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The sex of the baby..how soon to test

908 Views 21 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  the_lissa, 
P
Ladies.., another question for you.

How soon into your pregnancy did you test for the sex of your baby?

How soon, does the doctor recommend?

HOW did you find out the sex of the baby (regular ultra sound, other)?

good energy floating to all..
Princess
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R
As an older mom, I had an ultrasound at 15 weeks in order to do a triple marker test to look for certain birth defects. That's the primary reason I had the ultrasound, but I did find out my daughter's sex at that time.


If I had been younger, I would have wanted to know the sex, but I'm not sure I would have had the test just for that.
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A
I wasn't ever interested in knowing the sex of my baby before he was born.
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E
We checked when I had a routine ultrasound at 16 or 17 weeks (might have been 18 weeks, can't remember for sure.) We didn't find out though because baby was just not into showing so we found out for sure when she was born.
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T
I never wanted to find out the sex before my children were born. My research and health history led me to have very little in the way of prenatal testing. It was fun to be able to see for myself as they were born.
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annakiss
moved to I'm Pregnant.
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M
I had a nuchal transulcency test and 2D u/s at 13w5d and the doc was *quite confident* I was having a boy. He confirmed this at my 20 week appt. and says after 18 weeks, he's never been wrong. 3.5 weeks and counting to find out if he's right!!
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liseux
My placenta was acting crazy so I had to have an u/s at 13 w, where we saw a little boy. I didn`t know if I wanted to know, but I looked and it was unmistakable!
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B
I have not had any ultrasounds as I feel the technology has not been proven safe (i.e. documented cellular changes following u/s exposure). That said, if there was a medical reason to have one (like many mamas on here have experienced), the benefits can outweigh the risks.

"Routine" ultrasounds are not necessary and do not improve outcomes. I think its sad that many people would expose their child to u/s simply to find out the sex. That is not a medical reason for this technology.

Some people think that people who are anti u/s are crazy, but the truth is it wasn't long ago that they X-rayed pregnant women and concluded it was safe and the babies were "fine" until they found out the cancer connection later.

Cellular changes that are permanent skeeve me out.

Again, I do not judge people who have u/s for medical reasons, but I find the casual use of u/s (esp in shopping malls, 3D etc.) to be truly unbelievable.

XOXO
B
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kerikadi
Quote:

Originally Posted by BethSLP
"Routine" ultrasounds are not necessary and do not improve outcomes. I think its sad that many people would expose their child to u/s simply to find out the sex. That is not a medical reason for this technology.
:

Keri
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P
Ladies, just bear with me. I am a FIRST time mother, who thought I would not have children as I got older. So for this to be happening now, is so exciting for me. Knowing the sex of my baby is just something a part of the excitement, for me.

There are many second and third time moms on this board, and I am grateful for all the knowledge that you are passing on to someone as myself. But please be kind when making some comments. I would like to continue to feel comfortable posting the most 'idiotic questions' here, not because I think it is cute, but because I want to be educated..informed.

Thanks ladies..hope to keep on posting
princess
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S
Between 12-16 weeks, the sex *can* be detected but it is very easy to confuse swollen labia and boy parts. That's why most techs won't tell you until after 16 weeks.

I've heard too many stories of moms who were told really early (12-16 weeks) that they were having a boy only to find out later it was a girl.
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J
I'd wait until 20 weeks to try to find out. As long as the sex organs aren't being hid by a modest babe they are fully developed enough to tell, though there can always be mistakes. That darned cord can sometimes cause confusion. If you were to get too excited and try to do it a month earlier, you will likely wonder if you did it too soon, so why not wait another month till the sex organs are much more developed.
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kerikadi
I don't think anyone was unkind, just stated our personal opinions. Me saying that I would not have an U/S to determine the sex of my unborn child is not unkind, it is my personal opinion.

Based on your other post you have already decided to get an amnio so they will be able to tell you with certainty when you get those results.

Keri
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T
I didn't see any unkind comments either. No one said "don't find out the gender." They said that they didn't want to and why. I don't understand why anyone would take that personally. I found out with both my pregnancies, and none of the comments bothered me.
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Stayathomemommy
though the comments made by some were not "unkind" they werent nessesary. the questions asked were

"How soon into your pregnancy did you test for the sex of your baby?

How soon, does the doctor recommend?

HOW did you find out the sex of the baby (regular ultra sound, other)?"

so if you dont believe in ultrasounds or didnt have them in your own pregnancy i dont see how you can really contibute to the posters questions.

that said.............i think the ultimate time to determine sex of baby is between 20-24 weeks. with my first i just had the one routine ultrasound then when i would get to see the sex. with my twins i had many more ultrasounds and found out earlier. and with this pregnancy i found out at 18 weeks i think. if you are only having one then try and hit the 20-24 week mark if you really want to know. If i hadnt wanted to know the sex of my babies i probably wouldnt have done a u/s. i dont think the measurements they take are very accurate and false readings can do more harm then good. i am just one of those crazies that have to prepare and would go nuts not knowing the sex.
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T
Just because a comment is unnecessary doesn't mean it shouldn't be said. That is the nature of message boards. If someone said "when should I go to the hospital when I am in labour?" I think it would be fine if people said "I didn't go to the hospital because I had a home birth." It is all about offering differing points of view- the beauty of message boards.
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liseux
"I've heard too many stories of moms who were told really early (12-16 weeks) that they were having a boy only to find out later it was a girl."

Awesome! That would be neat if my boy (seen at 13 w) turned out to be a girl.
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L
Quote:

Originally Posted by liseux
"I've heard too many stories of moms who were told really early (12-16 weeks) that they were having a boy only to find out later it was a girl."

Awesome! That would be neat if my boy (seen at 13 w) turned out to be a girl.
I had one of those, sort of. I had an U/S at 12 weeks and the gender was unclear. But it was looking more like a boy (I even have the pic with "stuff" sticking out from between the legs). Turns out it was swollen/developing clitoris and labia.

To the OP, during the U/S for my amnio, the tech was pretty sure it was a girl. The FISH result, 48 hours later, confirmed this. I was 15 weeks. You may well be able to tell the sex during the amnio, but you will know for certain when you get the results. HTH!
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S
It is also good to hear the "I didn't/wouldn't stories" to know that there is an alternative and to question if that alternative is right for you or to confirm an already made decision. Sometimes it sucks hearing it when that is not what you want to hear.
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