Question on the "Big Ultrasound"

TheRealNJhousewife · November 2010

What exactly is this? And does it have to be done at exactly 20 weeks?? I will be 20 weeks on January 5 and really wanted to find out the sex before Christmas, will this be possible? How can I convince my doctor to let me have it done before this? Thanks guys!!

mmkaye · November 2010

My doc does it somewhere in the 19th or 20th week, so maybe yours can too?

marisa52606 · November 2010

It's your anatomy u/s. They take measurements of all different things and then if baby is cooperating they can usually tell you the sex of the baby. My insurance won't cover mine until 20 weeks but with my DD I had different insurance and I had it at about 17 weeks.

kerrbear72 · November 2010

Have you looked in to a private u/s place if you're mostly just anxious about finding out the gender?

A place near me will do the gender scan starting at 15 weeks (I think 17 weeks is better) and it runs about $75.00.

MommyHarrison · November 2010

From my understanding, not every doctor makes you wait until you're 20 weeks on the nose. I have mine scheduled for 12/23, when I'll be 19 weeks and 3 days. They were actually going to schedule it for the week prior, but DH works out of town and will be in for Christmas, so I wanted to schedule it when he will be here. So check with your doctor on their preferences and regulations. Sometimes it can be done prior to the 20 week mark. Good luck! It's going to be an AMAZING Christmas (as logn as baby cooperates and show us 'the goods'!).

IU_baby · November 2010

Ask your doctor's office. My OB likes to do them between 18-20 weeks, but a girl on my local board says her doctor won't do them until after 21 weeks.

At my last OB, I just asked if I could be scheduled before Christmas (I was due May 14 with my son) and she obliged.

Many private ultrasound places in my area won't do them until after you've had your anatomy scan.

amyt51181 · November 2010

Mine is scheduled for 1/7, so we are going with a private practice that does a quick gender screen for $65 the week of Christmas

Lkat17 · November 2010

My OB practice has them done between 18 and 20 weeks. My appointment is for when I'm 18 weeks exactly. Super excited!

I'd check with your doctor and see when they usually schedule them. It might be possible to schedule it right before the holidays.

NewYorkerinAZ · November 2010

My MW said closer to 20 weeks is better because the baby will have developed more to see all they need to for the anatomy scan. I was bummed as I hoped I could find out around 18 weeks but I guess I'll just have to wait 2 more weeks.

I'm not spending the extra $ just to find out sooner, seems like a waste of money, IMO.

iris427 · November 2010

I'm having mine at 18 weeks, so it doesn't have to be exactly 20 weeks, just sometime around there.

You should ask about scheduling it, especially since they probably get more people wanting to do it in time for Christmas. My OB's office last time scheduled mine automatically without consulting me, and when I called the place to reschedule it, they didn't have another appointment available for weeks.

AmyO. · November 2010

I'm hoping to schedule it before Christmas as well, but if my office doesn't want to schedule it until after I'm 20 weeks then I think we will go to a private ultrasound office to find out the sex. We would love to tell our families at Christmas!

pandi02a · November 2010

I will only be 18 weeks at my last u/s before Xmas, but I also have an u/s at 16 weeks. If they can tell me then they will. It's different where I am though. I would ask your doctor.

NJMom050911 · November 2010

I asked my doc and they said that I can schedule it at my next visit (16 weeks) and that there is no wait so they can do it even as early as a week from when I schedule it. I'm hoping to do it week of the 20th and will be 18 weeks