I am 11 wks pregnant. I just had my second ob visit yesterday and once again they were unable to hear the baby's heartbeat on the doppler. My first visit I was only 6 wks so I knew that time it probably wouldn't be possible. Should I be worried about this? The doctor seemed unfazed by it. In fact she was being shadowed by a student and she didn't offer to have him do it because she said she was pretty sure that we wouldn't hear anything. To give me piece of mind she's bringing me in again in 2 weeks to see if we can hear it then. I'll be 13 wks then. I don't know why I'm getting so freaked out by this. This isn't my first baby. It's my husband's first biological child and he's not freaked at all by it. I could have sworn that I heard my daughter's early but that was over 8 years ago and I was quite a bit younger than I am now.
Just wanted to let everyone know that we went back to the ob this morning and he picked up the heartbeat right away! It was nice because my daughter was with us this time and she got to hear it too! Thank you everyone so much for all your responses deep down I knew I was being silly and worrying for nothing but that still doesn't stop you from doing it! :)
I was 12 weeks at my last OB visit and my doctor warned me before trying to find the baby's heartbeat that it can be difficult, depending on the location of the baby, to hear the heartbeat before 14 weeks via the doppler. He wasn't able to get the heartbeat but said for the next visit it shouldn't be a problem...so don't be too worried.
I didn't hear my daughters heartbeat until 13 weeks as well. Some times if you are a "little" bit heavier you can't hear it as early as someone who is super thin.
Hi H.!
I had the same thing happen with my third child. I went in around 10-11 weeks and they couldn't hear the heartbeat. My doctor didn't seem to concerned either. (He's been practicing close to 20 years). I was a little worried because I had always heard the other two's heartbeat at each visit. (My 3rd will be one next week - and the other two are 7 & 9 so like you, there was a bit of a gap.... long enough to forget everything!) My doctor had an ultrasound machine in his office so he quickly put me on that & there was my son flip flopping around like a little fish. He said because the baby was so active & little that may be why he couldn't pick up a heartbeat. Everything was fine & it really eased my mind. They didn't have any more problems at the next visits picking it up. I wouldn't worry too much about it - easier said then done I know. Also, don't try those ones you can buy at Walmart - they don't ever pick up anything.... a lot of times it's your heartbeat you hear. If the doctor can't get it, ask about an ultrasound. Anyway, take care & happy pregnancy!
HMMM I'm not sure. I suppose if the Dr. wasn't worried then don't stress. I'm just suprised they didn't do an ultrasound to make sure everything looked ok.
With my first baby we heard the heartbeat at 12 weeks (I think) and with this pregnancy I had an ultrasound where we saw the baby & heard the heartbeat at 8 weeks & heard the heartbeat each month thereafter.
Good luck!
My 2nd son's heartbeat was hard to hear for several weeks also because my utures is inverted. I wouldn't worry. It happens often in 1st trimester! He's just fine, and 4 months old tomorrow!
H.,
11 weeks can be early to hear the heartbeat, I think 12 is the norm so no I don't think you have anything to be worried about, that said who wouldn't worry. I would feel the same way, even though the drs & books say it's fine.
Try not to worry and please keep me posted on your f/u visit.
Good Luck.
S.
I didn't hear either of my babies heart beat until after 11 weeks. I too was nervous but my doctor like yours was unfazed and simply said "next time."
Did you have an early ultrasound yet? If not, maybe your docor will agree to send you for an ultrasound to ease your mind.
Please try not to worry too much and I will say a special prayer for you and your little miracle.
Hi H.!
From what I know and understand it is very difficult to get a heart beat on a doppler before 12 weeks. There is definately a heart beat but its most easily seen on U/S. That is most likely why your doctor is bringing you back a 13 weeks. They should be able to hear it then for sure. G/L and congrats!!!
