O.k. I'm being completely selfish here. I really want to have my "big" 20 week ultrasound earlier than 20 weeks. I have two reasons: 1) We are hoping to find out the genders and it would be really helpful to know before the Moms of Multiples sale which is Sept. 29. The problem is I will only be 18 weeks then. 2) My OB is going on vacation for the whole month of October, so if we have our u/s at 20 weeks, we'll be getting the results from a different doctor. I'm assuming that you have an OB appointment the same day to get the results. Is that typical? I had to call my OB's nurse for another reason and I asked about the possibility of getting the u/s a little earlier and she said it probably wouldn't be an option because the babies wouldn't be developed enough to get all the measurements they want to get. What? I hear about people getting u/s at 18 weeks all the time. What do you think? Is this something I should bring up with my OB at my appointment next week? If so, any thoughts on how to approach the subject?
It might be for insurance purposes that they won't do it earlier. My nurse just explained to me that they only get paid by the insurance for the big 20w u/s, only if it is scheduled for after the mom is 20w. If an u/s is done before that, they don't get paid for the u/s. Maybe that is why they won't do it earlier? I can sympathize with you though. I would want to be able to do some major shopping at the rummage too. Maybe you can still buy some other items like bouncers and gender neutral sleepers and such.
We had our "big" u/s with my DD at 17w3d, but it was because I was measuring 5 weeks ahead and they thought maybe my dates were wrong. The twins were done at 19w4d, so during my 20th week. I would guess like the PP said that it's partially to do with insurance, and I doubt they will budge. But you can surely still shop! Non-gender specific items like car seats, stroller, bouncy seats, cribs, change table, onesies, bath towels, etc are all some ideas.
I agree with all previous posts too.. unless there is a problem, its usually a 20 weekish thing.. insurance compaines are like that..
My OB told me that they could do an u/s at 16 weeks (she acted like she commonly orders one for people at that point), but that things were going well, so we just might skip that since I'll get a lot more u/s after 20 weeks. I wonder why I would be able to get one at 16 weeks and 20 weeks, but not at 18 weeks if it was an insurance issue. I see all kinds of people (on a different forum) talking about their big u/s at 18-19 weeks.
I am not sure why they wouldn't do it either, but it may be what others have posted? For me, I was getting an U/S every four weeks because i was high risk because it was twins...anyway, they did my Big Level II u/s and I was 17 w 2d. They were able to see the sex of babies, but the only problem was that some measurements that they needed, they couldn't get. So it had to be redone. That may play a part in it to? Not sure, at all. But it can't hurt to ask! Good luck!
I guess I was lucky because I had an u/s at every visit. My OB would do one to check h/bs and peri would do a growth u/s, so I got one basically every 2 weeks. We found out at 17w3d it was b/g. But we still had the 20 week growth/measurement scan. I always thought it was done between 18-22 weeks.
You could get an extra one done at one of those 3d/4d places to tell the gender but there is no guarantee your babies will corporate. My twin A was very stubborn. I did not know what she was until 20 weeks. Twin B I knew was a boy at my 17 week u/s.
You can definitely do it earlier...sometimes it just not the procedure :db: the doctor goes with. It doesn't hurt to talk to your doctor and try anyway. You don't have to give reasons, just that you'd like to know the sexes sooner. As my FIL says, if you don't ask the answer is no.
We had our scan at 19.5 weeks. They can't do it too early or the measurements can't be taken correctly. Sometimes 18 weeks MAY be too early. It's safer to do it closer to 20 weeks so it's not a "wasted" u/s, kwim? Not that seeing the babies is a waste but there are insurance reasons..etc.
I didn't have an OB appt on the day of our BigU/S. I just went straight to the lab and home. It took almost 2 hrs and I was so uncomfortable toward the end! Good luck; I hope you get to go sooner.
I don't know why they won't let you do it earlier. I was pretty persistent when I called my peri to set up my first appointment that I wanted it around 18 weeks, and that I would come back in at 20 weeks as well if they needed more measurements. They told me around 18 weeks was actually a perfect time for twins. I went in at 17 weeks 5 days, and the babies were measureing at 18 weeks 3 days. I was a little shocked at the genders revealed (2 girls) but completely relieved about all the measurements and growth, and it really put my mind at ease. I feel like I can relax now through the rest of my pregnancy and enjoy it, instead of stressing. I also have started going crazy thinking about pink things!
Like someone else said, I didn't have an OB appt on the same day as my big u/s either. Mine just discussed the results with me at my next ob appt. I think I had mine during my 20th week. If your doctor won't change the date, you may want to consider paying for one of those 3D ones if your budget allows. One that I looked at had a package that started at $99. Good luck! Cary
They sent me in for my first perinatal level 2 u/s at 15 weeks.. I still had a big u/s at 20 weeks, just b/c that's the best time for them to get a good look at the hearts and other organs.... But we found out the genders at 15 weeks... I'm surprised that they are not doing another u/s on you between now and then anyway. You don't need a big fancy u/s to determine genders...any old u/s will do.
I would definitely tell your OB's office of your concerns...most likely it could be that they won't do it sooner is because they fear the measurements won't be right and/or the insurance might give them a hard time about it. When I had mine done, I was 19 weeks and I also had an OB appointment the same day...but my office wants me to have an U/S every month and also see a doctor the same day...so that could just depend on how your office chooses to handle things. Good luck and let us know how you make out!
I was able to get mine the day I turned 18 weeks. They said they were able to observe everything well at that point except for the heart function. So at 18 weeks I had my big ultrasound (which was two hours), then I went back again at 20 weeks for another that checked things that couldn't be seen well at my 18 week appointment (the 2nd ultrasound lasted 1.5 hours). That may be why they specifically want you to wait until 20 weeks. There are things that aren't developed and large enough yet at 18 weeks that they will want to observe.
I got an u/s at 18 weeks but it was mostly because they are checking my cervix. We only found out one babies sex at that time, the other didn't cooperate. They tried again at 20 weeks and same thing. Finally got a firm confirmation just last week that both are girls.
Just thought I'd update on this thread I started. I had an OB appointment two days ago. I asked my doctor what she thought about having my u/s two weeks earlier. She said that if I was having a singleton she would have me wait since she'd want to make sure everything was developed enough to see what they needed. But, since I am having twins and will have quite a few u/s, she was o.k. with having it early. If we don't get a good view of something, we can check it at a later u/s. She said she needed me to know that the babies may not cooperate to show gender and there was a possibility that they could be wrong, but if I am o.k. with that, she's o.k. with that. I love my doctor. She is so accomodating! We haven't had an u/s since 13 weeks, so I'm anxious to see the babies again and be sure everything is looking good anyway. So, we're having the u/s on Sept. 27 when I'll be 18w2d. Woo hoo!
Had mine at 18 weeks 2 days. Had no problem with insurance, but I would assume they all have different rules about that. Sure they grow in those 2 weeks, but I am not sure what the big deal would be for them. I know with my Dr. I paid an extra $100 to the 3D on that appt, so if you could get 3D at one of those other places for around that amount, it may be worth it to you. BTW - those MoM sales are great!!!!
