Fetal Heartbeat

This just happened to me in the early stages, except I was 12 weeks. My doctor ordered an ultrasound for that very day and there was the heartbeat. It was scary because you could definitely hear it with my other 2 at 10 and 11 weeks. They said it had something to do with my placental position at the time. I hope everything works out for you, good luck!

It sounds like it is still too early. I don't remember the doctors trying to listen for the heart beat until about the start of the 2nd trimester for me. You should be able to just see the heart beating on an ultrasound.

With my first two (successful) pregnancies, I got one of those fetal Dopplers to use at home. I was able to find the heartbeat at 10 weeks, but it took over 30 minutes both times. It's very hard to get it that early! I've even had friends whose doctors couldn't hear it at 12 weeks in the office, and everything was fine. Where your placenta is and whether your uterus is tilted can also have an effect on it. By your next appointment (14 weeks?) they should be able to find it, and I can almost guarantee that they will send you for an ultrasound if they still have difficulty getting it.

I understand your worry--I've been there! I, too, had a miscarriage for my first pregnancy and then conceived again 2 months later! I'm now on my fourth successful pregnancy (15 weeks), with no other miscarriages besides that first one. Even so, I can't help but feeling anxious sometimes. With this one and my last, it took the doctors more than a couple minutes to finds the heartbeat at 12 weeks, so what you're going through is quite normal!!! Hang in there, and I pray that in another month, you will hear that beautifully beating heart!!!!!

Don't worry. I had my first appointment around 12 weeks and they told me it may be too early to find it so I'm sure you're baby is fine! Don't stress, that will just cause more problems for you and the baby!

Hi S. -
Sorry you have had to experience that...I've had 4 losses and I have been blessed with 3 children. I highly rec. BabyBeat which is something you can rent via online after 12 weeks to hear your babies HB whenever you want. This was a lifesaver for me not to worry with my last two children. I also get a lot of U/S because of my history. I hope all goes well for you as I'm sure it will.
Bye,
L.
Creative mom to 3!

The most important thing is not to get stressed out, as impossible as that is!
My first dr.s appointment was when I was 8 weeks preggo and they also could not find a heart beat so they did blood work. Still couldn't find the heart beat at 12 weeks but just like you I felt pregnant however I was sick sick sick for nine months. Finally at 16 weeks we found a fast, strong, heartbeat. Fast forward we have a beautiul, healthy almost 5 month old baby girl. She was a week early but because I had pregnancy induced hyper tension. Just relax and enjoy. Try not to worry it's all in Gods hands. :)

Hi S.!

MAybe you can ask your doctor to schedule an ultrasound for viability. My last 4 pregnancies (2 of which were miscarriages) my doctor's office monitored me through early pregnancy just to be sure everything was ok - especially this last time. Everythign was cool and they didn't get a fetal heartbeat through 13 weeks with a dopler but they definitely saw through the ultrasound.

Wait another 2 weeks. Whatever you do, follow your gut feelings. I had a friend who could not hear her baby's heartbeat at 10 wks and she was told it was a miscarriage and to this day she believes it was too early to tell and felt they did a D&C prematurely. So it's always good to wait. Sometimes the baby position might not allow them to hear it, or the location of the placenta. The due date can be miscalculated and the Doppler they used might be too weak to detect it. By your 14th week, you should be able to hear it.

Sorry, that must be very scary! What did your Dr say?! Are they going to give you an ultrasound? they can be very insensitive sometimes. I THINK we saw before we heard it a few weeks later... but I was high risk so I was at the Dr all of the time :)

Since you are so nervous- They can do bloodwork a few days apart & check to be sure your numbers are rising or give you an ultrasound. Hugs!

If you are having anxiety attacks about it I would ask the doctor if they can do an ultrasound just to check things out.

Hugs to you!

The same thing happened to me. I have 4 children ( with 3 miscarriages along the way) and the doctor could never hear the heartbeat with the doppler until the 12 week appointment. Maybe if you call there with your concern they could set you up for an ultrasound. Blessings to you!

Hi S.,
At my 10 week check up, my doctor could not hear my son's heartbeat with the doppler either. He then used the ultrasound and we saw the heartbeat and everything was fine. Since you are worried ask your doctor if he can use the ultrasound. Hope all goes well.

Dr couldn't find a heartbeat and he/she didn't order an ultrasound? I think you need a new dr. i've also had a miscarriage with a successful pregnancy right after so I understand your worry. I would ask for a vaginal unltrasound because I had one after my miscarriage at 7 weeks and the tech said the heart just started beating. Praying it was just the doc's fault!

