PRIVATE SCANNING FOR GENDER

[CYMRU]

I AM 15 WEEKS PREGNANT AND WANT TO KNOW THE SEX OF MY BABY. hOWEVER THE LOCAL HOSPITAL IN WREXHAM DO NOT TELL YOU THE GENDER. I AM CONSIDERING HAVING A PRIVATE BABYBOND SCAN TO DISCOVER THE SEX. THE COST IS £130, AND I WONDER IF ANYBODY HAS GOT ANY EXPEREIENCE OF DOING THIS, AND IF IT IS WORTH THE MONEY.

I wouldn't myself - they can never be 100% sure anyway, and I would feel really annoyed at shelling out £130 to be not totally sure. And at my scan they couldn't tell anyway!

Must admit that I was worried about paying that amount to find that the baby was in the wrong position and they couldn't sex it anyway.

A friend of mine was told at the hospital at her 20 weeks scan that she was expecting a girl (99%) and this was confirmed at a subsequent scan she had done privately in Spain at 23 weeks(she is Spanish and over there is a lot cheaper, 50 Pounds circa).
She had a boy 2 months ago, and we all had to return the pink stuff we had bought...and she had to repaint the nursery.

I don't personally think it's worth, also because at my hospital they would tell you, but at my 20 weeks scan the little one kept his/her legs well crossed the whole time and you couldn't see anything.

Got a few weeks to go though, so I am looking forward to find out.
Good luck CYMRU - guess you are Welsh? ;-)

CYMRU - I agree with the others and I too know someone who got told 3 times it was a boy in no uncertain terms... the mum was completely shocked when she delivered a girl....
I thought private scans were £50..... at least the basics scans (and that would be basic!)

My hospitals official position is that they do not tell you the sex at the 20 week scan. However, both times they have told me when I asked. I think it is just there official position in case they suspect that the sex of the baby may prejudice your decision whether or not to keep it. We live in a very multi cultural area.

I used Babybond with both my two, though primarily becasue I wanted the video of the scan as a gift to the grandparents (Ds1 was a long-awaited first grandchild for all of them - the result of our 3rd IVF attempt). We had been told at the 20 week scan we were expecting a girl, so when the Babybond sonograher asked us whether we wanted to know the sex, we told her that we had been told it was a girl - she was totally shocked when she scanned our boy! Might be worth checking their "success rates" before you book if knowing the sex is that important, but they couldn't believe that the hospital had got it wrong, so I guess they haven't had many complaints. Might be worth checking what they do if they can't see the bits - unlike the NHS I think they will let you walk around town for an hour or so to see if baby will move.

Hard to say whether £130 is value for money - private scans at our IVF clinic are £105 - they're shorter and without the video. Baby bond was very helpful and one of the staff looked after ds1 (then 20 months) whilst ds2 was being scanned. Depends on whether you can afford it - our IVF and infertility treatment topped £15k, so an extra £100 (then the price of the babybond) didn't seem too high.

Message withdrawn

Cymru, why is it so important to you to know the sex of your baby?

I secretly wanted a girl, and for this reason, I chose not to be told the sex of my baby. I didn't want to spend the second half of my pregnancy disappointed, and reasoned that when he/ she came out, I would love him/ her anyway! Surely you can decorate the nursery a neutral colour and ask for only white baby clothes as gifts prior to the birth

Tissy, why shouldn't she find out if she wants to?
Sorry I think it is such an individual choice, you cannot critisise someone elses decision to know IMO. For some it is an integral part of the bonding process.
Cmyru, if you can afford it and are sure,then I say go for it.

I wasn't criticising, just asking why she wanted to know so badly that she was prepared to pay so much for a scan!

Did I tell her not to, or say she was wrong?

Don't jump down my throat for asking a simple question.

Sorry Tissy, not meant in harsh way it came across.

My friend paid £130 for hers. She was told they were only 80% sure it was a girl?!! Which makes me think they didn't have a scooby-doo, but didn't see a penis and scrotum.

I was DYING to know the sex of mine. After 4 scans (the last done at 38wks) I was still none the wiser!