How soon can I have a baby gender scan? Is a question we are asked frequently. With the excitement of having a baby, it’s understandable many women are keen to find out as early as possible if they are having a boy or a girl.
A baby gender scan usually takes place during the second routine scan of your pregnancy, if you request it; however, it can take place sooner if you book with a private clinic. The sex of your baby is identified by your sonographer through images formed by the waves created during the ultrasound scan.
When Can I Have A Baby Gender Scan?
On the NHS, this scan usually takes place between 18 to 21 weeks into your pregnancy. Most private clinics offer the scan from 16 weeks, while we at The Gynae Centre are able to offer a baby gender scan from 12 weeks.
The reason that a sonographer is unlikely to be able to correctly identify a baby’s sex before 12 weeks is because, before this time, both male and female genitalia appear identical. How are we able to offer a baby gender scan at 12 weeks? We have some of the UK’s finest Consultant Gynaecolgists. Dr Eskander has over 30 years experience in ultrasound gender identification. In fact, we’re so confident, we offer 99% accuracy or your money back.
What Happens During A Baby Gender Scan?
At your scan, you will be asked to lie on a bed in a dimly lit room in a clinic with your top pulled up to expose your abdomen. Your sonographer will then apply a cold gel to your abdomen area, which improves the connection between the ultrasound probe and your skin. The sonographer will run the probe over your skin with medium pressure. Apart from the coolness of the gel and pressure of the probe, this procedure is unlikely to be uncomfortable.
The probe will send out ultrasound waves, and pick them up when they reflect off the foetus. This forms a black and white image of the foetus on the ultrasound screen. Your sonographer will be able to use this image to identify your baby’s sex by the appearance of its genitalia. Sometimes the lower part of the baby is in the pelvis close to the vagina, in this case a vaginal ultrasound may be carried out with your consent. If you prefer not to have an internal scan we may ask you to fill your bladder and repeat the scan from the abdomen after 30-60 minutes.
How Long Does A Baby Gender Scan Take?
If your baby is in the right position for the consultant to detect its sex, your scan will likely take around 20 to 30 minutes. If your baby is lying in an awkward position or if they are moving around a lot, you may have to wait up to an hour for he or she to turn or settle down. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell whether your baby is in the right position for a sexing scan until you have the ultrasound.
Can Ultrasound Harm Me Or My Baby?
There is no evidence to support the possibility of harming a mother or baby with ultrasound.
Ultrasound does not use radiation like X-rays do. Instead, the ultrasound utilises soundwaves to produce an image. The ultrasound probe transmits high-frequency (one to five megahertz) sound pulses into your body, which bounce back into the probe when they hit a boundary between tissues (for example, between fluid and soft tissue, or soft tissue and bone). The sound waves hit different boundaries at different times, allowing the ultrasound to create an image based on where the ultrasound bounces back.
The Cost Of A Baby Gender Scan
At The Gynae Centre, we offer a baby gender scan from as early as 12 weeks. This test has a 99% accuracy rate, with a money back guarantee.
To book a scan at our clinic in central London, simply book online, email us at ask@gynae-centre.co.uk or call our friendly admin team who will be happy to answer any queries you may have. Call us now on 020 7580 8090.
