Sex Determination at 16 Weeks?

I had ultrasounds with all three pregnancies at about 16 wks for date confirmation and health of the fetus. My ob had told me that they weren't 100% accurate for determining the sex because, especially for boys, positioning is everything, legs could be crossed, their backs could be facing you, a variety of things. Even as the fetus became more developed, it wasn't foolproof and he told me about a fellow ob who had 3 girls and was so hoping for a boy, his wife had an ultrasound, girl #4 was on her way. Imagine their surprise when a bouncing baby boy emerged a few weeks later. It's nice to know for some, just remember that all babies are gifts, surprise packages...

Enjoy and get some rest, if possible with two babes, having 2 under two plus a toddler will be fun but extremely busy.

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I have a friend who is an ultrasonagrapher and he hates doing ultrasounds before 19 weeks, because the abnormalities he has to look for are more difficult to detect earlier. As far as sex determination, it is all about positioning, sometimes they cooperate, sometimes they don't.

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I have heard of people tentatively finding out at 18 weeks but then going back after 20-22 weeks to have a more accurate ultrasound. My doc never wanted me to have an ultrasound until at least 21-22 weeks because he felt that this was more accurate. Good Luck!

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It depends on the position and the sex of the baby. If the position allows a peek at the privates it is usually very accurate at this point. Generally boys are easier to identify earlier. I had my ultrasound at 18 weeks and was told I had a girl at that point. The sonograoher was able to actually show me the different parts of the female anatomy in the baby. It was really very clear and I did have a girl.

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P.,
All mine were done at 18 weeks and 2 out of 3 showed themselves. My middle child would not cooperate and we had to wait till the next ultrasound to find out about him:)
I think something to keep in mind is that if the ultrasound tech tells you the sex they are always as sure as they can be or they wont say anything at all:)

K.

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all three if mine were done at fifteen weeks and were dead on every time. i think it has to do with whether or not little one wants to show off the goods or lack there of any. they can usually get within about 100% accuracy. if they think there is a possiblilty of them being wrong they will let you know normally.

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I had my first ultrasound at 13 weeks and they were able to tell me that it was a boy and a girl. And I had subsequent ultrasounds because of the twin pregnancy and each time they told me b/g and they were right. Like others have said, it's about baby positioning.

I had a friend how had at least two ultrasounds and she was told a boy both times and she ended up have a girl and it was quite the shock to them when she was born.

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I have a book with wonderful pictures of fetus as it grows. They are actual color pictures of the baby floating in the sack. I don't know where it is now. I think I've also seen such pictures on the Internet.

I think you should be able to see your babys sex by 18 weeks. I have 3kids and that is around when I found out they where boys. But I hear sometimes the babys legs are closed for some reason. you must want a boy. well any way good luck to you and your husband. And have fun with your girls.

Hi there-
I went in for an ultrasound to date the pregnancy (turns out I was 14 weeks), and they were able to see the sex at that time, so it is possible. But, as you know, it all depends if the baby will be in the right position. So my only advise is don't get your hopes up that you will for sure find out the sex. Good Luck!:)

Like you have already heard, it depends, my first child wouldnt let us see until 32 weeks, I had 8 ultrasounds before she finally let us see ( she is still a turkey!) our second we knew @15 weeks, she let us have it, now I am preggo with #3 and 11 weeks, I plan to have my ultrasound done at 16 weeks and I am going to pay to have the 3D one done @ 20 weeks ( they gaurentee gender identification) but it costs about 100 bucks. So best of luck either way your baby is a blessing! And think BOY for me :)

Keep your scheduled ultrasound - doing it a little later is better than earlier due to development (a ton happens from week to week!). But, and I know this is redundant, it really is all about positioning and how shy the baby is. Even at 31 weeks we're only kind of sure it's a boy b/c the little one keeps crossing their legs. I am not holding my breath...my other two were dated at 20 weeks and were accurate (then again they weren't shy!). A later ultrasound also means that if there's anything else of note (a fibroid in my case) it has a better chance of showing up. The time will go by way quick - I know it doesn't feel it but this is coming from a gal who swears day one of this pregnancy was last week!

I'm going to do the counter-culture thing ...

PLEASE check out autism rates in technological countries, and how they are directly related to socialization of medicine (therefore greater proportion of prenatal ultrasound) ... the semi-panic from the OB's and pediatricians when the mall-ultrasound picture-shops went in ... the increases in autism, heart defects, and genital defects that are time-correspondent to use of prenatal ultrasound (where are the areas we most focus ultrasounds?) ... the descriptions of ultrasound procedures used on adults (example, kidney stone destruction) ... types of heat caused by ultrasound in tissues (bone retains heat longer) ... Summer 2006 saw studies published (in the Associated Press!!) that in mice prenatal ultrasound exposure was directly proportional to the specific types of neurological damage associated with autism in humans ...

remember that OBs told women in the 70's that prenatal x-rays were safe
know that the medical guidelines in America have ALWAYS been that it shouldn't be used prenatally beyond diagnostic purposes (they reiterated that when the mall shops happened)

and know, that the "doppler" heartbeat-listener is louder and more focussed than the picture machines ... and birth-monitors (those belly-straps) are also ultrasound now ...

if you choose to listen to these ideas, you will have a hard fight ahead of you

with autism in my family, it was a fight I fought, even before the research started to come out supporting my instinctive, intuitive distrust of ultrasound (I had the first OB ultrasound my hand with the Dopp-Tone ... I felt it get warmer, inside, and never accepted the Dopp-Tone again) ...

I am totally totally sorry to be a downer. Once one starts looking, the evidence is stacking up pretty clearly, though :(, and since you haven't yet gone in (so I'm not guilting you, just offering an alternative way of considering the decision), I felt it incumbent to speak ... : ( ...

I had my ultrasound at 16 weeks and they told me the gender of my twins - and they were right!

With baby#1 we had ours done at 20wks, with baby#2 we had at 12wks, with baby #3 we had done at 11wks and with #4 we found out at 17wks. All doctor was correct in all of them. Everyone of them were girls.. :) I wish you the best.

A good ultrasonographer with a good machine will often be able to see the gender at 13-14 weeks, so 18 is definitely far enough along to tell. Sometimes the fetus won't behave and show his/her stuff, but as long as they see the crotch well, they will know.

Congratulations! I have a one and a 2 year old. I had ultrasounds with both at about 18 weeks and found out the sex of the baby. I would say it is pretty acurate at this age but alot has to do with how well the baby will cooperate! If he/she is moving alot then it may be a little more difficult, but it's been accurate with me at that age. I'm sure the Dr. will let you know though. Good luck with it!!
A.