I would always recommend having a vaginal sonogram. They get a picture and a heart beat from inside. My Dr. Green in Coral Springs always performs them early in the pregnancy because many times the hand held one can not detect that early. I have spoken to friends that their Dr. doesn't give the vaginal but it is much more effective and accurate. You will also get a picture of the baby from it even at 10 weeks! I would ask your doctor for it or go to a Dr. that provides it. Try not to worry, those hand held one stink for babies 10 weeks old.

With my most recent pregnancy the doctor wouldn't even try listening for the heartbeat until at least 12 weeks. And you might not be as far along as you think. It is so tough not to worry when you have experienced loss. Make sure they have checked your blood levels and your progesterone to make sure they are on target. Best to you!

S., dear,
Its early, and alot of times those Dopplers wont pick up heartbeats this early (IF you're even right about the gestation estimate). Place ALL of YOUR heart and MIND on seeing yourself healthy, seeing your child delivered full term and HEALTHY.

Stressing draws your attention to areas you DO NOT want, which can influence outcomes. MIND YOUR MIND and BELIEVE "all is well."

All the best,
S.

i don't know what to say i had a very good ob/gyn and they never tried to find the heartbeat until the 4th month. the first thing they did was an ultra-sound and aged the baby and we saw the heartbeat. at 16 weeks he started trying for the heartbeat some were hit some were miss. the baby is very small at 10 weeksand can shoot around. with my first everytime the midwife put anything against her she would shoot away from it. to say i had alot of ultrasound lol towards the end she would roll away which would cause us all to laugh because the mid wifes were like hey in there your too big to get away and she would prove them wrong but they massive shift would show she was very active and in tune. i would call your ob and ask if next time if no heartbeat you can peak at it. ulta sounds can be misleading about size but never about that sweet heartbeating. if the dr's leaves you feeling nervous then i'd say find another ob/gyn. part of their jobs is to make sure you know whats going on with your baby. if you live near leesburg i'd suggest dr. hannable. advanced gynocology. he was the dr on call with my first who had to be delivered emergency c-section and i was terrified. to be told after having been induced after my water broke and my labor failed to start and induction didn't work that you had to have it c-section well to say i was scared. i went back to him for the other 2 he was great.

S. if i were you i would ask the dr why and if he cant give you an answer i would find another dr i would want to know for sure.good luck C.

Hi!

I am not affiliated with this company at all, but when I was pregnant I rented a doppler fetal heart beat monitor to use at home. It was quite affordable...and well worth the peace of mind!

http://www.heartbeatsathome.com/

You can rent for just a month, or for longer and they send it UPS with an easy to return label for when you're done and want to return it. The company is even located in central FL. I think having the ability to check yourself, and take as much time as you need to find the heartbeat, might give you some peace too. IT was also nice because I could share the experience with others (like my sister) who wouldn't normally be at appointments with me and would have otherwise missed hearing the heartbeat.

Best wishes!
~~T.

With all 3 of my babies my doctors checked for heart beat via ultrasound for the first trimester. It's hard if not impossible to pick up with a doppler that early.

Hi, S.. I can understand your fear, since something bad happenned before. However, the way the heartbeat detection works is that the baby has to be in the right position in order for any device to pick up the heartbeat. If there is too much in the way of the signal, the device won't be able to pick up the heartbeat. In other words, if a leg and an arm is in the way, or they're aiming the beam at the baby's buttocks, they may not be able to find the heartbeat.

I will say a prayer for you and your baby, anyway, but try not to panic just yet.

My prayers go with you for a healthy baby.

Peace,
Syl

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do this early to prevent a miscarriage. However, if you have insurance, you have it for a reason. I would request a vaginal ultrasound/sonogram (can't remember which they call it). That is the only way you are going to know this early if it is a viable pregnancy. You could also not be as far along as you think, so don't stress. Either way there is not much you can do about it except for pray! Good luck and God Bless!

Hi S.- I also have a daughter who was born in Nov. '06 (& a son who will be 1 next weekend), w/ my 1st pregnancy I'm pretty sure it was closer to 12 weeks before we heard a heartbeat. W/ my second pregnancy, I think we did hear it around 10 weeks, but the nurse seemed kind of surprised when the doppler picked it up. I don't know how true this is because I am no expert, but she said body weight can affect when you hear the heartbeat sometimes. I guess this kind of makes sense because I put on weight right from the beginning w/ my 1st pregnancy, but I actually lost weight in the beginning w/ my 2nd. Did your doctor seem concerned? They probably would have sent you for an early sonogram if they were concerned b/c the heartbeat can be picked up right away on that. Anyways, I hope this helps in some way & I wish you the best. Keep us posted!