Its not 'policy' to tell you the sex of the baby on ultrasound!?

Question

I am getting an ultrasound... its just a dating scan. I could be 15 - 16 weeks.

It said on the hospital's letter in bold print on a generic looking letter,

"It is the policy of the Australian Sonographer's Association not to u se ultrasound to determine the sex of the fetus"

I was like, what the hell? What sort of policy is this?

I was going to ask if they could see the sex or not. But I dont wanna ask now!

Can anyone explain this?

Answer 1

They wont just tell you but you can ask and these days they dont say its a boy or a girl they use the phrase "it looks like a ....." Then it cant come back on them that they told you the wrong thing.

Answer 2

Ultrasounds have been known to be incorrect when determining the sex of the baby. I knew a woman who was told she was having a boy and it was a girl, so imagine the shock she got when it was born!! It may not be the policy to determine the sex of the baby because you are really having the ultrasound to determine dates. Sometimes the baby is not in the correct position to see what sex it is and couples have come away disappointed. See what happens on the day, the sonographer might ask you if you want to know the sex if it is clearly visible, or if she seems approachable ask her. The only definite way to determine the sex of a baby is by amnio. and it's not a good idea to have such an invasive procedure just to determine the sex of your baby. Anyway what ever happened to the surprise at the end, you should be hoping for a healthy, happy baby and not worry about if it is a boy or a girl.

Answer 3

I think you have misunderstood what the letter tells you. It doesn't mean they refuse to tell you, and yes, you have every right to find out if it's possible, but it could be still too early to tell at this stage or the baby may not be in the correct position. The letter is simply stating that, ultrasound isn't used for the sole purpose of determining the sex of your baby and should not be. Ultrasound is only used to check the gestation, or any medical concern related to your pregnancy. That's all it's saying as a lot people have demanded ultrasound for the simple purpose of checking the sex of a baby.

Answer 4

I would ask I've never heard of anything like that before but I got my ultrasounds done at RPA hospital in sydney. You usually can't determine the sex until 18 to 20 weeks and thats when most people have ultrasounds. Ring them up and ask them to explain the policy it might be because they have gotten it wrong before wouldn't be the first time that something like that has happened. They told my friend she was having a boy then a girl then a boy but in the end it turned out t was a girl luckily she bought neutral colours. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Answer 5

She showed me the sex organs but even so I could not work out if it was a boy or girl. Is it obvious if you are having a boy, what would I have seen if it was a girl. I now I won't find out until the birth but I'm just wondering if anyone could explain what I would of seen if it was a girl

Answer 6

I think maybe they won't just come out and tell you if you don't ask and that won't be held liable if they are wrong since it is never 100% certain.

I've had 7 ultrasounds altogether (the last one was yesterday!!) and with my first child, she had the first 5 of them, they would always ask me if I wanted to know and I said no. With the second I only had one scan at 18wks and they asked again, this time I said yes. Obviously yesterday they couldn't tell yet because I am only 7 wks along.

After you find out how far along you are I would be asking what the sex is (if its over 16wks or they won't be able to tell properly) and if they say no well you haven't lost anything.

best of luck and congratulations!!

Answer 7

If you want to know, ASK.
If they refuse, tell them to show you that area. Look for the classic 3 parallel lines (girl). Someone on here told you that 23 weeks is the earliest that you can find out and that is just bologna. Where do people come up with this stuff?
Go to youtube.com and put in the search engine "15 week ultrasounds" and start familiarizing yourself with what they look like. It's fairly easy to see at 15 weeks.
Good luck and congrats.

Answer 8

one must remember the sonologist may not always get a good view of the perineum (private parts) of the fetus for a variety of reasons and therefore may not furnish you with an "accurate" answer. One really needs to put this question to the person who performs the scan. He or she is the only person to be in the position to tell you just how accurate "that" particular diagnosis is at that particular scan.

Answer 9

I believe they mean they just don't blurt it out. Like, "Oh look! You're having two girls and a... er... what the hell is that!"


If you want to know, ASK. You have every right to know, since the fetus is growing inside you. If they won't tell you, go somewhere else.

Answer 10

if i am thinking correctly this is because they do not perform the ultrasound solely to determine the gender.

however i would ask because at times they can determine the gender and would be willing to tell you.

why not ask, worse they will do is tell you no.

good luck!!!

and you can find out as early as 16 weeks, but keep in mind it is not 100% accurate.