I have an ultrasound today at 2 pm. First pregnancy I wanted to know at first but they wouldn't tell me in the early stages. By the time I had my second US I was almost ready to pop so I said forget, let it be a surprise.

I'm now 6 months so they will probably tell me if I ask, DH says he wants to know, I'm not sure. I think it might ruin the surprise, although when Matt was born I was so worn out I really didn't care, I could have given birth to a cat for all it mattered.

Part of me wants to be prepared and the other wants to just leave it alone. I heard that they are now charging $80 to tell you - this is ridiculous in my opinion, I certainly will not pay.

Did you want to know?

By Melanie on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 12:20 pm:

I found out with all three. For me, it was a good part of the bonding process. We had all three named before they were born, so I would talk to my babies and call them by name. I loved being able to buy "boy" or "girl" outfits for them before they were born. And we had their rooms all decorated. I loved knowing.

By Rayanne on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 12:21 pm:

I wanted to know. I wanted to be able to plan out the room and get all the clothes. I couldn't stand not knowing. I would have gone insane.

They didn't charge me to find out. I have never heard of that. WOW!!!

Good luck...and of course let us know

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 12:22 pm:

This is a personal choice that differs for everyone. We chose to be surprised both times. *IF* I had another baby (slim chance, LOL!), I'd want to be surprised again.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 01:12 pm:

For my second, I think I want to wait. I was so nervous about our first, but with our next one, I wanted something to be a surprise. Especially since I know I'll need a C-section.
Plus, girls are few and far between in our family, so if it ended up being a girl...then WOAH...our family would go seriously nuts!

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 01:13 pm:

We found out...I'm like Rayanne, would have been insane if I didn't know. Never heard of charging you for it, unless it's by your request and not recommended by your doc. I know sometimes insurance won't pay for it unless doc wants it done, but that's all I've ever heard of.
Weird thing for me though is, I'd probably pay because that's how badly I personally would need to know!!!!

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 01:22 pm:

I had multiple US because I was high risk. At one they could only see Shane, and the other they could only see Madison. So we knew we were having at least one boy, and then a few weeks later we were pretty sure we were having one boy and one girl. It wasn't until the end of my pregnancy that we could confirm both at the same time!! I've never heard of charging to tell you, basically it's a "If we see and can tell, we'll tell you." thing. They dont generally go out of their way to find out for you, so there is no reason to charge.

By Colette on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 01:23 pm:

They are charging you to find out??? That's ridiculous. Do you get your money back if they are wrong? I found out with all 3, but if they told me I was going to be charged for that service, I'd be looking for a new practice. I liked knowing. I liked buying boy or girl stuff and having all the decorating done.

By Kaye on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 01:30 pm:

I didn't know with my 1st and 3rd and did know with my 2nd. My choice is the suprise. Someone mentioned bonding better, in my case it is kind of funny that my middle one is my hardest to bond with (and I knew with him). I think for me my concern was they woudl be wrong, so even if when I knew I was not 100% (although they offered to redecorate if it wasn't a boy).

Another funny thing, we only had 1 name with each child, we just couldn't agree on the other sex name. So with my dd, if she had been a boy we knew it would be something charles, but didn't know the something.

By Heaventree on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 01:49 pm:

Sorry about all the confusion and charging, I'm in Canada. We have a different healthcare system then you guys do. My doctor said the radiologists have just found a way to make some money, that's why they do it. It has nothing to do with insurance, the actual US is covered by our provincial healthcare.

By Clarabel on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 02:19 pm:

Let us know what you find out.Are you feeling like it's a girl or another boy.
As you know, I found out mine is another boy and it really threw me first so I'm glad I have some time to prepare for it.
If they say it's a boy, it's like a 95% chance of
being a boy, but if they say it's a girl, there is a much lower chance of it being a girl.
Healthy baby...that's all that matters,right?

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 02:36 pm:

It's a personal thing. When I had my kids, U/S were not routinely done. If I had had the opportunity to know, I think I would have, but I guess I can't really say since I wasn't actually in that position. I know I DID wonder throughout both pregnancies what the sex of the babies were. But I think I knew in my gut, especially with Jen, what they were.

By Kaye on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 03:26 pm:

Clarbel I actually heard differently about sexing babies. With a girl they look for 3 white dots in the abdomal area, i guess ovaries and uterous? With a boy they just look for a penis, which could be an arm or the umbilical cord. Interesting...i wonder what the real story is!

By Kate on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 04:38 pm:

Yes, I've always heard that an ultrasonically diagnosed girl is about 99% accurate, but a boy can be fifty fifty....

I would find out. I found out for both of mine and I wouldn't have had it any other way. If I'd had to pay, I'd have paid, no question. You are going to be surprised at SOME point...why not at four months instead of nine?

By Pamt on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 04:58 pm:

No way! I have 2 boys and didn't find out either time. I love surprises, but then again I was the kid who always knew where my Christmas gifts were hidden and never peeked because I love the anticipation. I didn't want to know until the day and it was very motivational for me during the labor and pushing process. Not knowing didn't affect my bonding a bit and that moment in the delivery room when the OB and nurses yell out, "It's a ...!!!" is very exciting. There is much fanfare and to-do about it and the doctors and nurses had fun guessing and wanting to know during delivery. I decorated in plaid and sleepers and newborn clothes are pretty genderless and then I went shopping and had showers AFTER the fact. I think there are too few surprises in life.

By Frasersmama on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 05:04 pm:

Heaventree,

Do they charge just for telling you, or is it if you get an u/s just to find out? Too bad if they are charging just for telling, I guess we aren't paying our radiologists quite enough here in Canada

By Heaventree on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 05:08 pm:

We're home, they wouldn't tell me, they'll send a report to my Dr. I'll know June 1st when I go and see him. I got a beautiful picture of the head though, I'll post it later in the photo section. At least they didn't charge us.

The tech was really good though, she told us everything looked great, heart, kidneys, bladder, stomach, hands, feet, they just couldn't get a good shot of the spine, so I might have to go back. She said she thought everything was fine but need just a few more pictures. They usually don't tell you a thing.

By Rayanne on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 05:47 pm:

I'm glad that everything went well and that the baby looks healthy.
You'l have to let us know what your doctor says, if you do decide to find out.

By Heaventree on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 06:35 pm:

Frasersmama, I'm not sure why they are charging, I didn't ask the tech. I went to the hospital so they probably don't charge there. I think they probably should charge if you are just going to determine the sex. I had to wait 45 minutes past my appointment time, our system is slow enough without people making unnecessary appointments and putting undue stress on the health care situation. I think they should be charging a lot more for unnecessary services, why should we pay with our tax dollars? Anyway don't get me started!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 08:35 pm:

I'm glad the baby is healthy! It is fun to see them actually moving around in there and I found out why I was getting kicked in the bladder all the time, with my first one. Her feet were right above it! LOL! I don't think Emily spent much time feet-down, since I maybe got kicked in the bladder once, the whole time I was pregnant with her.

I did have US at 20 weeks with both of mine, but neither time did I find out. My girls were both a surprise to be found out on the day of delivery! I thought my first one was a boy, since she was very active inside of me! Was I surprised, when I found out she was a girl! LOL!

I didn't have any preconceived notions the second time around. Whatever it was, it was!