days until I hopefully find out for sure! I think if I see with my own eyes in 3/4d then I will actually believe it!

gem1981 · 05/03/2008 12:06

hello

we had a private scan (family history of probs) and they told us we were having a girl

then we had the nhs scan and they told us we were having a boy!!!!!

we had a boy

just goes to show that even with snazzy v expensive scans they can still get it wrong.
We are preggers again and this time we are gonna wait for the surprise!!!!

sweetkitty · 05/03/2008 12:15

hi cheekster good to see your pregnancy is going well.

I had a scan on Saturday and the woman was 100% it was a girl she even checked twice and showed us there was nothing between her legs.

Already have 2 DDs and both scans were correct.

caykon · 05/03/2008 12:43

didnt find out with my first but my second was right. A relative of mine was told she was having a girl but had a boy though.

Truffy18 · 05/03/2008 15:53

Gem1981 - how many weeks were you when the private scan told you it was a girl? Was it 3/4d or normal 2d one? Could you see anything, i.e. did you think you saw girl bits?

Just concerned that the one we're having this weekend might be a waste of money! I was sure that if I saw it with my own eyes, in 3/4d, at 30 weeks, it couldn't be wrong - maybe I'm wrong!!

chipmonkey · 05/03/2008 17:08

I had a private 3d/4D scan and even before I had it, was asked to sign a disclaimer saying not to buy pink or blue based on the results but the sonographer seemed fairly sure it was a boy in that she said "I know the sex!" She didn't make it obvious in the 3D bit of the scan though, so we can show it to everybody! One girl on an Irish board I frequent was told she was having a boy at her 3D/4D scan and ended up having a girl at 30 weeks! She even argued with the obstretician when he told her it was a girl!

chipmonkey · 05/03/2008 17:12

Truffy, tbh, if the baby isn't in an optimal position, it might not be that clear to you on the 3D scan either. We have a video clip with a little arrow pointing to ds4's "boy part" as the sonographer put it but tbh I wouldn't have been able to identify it myself based on the picture, I had to take her word for it. In fact dh is still not convinced, largely based on the fact that this pregnancy seems different but I have had to point out to him that I have had 4 different pregnancies but always get a blonde, blue-eyed boy!

gem1981 · 06/03/2008 09:26

Truffy18

we went to a clinic on Harley street quite a while before our second NHS scan - it was 2d. Our GP advsed we go to get some more detailed info on the pregnancy as there is a history of spina bifida in my family. So it was in a proper clinic.

The doc told us he was VERY(98%) sure it was a girl as boy bits would have already developed by then time we were scanned - I personally thought that perhaps it was too ealry to tell - I was just happy that the pregnancy wwas developing normally and this additional info that we weren't expecting was bit of a bonus.

but I had a massive feeling that I was having a boy, DH was telling everyone we were having a girl but I was not convinced - hence a great big I TOLD YOU SO when the NHS scan at 20 weeks confirmed my female intuition !!!!

It was so funny - Dh and I were in the NHS scan room and the lady asked us if we wanted to know the sex

US " oh we already know we are having a girl" we said

SONOGRAPHER "oh (silence) you are having a boy"

SONOGRAPHER "yep there are his goolies!!!" - honest that is what she said!!!!!

Needless to say this time we are going to leave it as a surprise.

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