Early Gender Determination

misspuppychow · January 2016

My OB offers gender determination ultrasounds at 14 weeks. There is also a third party place in my town that does gender reveal ultrasounds with a money back guarantee at 14 weeks.

I have an appointment on Feb 4 (14 weeks and a day or two) for gender determination (at both locations). My family has planned a close gender reveal party on Feb 7 since several of my out of state family will be in town.

I'm really excited. But I don't want to plan a big party and then find out the gender is wrong. How accurate are gender ultrasounds at 14 weeks? I assume they must be pretty accurate to do them, offer a money back guarantee, and have great reviews.

I do know my dating is accurate as I have had 3 ultrasounds at this point.

Thoughts? Opinions? Thank you!

mouse1029 · January 2016

14 weeks is early. My doc couldn't tell at 16 with my DD. I'd be wary.

imakeeff0rts · January 2016

Honestly, I wouldn't put much stock into it. Your best chance at getting an accurate look at sex is between 17-22 weeks, when the anatomy scan is done.

By all means, go have fun, but it's honestly too early, imo.

misspuppychow · January 2016

I wish my OB and all these third party places wouldn't offer money back guarantee gender ultrasounds at 14 weeks if they aren't accurate. It leads to false hope for moms to be....

I guess I will need to cancel my party! Thanks!

bsckgb7 · January 2016

It's a 50/50 shot of being right or wrong.

mrsmommya · January 2016

We have a place here that does them as well. Many of my friends have gone and they have always been accurate for them. Not saying they are accurate for everyone, but also assume they wouldn't be so popular if they were always wrong. We are getting one but aren't planning any parties or anything. We truthfully are doing it more for the extra peek as we slide into 2nd tri, the sex is going to really be a bonus!

MrsBSharp86 · January 2016

We found out our sons sex at 15 weeks last time with a 4D ultrasound. We're doing the same this time. They also offer a money back guarantee. I completely believe they can tell the sex at 15 weeks. I know of several people who have had it done that early and they were all accurate. However, they would not guarantee a 14 week US. The earliest is 15 weeks for them.

WinterPumpkin · January 2016

With a good machine they can figure it out. Though the general opinion you will hear on forums is that it is too early, there are research articles out there showing that a good machine and a good ultrasound technician lead to about a 90% success rate around 14 weeks... I'd love to provide a link but am too lazy to dig around for that article

That being said my doctor got the sex of both my sons wrong at 12 weeks (two different doctors mind you), so I wouldn't recommend trying much earlier than 14 weeks

If it's wrong it's wrong, not the end of the world and you will get to "double check" their prediction at your anatomy ultrasound around 20 weeks... I am not one for gender reveal stuff but I don't see the harm if that's what you are into...

cm716 · January 2016

This is just my two cents but i had an ultra sound at 13 weeks with dd2 and i asked her to take a guess knowing it was early. She thought it was a girl and the 20 week ultrasound cconfirmed she was correct.

nerdygangsta · January 2016

I've done it twice at 14 weeks exactly with both of my previous. I have an appt for 14 weeks with this baby. Both of mine were accurate.

I've referred many people to the place I went and no one has had a wrong prediction.

LacieMac · January 2016

With my daughter we went to a 3rd party ultrasound place at 14 weeks and found out we were having a girl. I was exactly 14 weeks and they were certain within 2 minutes of looking at monitor.

misspuppychow · January 2016

Thanks everyone!! I am doing 2 ultrasound at 2 different places and making sure they agree. We're not doing a big party. Just immediate family (parents/siblings) so it'll be a fun and close surprise. I also don't know anyone where it's been wrong at 14 weeks. The third party location will do it as early as 13 weeks but do not offer any guarantees until 14 weeks. My OB only does it at 14 weeks.

IDanceForGod · January 2016

There's a blood test you can take that's really accurate, but I'm not sure how many insurance companies cover it.
Basically, it looks at your blood because scientists now know that some of the baby's blood crosses to the mom. I think the earliest they offer it is 10 weeks, but it can't hurt to ask if you want to double-check or be extra sure.
Wish I had a link, but my midwife offered it as part of "noninvasive prenatal testing."

misspuppychow · January 2016

@IDanceForGod ... I think maybe the Harmony test?

smilormarie · January 2016

MaterniT21 and Verifii are the others. You usually need to be AMA or be high risk to be eligible for the chromosome blood test.

KMorley3 · January 2016

I found out with my first 2 at 13 weeks and plan to do the same with this one.. you will be fine, it's either there or it's not.

shalsroy · January 2016

I am getting NIPT testing results back at the end of the month, and should know then.

SkiChic626 · January 2016

My friend was told with both babies around 12 weeks and both were accurate.

misspuppychow · January 2016

I tired to call my insurance company to see if they cover Harmony, Panorama, or Materni T 21 but they are closed today. Booo! I guess I'll have to try tomorrow!

bsckgb7 · January 2016

misspuppychow - I've heard some people say they have called their insurance and the insurance can't look up anything without the appropriate "code". You may want to try your OB first to get more information (like the code). Also, some of that stuff may not be covered unless your OB recommends it for xyz reason. So even if the insurance looked up, it may say "not covered", but if the OB fills out certain paperwork, insurance may approve it.

ETA: And also please remember those tests aren't used to determine the sex. They are used to check for genetic abnormalities. So just be aware of that and be prepared for those results.

misspuppychow · January 2016

@bsckgb7 my OB gave me a sheet with the ICD-10 diagnosis codes and the CPT codes for all 3 blood tests to check with my insurance.

I still plan to have the ultrasound done to learn the gender, but I am hoping that the ultrasound + blood test will agree on the gender and I'll feel more confident the gender reveal will be for the correct gender!

My OB will keep the results off the online patient portal until after our party.

HeyStVincent · January 2016

I'd be wary of 14 weeks. My OB won't even do an anatomy scan until 20 weeks because many structures (including the genitals) are not fully formed until then. It's also more likely that they'll inaccurately tell you that you are having a girl if you do it too early.

ThisisNumber3 · January 2016

If you want to go have fun, do it. But I think be prepared that you may have to retract your announcement.

misspuppychow · January 2016

I had the Panorama drawn today because insurance covers it fully. The paperwork says it is 100% accurate at determining gender from 9 weeks. So I cancelled all my ultrasounds!

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