Question for BC mums (and other mums across Canada!)

Janacash · December 2009

So I heard that in BC you are given 2 ultrasounds, one at about 11 weeks and the next around 20 weeks...well because my hospital was so backed up with H1N1 I actually didnt get my first u/s and just had one at 20 weeks. Because they called us last minute to get me in for a u/s the DH was unable to be there (gone to sask for a wedding)...also DH and I wanted to find out the sex and they were unable to give that. Sooooo I went for my prenatal the other day and asked our doctor if we could schedule another u/s as the DH wasnt there to see the first one and we would also like to find out the sex....she wouldnt grant us this. So my question is, is it normal to have only 2 u/s? My good friend in Sask just had her 4th one and she is 32 wks. I dont know if its just me but I feel weird about the last official check on my baby being only at 20 wks...anyone else have thoughts or feelings on this? I want to know the sex hahaha

jrnewhook · December 2009

Unless medically necessary, it's normal for the last u/s to be at about 20 weeks. Even though you missed your first, a lot of women don't get any more after that point.

Jen&Joe06 · December 2009

The only reason I got more was because I went over 40w. So I got one at 40w and then one at 41w4d.

The norm in Canada is to just get one u/s at 20w.

If you want to find out the sex you can go for (and pay for) a 3D u/s.

MamaTygryss · December 2009

Hi, from what I know there are very few cities in Canada that will do U/S's after 20 weeks unless it is medically needed,and only at huge cost, and I talked to my doc recently and he said that he isn't aware that the sex is legally allowed to be divulged anymore due to the number of East Indian and Chinese people who go for abortions to rid themselves of girl children. I am unsure if this is so but only what I was told.

brideon082104 · January 2010

I live in BC and no, you usually only get one at around 20wk UNLESS medically needed. You would NOT normally get one at 11wk.

CanadianGurl · January 2010

Legally (or by provincial healthcare standards anyways), I'm not sure how it works, but I believe it also differs a bit from doctor-to-doctor. I'm in Alberta, and my doc's office has it's own ultrasound tech and equiptment, and many of the other moms I talked to that use this OBGYN or the others in his clinic had more than 1 ultrasound, but the last usually being around 20 weeks, unless there were other medical factors or if the baby was really big or really late. I had over half a dozen ultrasounds during my last pregnancy because of problems, and therefore will have more regular and numerous ultrasounds in my next pregnancies. A friend of mine paid for an ultrasound (around $200 I believe) and the ultrasound tech took about 1 hour taking in utero pictures for the couple to take home and showing the sex of the baby. As of spring 2008 when I had my son, I was able to find the sex of our child.

CheriLooWho · January 2010

I live in Northern BC. I've only had 1 ultrasound at 19 weeks. Our tech was not a very pleasant woman. She wouldn't tell us the sex and made us feel like we were inconveniencing her by making her do her job. We wanted a better experience so at 25 weeks we went to Edmonton for a 3D ultrasound. It was amazing! Our tech was lovely, talked to us like we mattered, told us about a little girl, and generally gave us an amazing experience. For about $200 we got a 1 hour session, a DVD, photos, and product samples. It was awesome! It was UC Baby. There's one in Vancouver, too. I highly recommend!

MrsLana · January 2010

I am in Northern BC as well and unless you get a 3D US which you have to pay for you generally only get one. As well, they will not reveal the sex to you. Some clinics do but they are going against radioligist code of practice. you would beed to go to a 3D place like UBC Baby (I beleive that is what it is called).

dale05 · January 2010

We had our first ultrasound at 20 weeks. I ended up with 3 in total I believe because initially they thought I had placenta praevia (corrected itself thankfully) and then my OB wanted one at about 36 weeks because he wanted to know what position the baby was in (thought I was breach). I still don't understand that one since babies often move into position a lot closer to their due date.

Brookie-Cookie · January 2010

With my DS I got quite a few ultrasounds. A viability at 6/7 weeks because of a history of m/c, I opted out of the 12 week NT scan but could have had another then, the 18 week "Big U/S" where we found out the sex then 2 more late in pregnancy because I was so past due and carrying a giant baby.

This time I had the NT scan but mostly because I wanted to see the hb and my Dr didn't think the early u/s was needed this time.

