Chances of finding out sex in 20 week NHS scan?

[Lady_Bee]

I was discussing this with my husband yesterday and he's impatient to find out the gender of our baby so we can start seriously picking out possible names and getting prepared for a girl or a boy.

I'm having a scan at the beginning of September with the NHS and I'm wondering what are my chances of finding out the sex of our baby in that? Are they usually open to doing so or reluctant about it? If they can't see straight away will they just say, "Oh well, sorry can't see and we have to stop now" and give up because presumably it's a scan with a medical purpose and finding out the sex isn't the priority?

Just looking for some opinions and experiences really! :]

I could get a private scan if I can find one at a good price and am open to that option. Not sure when the earliest you can do that is though?

 

[ellie27]

I had my 12wks scan and while there arranged for the 20wks scan - while making the appt the midwife told me that at the 20wk scan we could find out the sex if we wished.

20wk scan - woman done all her measurements etc and then said 'thats us'.....we asked if she could show us pics between babies legs so we could have a guess.....we said 'is it another girl?' and she said 'nope, its a boy!'

Hope you find out!!

 

[Blah11]

My hospital are open about it and ask if you want to know However, i know not all are like that. If they can't see and baby won't move but have seen all the medical stuff, they wont ask you to go back for a 2nd try, no.

 

[Fairyclaire13]

It depends on the hospital and the sonographer and what mood they're in from what I've gathered on here. I was lucky yesterday - had the most amazing experience in the 20 week scan from the medical points to finding out the sex. I loved it. One if the most special days of my life so far. I wish everyone had the same sort of experience as me. Good luck

 

[sharonm153]

I found out i was having a baby boy at my 20 week scan , the lady doing the scan said she would check everything 1st and tell us at the end but she pointed his bits out almost straight away as it was pretty obvious .
My best friend went for her 20 week scan at the same hospital and her baby had her legs crossed through out the whole scan, she was realy keen to find out the sex but baby was not cooperating. When her scan was over the lady asked her to go to the toilet and do a few jumping jacks to try and make baby move. When she went back the baby had uncrossed her legs and they were able to see it was a baby girl. I think as others have said its realy just your luck on who does your scan and how they are feeling that day.
Ive had a few scans now due to previous complications and can honestly say i have found every scan to be an amazing and enjoyable experience.

Hope baby shows what he/she has got down there xx

 

[OliveMartini]

With my DD, at the 20 week scan she wasn't really being too helpful. Had her legs crossed etc. But the scan lady had a good look for about 5 minutes trying to get her to uncross her legs. Eventually she did but the scan lady told me I was having a boy! The girl! Then boy again! Then finally got the head scan lady to give the final call saying girl!!

I was quick lucky in the respect that I had a scan every two weeks from 30 weeks so I got to double check several times.

This time round I had a private scan at Baby Bond. It was an amazing experience. I was told girl straight away. And even I could see, it was that clear. I have my NHS 20 week scan on Tuesday so I will pretend I don't know and ask at the end of the scan for the scan person to check. Fingers crossed they match up!

But my 12 week scan was crap. I didn't get to see ANY of the scan. She had the screen pointing away from me. She was a miserable old bag though, probably was tired and wanted some lunch. So hopefully this time will be a bit nicer of an experience.

ALL that said, it's for medical purposes so I have to keep that in mind if I don't get to find out. As long as baby is healthy, I'm not fussed.

 

[Rees]

Like everyone has said it does depend on where you live and who's doing the scan.

We desperately wanted to know, but DD had her legs crossed, the woman who had her scan before me had to go back in after me because her baby's head was already engaged and they were worried about her and I got sent on my merry way and that was it!

So it also depends on what else is happening! I had a bottle of cold water before the scan and had eaten a mars bar too as I was told on here that it helps, but nothing worked, she was a lazy baby

 

[Pocketmonster]

I've been warned by our midwife that some sonographers can be funny. She said to remember the sole purpose of the scan is to check the baby is well and healthy NOT to tell you the sex.

