Wanting an ultrasound @ 16 weeks

BrooklynnCE · February 2015

I'm currently about 12 weeks pregnant and I go to the doctor this week for a checkup. I'm considering asking my doctor if I can elect to have an ultrasound done at 16 weeks so I can find out the sex of my baby. My doctor's office does a routine ultrasound at 20 weeks but I am so impatient. I know that I would probably have to pay out of pocket for this ultrasound but I was just wondering if I'm the only one like this. I'm hoping that my doctor's office will do the ultrasound so I can find out next month instead of April. Has anyone been through this before and if so were you ever told no?

Miz_Liz · February 2015

You will probably need to go to an elective place if you want one at 16 weeks. I don't think it is the norm for Dr's offices to do elective scans but you can ask.

BrooklynnCE · February 2015

What do you mean by an elective place?

Yellow1998 · February 2015

Yes, go somewhere that just does sonograms, it's way cheaper. Just google search 3D/4D sonogram offices in your area and hopefully a couple pop up. There are several around where I live and it's only $75 to have a 30 minute 3D/4D session to reveal the sex. I'm getting mine done right at 16 weeks. Just a week from today!

Miz_Liz · February 2015

There are ultra sound places that are specifically for people who want an extra scan or to find out the gender early. They can do 3D/4D ones too. I hear they are around $50, but not sure, you would have to google one in your area. I have also heard Ultra Sound schools will often do scans for free to give students practice, not sure if there are any near you.

KLB2T · February 2015

I did an elective u/s last time at 14 weeks and it was correct. It cost about $75.

We did it this time too, they're saying its another girl.

jesicabrennan · February 2015

That 20 week scan is actually an 18-20 week scan so schedule it for your 18th week, you can hold out for 2 extra weeks, save the money.

Miz_Liz · February 2015

jesicabrennan said:

That 20 week scan is actually an 18-20 week scan so schedule it for your 18th week, you can hold out for 2 extra weeks, save the money.

Depends on your Dr's, my OB schedules it at 20 weeks because she said that is the best time to see all of the quadrants of the heart, etc. so they prefer wait until 20 and not do it at 18.

xcitdmomma · February 2015

I would wait and save the money. There are SO many expenses with having a baby... why add unnecessary ones?

BrooklynnCE · February 2015

Well my mom doesn't want to wait either and she is willing to pay so it's not an expense out of my pocket and my mother insists on doing it for my husband and I if I want. Thanks for everyone's advice.

dkizz82 · February 2015

I'm 15+3 and my doctor said I could have my anatomy scan at 18-20 weeks. You better believe I'm scheduling for 18 weeks. There is a sonographer school here where students do ultrasounds for free but they are students and not sure how reliable they'd be.

sandrabrooke · February 2015

If you have the cash or someone paying, find an elective clinic and go for it! I am, next Saturday! I'm so pumped

But with the ultrasound at the clinic, mine wants you at 20 weeks and not earlier, tbh.

jesicabrennan · February 2015

Miz_Liz said:

jesicabrennan said:

That 20 week scan is actually an 18-20 week scan so schedule it for your 18th week, you can hold out for 2 extra weeks, save the money.

Depends on your Dr's, my OB schedules it at 20 weeks because she said that is the best time to see all of the quadrants of the heart, etc. so they prefer wait until 20 and not do it at 18.

There's no way everyone's schedule fits perfectly into the 20th week. I'm always traveling during my 19th and 20th week, just somehow works out that way so I get mine in the 18th week. OP if you're desperate just claim a scheduling conflict and get it the week earlier.

ChristyM87 · February 2015

dkizz82 said:
I'm 15+3 and my doctor said I could have my anatomy scan at 18-20 weeks. You better believe I'm scheduling for 18 weeks. There is a sonographer school here where students do ultrasounds for free but they are students and not sure how reliable they'd be.

As other posters have commented the problem with scheduling it before 20 weeks is the difficulty seeing the heart and the kidneys might not be fully developed. You will just have to come back and get another ultrasound at 20 weeks

jesigirli · February 2015

Disclaimer: I completely understand the excitement of finding out the sex of your child. Waiting can be so difficult.

