Do you want to find out the gender of your baby?

Finding out if you're pregnant with a girl or a boy is a divisive topic. Parents basically fall into two camps: those who can't see the point of waiting nine months to find out what colour to paint the nursery and like to be prepared and those who don't want to spoil the surprise (some say it's like knowing what you've got for Christmas in June).

Some parents decide to find out their baby's sex but keep the news to themselves - and in some cases just one parent will opt to be told and keep it a secret from their partner. Others argue that telling siblings the sex of the baby can help them prepare and adjust in advance to the new arrival and that knowing the sex of their baby can make them feel closer and bond (and have more time to think of a name!). Finding out the sex of your baby is a very personal decision - and certainly one that previous generations didn't have to ponder.

Sometimes though there may be an important medical reason why you might want to confirm the sex of your baby, for instance where a genetic chromosomal disorder is only inherited by boys or girls.

When is gender determined?

The sex of your baby is decided at fertilisation. Although the external sex organs start to form from around six weeks, external male and female genitalia are not distinguishable from each other until 16 to 18 weeks and are not usually fully formed until 20 weeks gestation, so early scans can't tell you if you are having a boy or a girl.

Baby gender scans

Whether you decide to find out your baby's sex or not is entirely down to you. No sonographer worth their salt will let the crucial details slip unless you have expressly requested the information. But these days it's possible to find out your baby's sex with a specific ultrasound gender scan or as part of an anomaly scan or growth scan from 16 weeks to 24 weeks.

Gender scans are the most popular private baby scans in the UK, according to Ultrasound Direct - a leader in diagnostic private ultrasound across the UK, highlights that more and more new parents are being tempted to find out the sex of their baby in advance. Routine early scans performed between 9 and 11 weeks can't tell you your baby's sex and some parents just find it's too long to wait until the next routine scan at around 18 to 20 weeks, so some opt for a private baby gender scan.
Also, some hospitals have a policy of not telling parents the sex of their baby during a routine scan - and this is another reason why some parents opt for a private gender scan.

What happens during a private gender scan?

It's not necessary to have a full bladder for a gender scan so you won't have to drink a litre of fluid beforehand. Do wear separates though (a top and skirt or leggings) as opposed to a dress as the sonographer will need easy access to your tummy to apply the gel and ultrasound probe.

During a 20 minute appointment your sonographer will not only look at your baby's sex organs, but check your baby's general wellbeing too, measuring fetal heartbeat and movement and size, to make sure they are developing normally.

Whilst ultrasound gender scans are highly accurate, none can claim to be 100 per cent, so always bear that in mind. Expert’s say a lot depends on the skill of the sonographer. Ultrasound Direct says their gender scans are more than 99 per cent accurate.

If your baby's position is not ideal you might be asked to get up and take a walk to encourage the baby to get up and move around so that the sonographer can get a better view of the crucial organs.