She said to let her know at the start if you definitely DON'T want to know and they will tell you to look away at certain points as they have to measure the kidneys. But if you want to know she said to ask towards the end of the scan if there was anyway to tell....I think the trick is to play it coy....

 

[squeshie]

OliveM I had a similar experience at my NHS 12 week scan - she was miserable and we were one of her last appointments of the day, felt really deflated after that experience. Particularly as it was a late on, and actually at 14 weekends due to a long waiting list. We ended up going for a private one at 12 weeks just for piece of mind, that was fantastic so clear and thorough. The other one was rushed she didn't tell me to go out or anything, hoping for someone different next Tuesday. I'm having an early scan at almost 19 weeks due to fibroids - fingers crossed and all that jazz!

 

[Robyn321]

Assume your NHS trust is ok about telling you the sex? I know at my one they have a policy of not telling you and say that you shouldn't ask.

We went for a private scan at 16 weeks (had some problems) and once we knew everything was ok we asked on the off-chance whether the dr could see, and straight away he told us we were having a boy and a girl!

 

[EstelSeren]

I was advised to ask at the start of the scan if I wanted to know. I did so that's what I did at my scan yesterday and they were lovely about it! She had her legs crossed but sonographer spent a little while wiggling the wand around and eventually she moved just enough for her to be sure enough to say girl (though she also said she might be wrong as it wasn't the clearest!)!

It's probably worth asking your midwife at your next appointment (I'm assuming this is your 1st and you have an appointment at 16 weeks!) what the policy at your hospital is so you won't be disappointed if you turn up and they're not allowed to tell or something!

Beca :wave:

 

[oox_tasha_xoo]

Im going to ask before she starts the scan if possible could they tell me the sex, that way they have longer to look definately going to be having a naughty fizzy drink and some chocolate before scan to get baby moving xxx

 

[Gemmylou86]

My scans have all been great. The first one I had at 15weeks+6... We thought I was 12 but I had a phantom period so we were a month out! We got to see loads and the sonographer really took her time explaining what's what etc.
At 20 weeks we were asked straight away if we wanted to know sex and after she showed us all babys measurements she spent a good while nosing around and told us we had a girl!
Then when I had my OB appt 10 days later she was going to try and listen for hb but the u/s, machine was just sitting there so she said 'sod it, lets have another look at her'

So yeah I guess it all depends. Defo mention it early on if they dont though, and have plenty to drink! Good luck x

 

[poppy666]

Depends if you get a grumpy sonographer or not i went for a gender scan at 17wks so already knew it was a girl so at my 20wk i played dumb to knowing the sex, but she had her legs tightly crossed ( sure all girls are awkward and cross legs lol) Anyways she tried for a few minutes and just said looked girly but wouldnt commit will confirm at my 4D before i go buying pink.

 

[jadesh101]

baby didn't want to show at 17 weeks, nor 21 weeks so at 25 weeks next week OH wants to try one last time lol, but I like not knowing

 

[MammyEvans20]

I cant wait to find out, well hopefully find out lol
My hospital and midwives are great so il ask as soon as i get in there
15th August i have my anomaly scan me and OH are soo excited
But i bet just to be our luck that legs will be closed and we wont know lol

 

[lesleyann]

With my son I had a right grumpy person who at the very end said it looks like it might be a boy, I had already had a gender scan but they did not know that and there was no missing he was a boy.

This time Id already had a gender scan again never told the scanner, the second i got on the bed she asked me if we wanted to know the gender if she could see, so I said yes to have been told 2times girl.

I know some people at my hospital that have not been told though

 

[daffire]

Different places will give you different timeframe of when they do gender determination scan. Starting 16 weeks you can know by ultrasound usually. (not counting skull/nub theory) I am having one next week on sunday (*happy dance*)I will be almost 17 weeks.