That being said, there are fetal safety concerns associated with "keepsake ultrasounds" or extra ultrasounds. The FDA, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) all discourage non-medical ultrasounds. In fact, the state of Connecticut banned keepsake ultrasounds back in 2009, and limit the use of ultrasounds to those that are ordered by licensed healthcare professionals and are needed for medical and diagnostic purposes.

As with anything else during a pregnancy, you should always discuss the risks and benefits as well as any concerns with your OB or healthcare provider. If you plan to have an early ultrasound performed to determine the sex of your child, you should let your provider know.

Yellow1998 · February 2015

jesigirli said:

Disclaimer: I completely understand the excitement of finding out the sex of your child. Waiting can be so difficult.

That being said, there are fetal safety concerns associated with "keepsake ultrasounds" or extra ultrasounds. The FDA, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) all discourage non-medical ultrasounds. In fact, the state of Connecticut banned keepsake ultrasounds back in 2009, and limit the use of ultrasounds to those that are ordered by licensed healthcare professionals and are needed for medical and diagnostic purposes.

As with anything else during a pregnancy, you should always discuss the risks and benefits as well as any concerns with your OB or healthcare provider. If you plan to have an early ultrasound performed to determine the sex of your child, you should let your provider know.

So what exactly is the safety concern with having one extra ultrasound? If you have one at 16 weeks, 20 weeks, and then a 3d/4d sono later, what's the risk? My OB has never mentioned any concerns about that.

sandrabrooke · February 2015

I also wonder about the risks since my ob will try to hand them out like candy....for a hefty fee since it's not covered by insurance. I do get that it's important to have a qualified tech....but my elective clinic is awesome. He's super smart and used to be a tech even!

jesigirli · February 2015

Yellow1998 said:

jesigirli said:

Disclaimer: I completely understand the excitement of finding out the sex of your child. Waiting can be so difficult.

That being said, there are fetal safety concerns associated with "keepsake ultrasounds" or extra ultrasounds. The FDA, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) all discourage non-medical ultrasounds. In fact, the state of Connecticut banned keepsake ultrasounds back in 2009, and limit the use of ultrasounds to those that are ordered by licensed healthcare professionals and are needed for medical and diagnostic purposes.

As with anything else during a pregnancy, you should always discuss the risks and benefits as well as any concerns with your OB or healthcare provider. If you plan to have an early ultrasound performed to determine the sex of your child, you should let your provider know.

So what exactly is the safety concern with having one extra ultrasound? If you have one at 16 weeks, 20 weeks, and then a 3d/4d sono later, what's the risk? My OB has never mentioned any concerns about that.

Ultrasounds work by using high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the fetal body. These sound waves are able to not only create images of the body of fetus but also produce images of various organs within the fetus, including the kidneys and heart. Although the use of ultrasounds for medical purposes is generally considered safe, safety concerns for additional or non-medical ultrasounds cannot be ruled out. Ultrasounds are painless and non-invasive, but they are able to heat body tissue slightly and can also cause cavitation (tiny bubbles) in certain tissues.

The medical community opposes non-medical use of ultrasounds.

Here's a link to the FDA's write-up about keepsake ultrasounds: https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm095508.htm

Obviously I realize this is not a popular opinion, and as I stated before, you should absolutely make your OB/Midwife/Healthcare Provider aware that you plan to or did have a keepsake/non-medical/boutique ultrasound performed. You should feel comfortable discussing this with your provider. If you elect to have an extra ultrasound, it is certainly best to have a trained professional (registered rad tech) perform the ultrasound.

bpwife&mama · February 2015

I am going at 18 weeks only because I have placenta previa and need to check to see if it's moving at all. I am excited to make sure my baby is growing healthy and organs are healthy. Finding out what gender baby is will be an added bonus for us. Don't forget the real importance of the anatomy scan.

bashfulbird · February 2015

jesigirli said:

Yellow1998 said:

jesigirli said:

Disclaimer: I completely understand the excitement of finding out the sex of your child. Waiting can be so difficult.

That being said, there are fetal safety concerns associated with "keepsake ultrasounds" or extra ultrasounds. The FDA, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) all discourage non-medical ultrasounds. In fact, the state of Connecticut banned keepsake ultrasounds back in 2009, and limit the use of ultrasounds to those that are ordered by licensed healthcare professionals and are needed for medical and diagnostic purposes.

