Ultrasound Tech Wrong

Pretty sure that 16 weeks is a little early to tell. I was told by my ultrasound tech that the only sure fire guaruntee was if you've got a boy who likes to roll over and show off. I would wait for a second ultrasound before you paint the room pink.

My ultrasound said I had a healthy baby. He was born with missing forearms, severe heart defects, missing thumbs, etc. He had trisomy 18 and only lived for three days. I had a level II ultrasound because I thought that if it had any problems, I would then do amniocentesis, which would have identifed the Trisomy 18. Since it was normal, I did not have the amnio. So yes they can be wrong....

Yes, the gender ultrasound diagnosis can be wrong if the baby is in a 'difficult position'.

Years ago while I was listening to the Lanigan & Malone radio show early in the morning, Tony Rizzo was also on the air. Tony and his wife were expecting their second child and according to the ultrasound technician -- the child was a girl. Well, the UT was wrong. Tony Rizzo and his wife got a surprise. Their second child was a boy. Obviously, the boy was hiding his male organs.
Tony Rizzo is the sports broadcaster for Channel 8.

If it is that critical to find the gender, have another ultrasound at a later date or talk it over with the doctor.

The ultrasound tech thought my nephew was a girl. Guess not. He's definitely all boy.

I believe the numbers are 95% of "It's a boy" US readings are correct and 80% of "It's a girl" are correct.
I have no experience with it, we didn't want to spoil the surprise.

Definitely a little early to be sure it's a girl. If it was a boy, maybe, but girls are a little more difficult to pinpoint. If your OB won't do another ultrasound after 20 weeks, then maybe you can splurge and get a 3D or 4D one done as a treat for yourself. Most places that do them will let you come back for free for another one if the baby isn't cooperating and showing the goods.

They can definitely be wrong. We know a couple people that were told they were having the opposite of what they were. We also were told our son was fine and he was born with a soft cleft palate (granted that is inside the mouth, not the lip so it would be harder to see) but all the testing they did showed he would be fine so it was quite a shock. On the other end of the spectrum we know of a couple that was told their baby was going to have multiple birth defects and that they should consider aborting, they refused and their little guy is a very happy and HEALTHY 2 year old now.

Hi-
I hate to say it, but I am very skeptical of all ultrasounds, due to a big mistake they made on mine in my most recent pregnancy, and after talking to several other mothers who also were told inaccuracies. They definitely make mistakes, and we just have to go with them or get second opinions. Just make sure insurance is covering whatever you do...many only allow one. Congratulations on a healthy baby whatever the sex may be!

Hi Dannieelle, I am an L&D nurse and I've never had a patient that the sex was wrong, but US is never 100%. It was wrong with the weight of my son and I've seen other mistakes by US. With my son, we chose not to find out the sex, but at the 20 week Us, I don't think we could have even if we wanted to because his he never got into a good position. But, you could also have had a young tech. You can always ask for another one!

Well this is right up my ally, so to speak, as I have been an ultrasound tech for 15 years, and have done mostly ob/gyn. So I will educate you all a bit. lol

First of all and this is very important, ultrasound is very user dependent, meaning how much and what kind of training the tech has had, or a doctor even for that matter(in ultrasound). So if you have a fairly new or inexperienced tech, you are more likely to have more mistakes or issues missed. I am ARDMS, which means I am a registered tech. That means that I had to go thru extensive, very tough exams to get that registry, much like the doctors have to go thru to get their licenses. The American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) are trying to get it to where a tech can't perform an ultrasound without this registry, and although it is getting tougher for techs who are not registered, to get jobs, it is still not always a requirement. So, with that said, always check to see if your tech is registered. Also check to see if they are registered in OB/Gyn, because that is a special exam you have to take to be registered in ob/gyn. I know of many techs who are not registered who perform these exams every day. I believe it should be a requirement in order for them to scan.

I seen a post below where someone had a trisomy 18 baby that was said to be normal. All I can say is that you HAD to have an inexperienced tech to miss that. I am very sorry for you loss.

Ok, now to the sex of the baby. Again, experience plays a big role here, but at 16 weeks it is really tough to determine the sex, except boys you can sometimes tell at that age. I have seen boys as early as 14 weeks, but girls you cannot tell that early. Unfortunately some insurances will only pay for one ultrasound, which I think is crazy, I believe you should have one for each trimester, but who am I? Right? lol. But like another tech said, if all the anatomy of the baby isnt seen, then usually that is a good reason to get another one that insurance will pay for. Then, also, there are times when the baby is just in a position that we just cant tell what it is. I have tried and tried on some babies, had mom turn over, and back, and still to no avail. Guess some of them just dont want to "tell".

But, yes, in the world of ultrasound, there still are no certainties, and we, even with lots of experience dont always pick up everything, we try, but sometimes it just isnt possible. Like the woman who had the baby with the small cleft palate inside the mouth. That would be very difficult to pick up if there was no abnormality in the lips.

I hope this helps all of you understand a little more about ultrasound. Always check for experience and for registered techs to make sure you get the best scan possible for you and your baby. :)

My mom was an ultra sound tech for over ten years, and did ultrasounds for both my kids. Typically, until 18 - 20 wks gestation, its difficult to tell the sex of the baby, and "guesses" could be wrong.

Hi Dannielle,
My sister was told she was definitely having a girl for her 2nd. She had a name picked out, bought a bunch of girls clothes, etc, etc, then at about 32 weeks they said, "Oops, we were wrong. It is a boy!" Quite a shock, but they were thrilled regardless. Just had lots of things to return! So, you never know...16 weeks is pretty early to tell, too. Good luck!!!

I'm glad you asked this; I learned a lot from the responses!!

I think they can be more likely wrong saying it's a girl, by not seeing the....stem on the apple =) But saying it's a boy when it's not? That seems a little unlikely and a little scary! If they are unsure to do position, they should say so and schedule another appt.

Yes! Our DOCTOR was wrong. He said that he was confident that our baby was a girl at our 20 week ultrasound... he was so so confident. I ended up switching OBGYN offices at 35 weeks for several other unrelated problems, and had a second ultrasound at 36 weeks - 3 days after a very girlie baby shower! It was very very evident that we were having a boy! That was my experience...