Anatomy Scan - Is this too early?

shannonalise

Our midwife suggested that we schedule our anatomy scan when I'm 18 weeks. I'll be 18 weeks on Thanksgiving Day. D@mn! We cannot wait to find out baby's sex...

Do you think it would be unwise to schedule the scan a few days early or should we suck it up and wait? I am not sure how positive the tech can be about the sex before 18 weeks. Would a few days make much of a difference...?

Any thoughts or experiences? Thank you! 

LadyXaverian

I'm a 1st timer, but from everything I've read, it's better to wait until closer to 20 weeks. If you could wait until the week after Thanksgiving, I would.

Of course, if your doctor says it's fine to go in a day or 2 before 18 weeks, go for it.

Scout05

18 weeks IS early. These are done between 18-20 weeks, so you are on the early side.

There is a reason these scans are scheduled when they are - doing it earlier means they cannot get the measurements they need. And please remember, the point of this scan is not to find out the gender, it's to make sure the baby is healthy and growing properly. The gender guess is just a bonus.

It's a lousy few days. I would wait, personally.

shannonalise

ambrandau2:

18 weeks IS early. These are done between 18-20 weeks, so you are on the early side.

There is a reason these scans are scheduled when they are - doing it earlier means they cannot get the measurements they need. And please remember, the point of this scan is not to find out the gender, it's to make sure the baby is healthy and growing properly. The gender guess is just a bonus.

It's a lousy few days. I would wait, personally.

We know this and consider it to be the most important reason that we're getting the scan. But we're still excited about finding out the sex of the baby too.

I think we're going to wait. Thanks! 

biblionerd

My office scheduled me at 18 weeks 2 days which was the last day they are open before t-giving. 20 weeks put me at the beginning of december and they were packed and couldn't do it. She said because of thanksgiving and fitting me in since I just transferred to them it was a tight squeeze. They prefer to do 20 weeks, but said anything after 18 weeks is almost always fine for them to get their measurements. If for some reason they can't get something we'll have to redo it.

cynnnabun

I'm scheduled for 17 weeks.

shannonalise

I'm going to talk to our midwife and see what she recommends. We would rather wait and have the doctor get all of the information he/she needs than for it to be a bit too early and need for us to come back.

 

yesthisiskim

I'm getting my done at a high hisk "Maternal Fetal Specialists" place wher I also went for my NT scan and they scheduled me for this Tuesday. I'll only be 18w 3d but they reassured me that everything they are looking for should be developed and if not, they'll reschedule it. I'm down for 2 anatomy scans

shannonalise

yesthisiskim:

I'm getting my done at a high hisk "Maternal Fetal Specialists" place wher I also went for my NT scan and they scheduled me for this Tuesday. I'll only be 18w 3d but they reassured me that everything they are looking for should be developed and if not, they'll reschedule it. I'm down for 2 anatomy scans

 

 

chayer227

yesthisiskim:

I'm getting my done at a high hisk "Maternal Fetal Specialists" place wher I also went for my NT scan and they scheduled me for this Tuesday. I'll only be 18w 3d but they reassured me that everything they are looking for should be developed and if not, they'll reschedule it. I'm down for 2 anatomy scans

this exactly (mine is 11/30), although, I don't want to find out the sex.  DH does though...

RJHarmon

With DD we did it at 17w4d for a similar reason.  They were able to get all measurments except one, so we had to come back at 21 weeks to get the last measurment.  Darn...lol  I say that if your doc is cool with it, then go for it.  OR you could pay the $50 and get an elective gender scan at a 3d place.

biblionerd

shannonalise:

I'm going to talk to our midwife and see what she recommends. We would rather wait and have the doctor get all of the information he/she needs than for it to be a bit too early and need for us to come back.

 

I would talk to your midwife. What everyone else here is doing won't necessarily mean that's what she wants you to do. My office was very upfront and said that 18 weeks (and I know you'd be a bit shy of that) was very reliable for getting their measurements that they need and that it also should not be a problem if we want to find out the sex. She said that some insurance co's are picky about when you have it done. She said that if they by chance cannot get all of their measurements we would have to have another u/s a couple weeks later and depending on whether our insurance is picky or not it could be an issue or need to be OOP. I told her our insurance is covering everything at 100% right now as long as there's an order so she said 18 weeks, 2 or 3 days was more than fine. If she said that I'd have to come in at 22 weeks  for my anatomy u/s because I'm transferring into them I would have done it. I finally picked an office/dr. I trust so I'll do what they recommend.

mne0617

I had my anatomy scan done at 17 weeks 3 days, and as you can see from my siggy. It is very obvious that little man is indeed a little man. We were able to get all the measurements needed, and I won't have another U/S for a couple of months. I think its really what your particular Dr says. I mean there are so many different controversies between Drs (ie. caffeine debate, occasional medicine use), so really it is up to your Doc. 

kje120

The main purpose of the anatomy scan is so they can look at baby's heart, brain, kidneys, bladder, spine, etc. Finding out the sex is a bonus.  I wouldn't move it forward, but that's just  my opinion.

ilovejud

To benefit from the anatomy scan... you need to wait till 20 weeks... to find out the sex of the baby... you can definitely find out earlier... I found out with DD at 17 weeks... several of my cousins found out by 16 weeks.... You definitely don't have to wait until 20 weeks to find out the sex.

Carbaby411

I tried to schedule mine for 19 weeks and the hospital would not let me.  They simply will not even try earlier than 20 weeks.

MissLadyTay

ambrandau2:

18 weeks IS early. These are done between 18-20 weeks, so you are on the early side.

There is a reason these scans are scheduled when they are - doing it earlier means they cannot get the measurements they need. And please remember, the point of this scan is not to find out the gender, it's to make sure the baby is healthy and growing properly. The gender guess is just a bonus.

It's a lousy few days. I would wait, personally.

This.  

normajeane6126

My doc said between 15-20 weeks for the anatomy scan, but when I called the MFM to schedule it she said I had to be at least 17 weeks. I have mine scheduled for 11/18 and I'll be 17w4d.

cassiejo84

I was 17wks when I got the anatomy scan with my son.  This one, I will be exactly 20 weeks.

 

ETA: I meant to say with "these 2" I guess.  Still not used to the "twins" thing!  Ha!

jbd1020

yesthisiskim:

I'm getting my done at a high hisk "Maternal Fetal Specialists" place wher I also went for my NT scan and they scheduled me for this Tuesday. I'll only be 18w 3d but they reassured me that everything they are looking for should be developed and if not, they'll reschedule it. I'm down for 2 anatomy scans

This. I just had mine done @ 17w4d. They scheduled it for me. I didn't get to pick the date. They basically got everything they needed, and everything looked great, but they're still having me come back in a month to recheck the heart because my NT was a little high @ 11 weeks. Made a guess at the sex (girl) and I'm sticking with it until I hear otherwise!

grace782

The place I go for scans does one at 16-18 wks for sex and 20-22 wks for...I don't know, some sort of big important other kind of screening that has nothing to do with the baby's sex. So... I don't see why you can't just schedule it a few days early. (I'll be exactly 17 wks at mine.)

bradyg927

I'm having mine done at exactly 20 weeks.

1sttimeMOM11

They normally do anatomy scans between 18-20 weeks. My anatomy scan is this Friday and Im oh so anxious. But be patient, you dont want a hypothesis, you want a definite. )

flamingos2010

My OB schedules it at 20 weeks and not a day sooner.