If you were to schedule an elective ultrasound to determine gender how long would you wait?

BlondeSunnyDays

Assume that the place tells you that 15 weeks is the minimum to determine gender and it's the 2D ultrasound. 

Thewizardofrhythm

I said 17 because I'm assuming elective means you pay and since it's possible that the doc won't be able to tell before 16, I'd wait to maximize the chances of actually finding out and minimize the chance of wasting my cash. 

BlondeSunnyDays

I really want to schedule it this week at 15 weeks but I'm so scared that it'll be wrong or they won't be able to tell and then I'll have to go back again! 

comealongponds

BlondeSunnyDays said:

I really want to schedule it this week at 15 weeks but I'm so scared that it'll be wrong or they won't be able to tell and then I'll have to go back again! 

There's a decent chance that'll happen. The closer you are to 20 weeks, the more accurate it'll be. 

leighry

I'd be afraid to do any earlier than 16 weeks if I was paying for it. You want the best chance for them to be accurate! I voted 16-17 weeks.. anything after 17 you might as well just wait another week or so for the anatomy scan.

lrg14

One of the places near me gives you two tries to get it. So if you went at 15 weeks and they couldn't tell, they'd have you come back in a week or two for no additional cost.

KilgraveMadeMeDoIt

We are going on the 28th and I'll be 16+5. If we're not able to tell, we can go back again at no charge. 

kittiesandcoffee

Mine is scheduled for Friday. I'll be 16 weeks exactly. Of all the places I looked at 15 weeks was the earliest they'd let you come in. I picked 16 weeks just to be safe. 

leighry

@NavyBride93 I was going to PM you Friday to say good luck! So exciting. Hope baby cooperates for you!

kittiesandcoffee

@leighry Thanks! I'm super excited!!

Sheybre

Last time, I found out at exactly 15 weeks! DD definitely us all the right angles and it was fairly obvious.

hollowway

I already know the sex. So our elective will likely be a 3D/4D US around 32-34 weeks to see his precious face. 

Knottie1458416769

Ftm so no idea on the week for us - but if u r paying anyways, why not go for a blood test? We are doing that soon - basically can go anytime 10wks or so onwards 

shevaCC

If I were doing one, I would schedule at 16 weeks exactly, or as close to then as possible.

whaat

Knottie1458416769 said:

Ftm so no idea on the week for us - but if u r paying anyways, why not go for a blood test? We are doing that soon - basically can go anytime 10wks or so onwards 

I was going to say the same thing, but then you don't get the extra US pic, which is also important to people and I totally get that. 

KilgraveMadeMeDoIt

Knottie1458416769 said:

Ftm so no idea on the week for us - but if u r paying anyways, why not go for a blood test? We are doing that soon - basically can go anytime 10wks or so onwards 

Where I live, the NIPT costs $800. The ultrasound package we are getting costs $130. That's why.

BlondeSunnyDays

I'm not high risk so I don't need the genetic testing blood work and costs/time/stress associated with it. I can get the ultrasound to find out the sex in 15 minutes for just $75 at a local radiology place. The last time I waited until the normal anatomy scan at 20 weeks and was fine waiting but this time I just really want to know and start prepping/nursery decorating earlier!  

TwandaFTG

They got it wrong for a few people I know when they got it early.  One saw a penis that wasn't there and one didn't see a penis that was there.  I would wait until everything is nice and visible.  I found out at 18 weeks last time.

But this time I see the MFM at 16 weeks so I will probably find out from them but they have high level machines.  If is was low risk I would just wait until the a/s.  You still have 20ish weeks to get the nursery ready at that point.

leighry

Reviving this. I was scheduled for an US at 16 weeks to check growth since I have a septum in my uterus. They just decided to change to appt because they want to do the fetal survey at the same time so they don't "inconvenience me." Thoughtful I guess... but I had the 10th circled on my calendar all excited so I scheduled a private one for the 9th. Can't wait! Since this is my last I figure the splurge is okay.

shevaCC

@leighry, I don't blame you! Once you start counting down the days it's really hard to go back to waiting another month.

leighry

@shevaCC right? I was like 2 weeks more is too long! Hopefully baby cooperates for us! Although like a lot of places you get a 2nd visit free if they can't determine sex at the first one.

kittiesandcoffee

I had my elective U/S. (it's a boy!) I highly recommend going to one if you're on the fence about it. They gave me a DVD of the entire u/s with baby kicking and with the tech pointing out his little man bits. It was 2D and 3D. They also gave me 30+ pictures on a CD of him (along with eight more printed out). I also chose to buy a heart beat animal that is a stuffed giraffe with a recording of the baby's HB inside it. I got so many treasures from doing it and have no complaints at all.

anne11716

We just had ours and I was 16 weeks and 3 days. It's was amazing!! Ours was $79 and they spent a lot of time with us and pointed out his (it's a boy!!) little nose and ears and all of that fun stuff. He was even sucking his thumb! They gave us 9 pictures and it was so crazy to see the difference between 9 weeks and 16 weeks! Very cool experience! 

leighry

@NavyBride93 and @anne11716 great! I'm glad to hear it was a great experience. I've been wondering since I made the appt if I should cancel and just suck it up and wait the extra couple weeks but since everyone seems to rave about it I'm keeping it!

juliehollz13

4D ultrasound place in my area says 15 weeks. Keep in mind the machine at the Dr's is 2D, so if they can tell after 16 weeks on a 2D machine there's a good chance you'll be able to find out sooner with a 4D machine/

ANZ116

Just had an elective ultrasound last night (15 w / 3d) and it's a girl! It was very clear- she cooperated well! It was so worth the money to us and we are on cloud nine. If you can afford it and feel comfortable, I say do it! 

forevertired

I have a spin off question (is that allowed?). If you do the elective ultrasound to find out, what do you tell your doctor at the 20 week appointment when they ask if you want to know the sex? Am I the only one who feels weird telling my doctor I went around their schedule and found out on my own?

leighry

Just smirk and say "let me guess..." haha. I'm just going to say "sure what is it?" I'm sure they're used to it though. I think it's a pretty common thing.

ANZ116

@lizap77 I know i'll be all awkward about it haha! I agree with @leighry, just be like "i would bet money its a X" and watch how they react haha

kittiesandcoffee

lizap77 said:

I have a spin off question (is that allowed?). If you do the elective ultrasound to find out, what do you tell your doctor at the 20 week appointment when they ask if you want to know the sex? Am I the only one who feels weird telling my doctor I went around their schedule and found out on my own?

I had my check up appointment two days ago, so after my elective ultrasound. My OB asked how it went and what the gender was and what his name was. She didn't seem phased. She asked me where I went for it and that was that.

MissAmeliaPond

I'm having mine tomorrow! 16+2. FX it's accurate. Their website claims they have "the most advanced machinery" and they state the actual name of the machine they have as well. So... hopefully the clarity of the image is good enough that baby will still have the same parts at the 20 week a/s, and at birth. I want to start buying clothes!

hjmommaplus1

@lizap77I used my 20 week appointment to confirm that the elective ultrasound was right (I think I was 15 weeks when the elective was done) so I just acted as if I didn't already know. 

mqm418

I just got one done at 15w 1d and there was no doubt it was a boy. Good luck 

dreamcatch-her

We just had one at 16+2 today, and there is NO DOUBT what we are having. It was an amazing experience. We got a DVD and 9 printouts. He was sucking his thumb and had the hiccups. Seriously, so worth it.