As with anything else during a pregnancy, you should always discuss the risks and benefits as well as any concerns with your OB or healthcare provider. If you plan to have an early ultrasound performed to determine the sex of your child, you should let your provider know.

So what exactly is the safety concern with having one extra ultrasound? If you have one at 16 weeks, 20 weeks, and then a 3d/4d sono later, what's the risk? My OB has never mentioned any concerns about that.

Ultrasounds work by using high-frequency sound waves to produce images of the fetal body. These sound waves are able to not only create images of the body of fetus but also produce images of various organs within the fetus, including the kidneys and heart. Although the use of ultrasounds for medical purposes is generally considered safe, safety concerns for additional or non-medical ultrasounds cannot be ruled out. Ultrasounds are painless and non-invasive, but they are able to heat body tissue slightly and can also cause cavitation (tiny bubbles) in certain tissues.

The medical community opposes non-medical use of ultrasounds.

Here's a link to the FDA's write-up about keepsake ultrasounds: https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm095508.htm

Obviously I realize this is not a popular opinion, and as I stated before, you should absolutely make your OB/Midwife/Healthcare Provider aware that you plan to or did have a keepsake/non-medical/boutique ultrasound performed. You should feel comfortable discussing this with your provider. If you elect to have an extra ultrasound, it is certainly best to have a trained professional (registered rad tech) perform the ultrasound.

Well said!

BrooklynnCE · February 2015

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I plan on discussing this with my doctor on Friday and will gather her opinion. Of course I still plan to have my regular ultrasound at the 20 week mark to check for other concerns.

lacideshae5151 · February 2015

I'm having my elective scan tomorrow at 15w2d the place I'm going to is $65 I used them with my son 3 years ago.
As for the anatomy scan it's actually scheduled between 18-22 weeks so in my opinion it's work finding out as much as 6 weeks earlier (16 weeks vs 22) because I'm impatient as well!

lacideshae5151 · February 2015

Worth not work*

xcitdmomma · February 2015

I'm genuinely fascinated by the urge to find out the sex! I have no desire to until birth.

BrooklynnCE · February 2015

I am way to impatient to wait until the birth of my baby. Plus my nursery ideas and things I want to purchase are too gender specific to be neutral. I'm not a fan of yellow and green everything or a safari nursery, things like that. I have to know

kdavis2002Wed225786 · February 2015

It never hurts to ask! I had my 16 week appointment on Monday. I asked nicely and it just so happened they had an open slot. It was just a quick ultrasound but it was long enough to find out it's a boy!! I'd just ask. All they can do is say no.

brittnilangley · February 2015

Depending on where u live there is a place called stork vision my husband and I are going in at 16 weeks they do the 3d4d and sex reveal for 100 bucks!!

jesicabrennan · February 2015

@xcitdmomma‌ I also find people's desperation to know fascinating! I couldn't care less!

babyyyy3 · February 2015

There are so many Groupon deals for 3d/4d. We went and did it to find out and man it was so peaceful and there was music, it's worth every penny to look and see if there is an ultrasound place close to you and check Groupon to find awesome deals!! I couldn't wait so we went and found out!!
Best of luck and don't let anyone say your craZy it's the first week you can know for sure, heck yea!!!!

sapphiresun · February 2015

The waves and heat generated can cause bubbles.... it is easy to research

mrsmorganwhitney · February 2015

There is a newer blood test out that you can find the sex out as early as 10 weeks it's called verifi by progenity. It tests the mothers blood. It also tests for other abnormalities. My dr office did not mention it, my friend had it done and you have to request it at some offices. I have mine on Monday.

Miz_Liz · February 2015

mrsmorganwhitney said:

There is a newer blood test out that you can find the sex out as early as 10 weeks it's called verifi by progenity. It tests the mothers blood. It also tests for other abnormalities. My dr office did not mention it, my friend had it done and you have to request it at some offices. I have mine on Monday.

Make sure your insurance covers it if your Dr's office doesn't have a deal with the company doing the test - some people have gotten bills for thousands because it wasn't covered.

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