If your friend has gotten 4 there are either issues or she is of advanced maternal age (older than 35 I think gets you more u/s) or she just lucked out in to having a Dr who has an u/s machine in their office.

It is not uncommon to just get 1. And FWIW, the u/s techs job is not to tell us what the sex is it is their job to check organs and measure bones etc to make sure the baby is growing properly. If they find out if it is boy or girl that is a perk. Not all babies "cooperate" and it is kind of dumb to expect the gov't to pay the cost of another u/s just so you (the general you not the OP) can find out if you need pink or blue bedding.

frombtok · January 2010

Mrs Lana - Love your ticker! 61 weeks and 5 days pregnant!? Yikes!

anarivera · January 2010

I got only one US at 19 weeks. We got a 3D in UC Baby paid by us... best experience ever!

theb · January 2010

When we lived in the Yukon we got many. Only bec. I have a medical condition. BUT it was only $5 to get the pictures printed each time you went. So if they took 10 pictures you paid $5 and got to keep all of them. Sometimes I wish I still lived up there!

MeghanF13 · February 2010

CheriLooWho:
I live in Northern BC. I've only had 1 ultrasound at 19 weeks. Our tech was not a very pleasant woman. She wouldn't tell us the sex and made us feel like we were inconveniencing her by making her do her job. We wanted a better experience so at 25 weeks we went to Edmonton for a 3D ultrasound. It was amazing! Our tech was lovely, talked to us like we mattered, told us about a little girl, and generally gave us an amazing experience. For about $200 we got a 1 hour session, a DVD, photos, and product samples. It was awesome! It was UC Baby. There's one in Vancouver, too. I highly recommend!

Unfortunately, the techs are not allowed to tell you anything here - the Dr has to tell you. And in some big cities like Toronto, the Drs won't tell you the sex because of what pp said about some cultures aborting female babies. Also, techs don't check the sex unless you request it, so it is not part of their normal jobs - it is something extra they can do if asked. When we told ours that we didn't want to know, she said okay and that she wouldn't bother checking then.

I had 5 u/s - one at approx 8wks for dating, one at approx 13wks for the IPS test (to check for spina bifida, downs, trisomy etc), one at 20 weeks, one that I can't remember why, and then one two days before my unplanned c-section.

UrbanHippieMama · February 2010

brideon082104:
I live in BC and no, you usually only get one at around 20wk UNLESS medically needed. You would NOT normally get one at 11wk.

This. Also, they won't tell you the sex there at the appointment. There is only one ultrasound place around here that will 'tell' you the sex of your baby, and will only fax it to your Dr/MW when you are 21+ weeks along. Then your caregiver can call you and let you know.

brideon082104 · February 2010

firsttimemama:
brideon082104:
I live in BC and no, you usually only get one at around 20wk UNLESS medically needed. You would NOT normally get one at 11wk.

This. Also, they won't tell you the sex there at the appointment. There is only one ultrasound place around here that will 'tell' you the sex of your baby, and will only fax it to your Dr/MW when you are 21+ weeks along. Then your caregiver can call you and let you know.

I had my 20w ultrasound done at a really nice clinic in Coquitlam and they told us the sex then and there, we did not have to wait to hear it from my OB. It was great! I'm hoping to go back to the u/s place next time around!

UrbanHippieMama · February 2010

brideon082104:
firsttimemama:

brideon082104:
I live in BC and no, you usually only get one at around 20wk UNLESS medically needed. You would NOT normally get one at 11wk.

This. Also, they won't tell you the sex there at the appointment. There is only one ultrasound place around here that will 'tell' you the sex of your baby, and will only fax it to your Dr/MW when you are 21+ weeks along. Then your caregiver can call you and let you know.

I had my 20w ultrasound done at a really nice clinic in Coquitlam and they told us the sex then and there, we did not have to wait to hear it from my OB. It was great! I'm hoping to go back to the u/s place next time around!

Oh good to know! I'll try to go there for next time! Thanks!

crone2b · March 2010

I thought it was normal only to have one.

I had a couple only because it was medically necessary. And alot of places wont tell you the sex anyways.

You can have an additional one but you'll probably have to pay for it, if you go this route, make sure beforehand that they'll tell you the sex.

What about a 3D ultrasound??

Leah, Associate, North Vancouver
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