Hi H. well i can say it does happen because my husband and i did not hear our daughter's heartbeat until she was almost 15.5 weeks so yes it is very common. I was at a panic for a while too but trust me things will go good and congrats to you and your family both!! I wish you the best with your pregnancy
nancyf
If the doctor's not concerned with it than I wouldn't be either. Sometimes you can catch the heartbeat and sometimes you can't. It depends on the baby and the equipment. You should be able to hear it the next time you go. Have you have a sonogram yet??? If you haven't ask your doctor for one it will give you piece of mind because you may not be able to hear it but they will be able to show it to you. Good luck.
With my second, they didn't hear the heartbeat until after 14 weeks. They sent me for an ultrasound, just to make sure at about 12 weeks because I freaked when they couldn't find it at 11 weeks. It was nothing to worry about. I have a tilted uterus and because of that, it makes the heartbeat harder to find. Don't worry at all about it; you'll hear it soon enough. ;-)
Hi H.!
I am no Doctor, but to me I would think at 11 weeks you'd hear a heartbeat. I have 2 little boys, and I was trying to remember when I heard theirs. I honestly can't remember. If the Doctor isn't worried though, I'd be okay until the next visit, then maybe I'd start questioning a bit more and maybe try another doctor. I had both a wonderful Doctor and a Doctor I fired bc his manners were horrible. Remember, this is your special time and it should be a happy one. You want as little stress as possible, especially if you are an older mother. I was 31 when I had my 2nd and I was high risk bc of age and diabetes. So take care of yourself and TRUST your instincts. My instincts saved both of my little boys. They say a mothers instincts are usually the right ones. Good Luck! And Congratulations on your marriage and your soon to be little bundle of joy!
Take Care
I.
"I love helping moms work from home. It's so rewarding!"
H.,
I do not work in the medical profession, but I do have four children. I can tell you that I was a size 3 when I had my first 2 children and I heard the heartbeat really early. When I got pregnant with my third child I was 28 (this was six years after my second was born) and I couldn't hear the heartbeat at 12 weeks. I too was freaked out about it and the doctor scared me even more by having me go to the hospital for an emergency untrasound. I thought for sure something was wrong. As it turns out, I guess I just couldn't hear it because I wasn't as small as I had been with the first two. I didn't get to hear the heartbeat on the dopler until my next visit (at 16 weeks). Of course I had heard it at the ultrasound so I didn't continue to worry.
I hope that helps.
L.
Don't be worried! When I was pregnant with my 3rd baby, (13 years after my 2nd!) we didn't hear the heartbeat until about 15 weeks. I was told there are many factors that could prevent hearing a heartbeat sooner, such as scar tissue, baby hiding or facing backward, mom being a bit overweight, any number of things. I'm sure you'll hear it next time and put your fears to rest! Good luck, and let us know!
I did not hear my second's heartbeat until around 14 weeks. I too was "worried" and reasured (by doc) that all was well. It was! She is now 3 1/2 and rotten as ever.
when i was pregnant with my 4th child, i was so impatient to hear the heartbeat at the ob that i rented a doppler to keep at home. i think i ws around 8-9 weeks when i first heard it but i had to put the doppler wand on my back to get it. maybe you could try that. and this way you could have the doppler at home to just hear it whenever you want. but, if you are really nervous, and you probably shouldn't be, ask for an u/s. this way you can at least see the heartbeat. good luck!
Dear H.,
I totally understand your worries abour hearing the heartbeat. But the doc was right not to be concerned. My doc didn't event try to hear a heartbeat until like 18 weeks. They just seem to know that everything is ok, and he didn't want me worrying like you are right now, so he just put it off until he knew that we would get to hear it. The worst is when you've heard the heartbeat a couple of times and you go in for a check-up, and they can't find it. That happened to me all the time, my son would move so much that they couldn't ever get a heartbeat reading. I would panic every checkup! I'm sure everytihng is fine, it you want to you could buy one of the at home kits that let you listen to the heartbeat. Good Luck!
I was also 11 weeks and I could not hear my baby heartbeat for the first time and I was scared for a long time but when I turned 16 weeks all that fear went away when I heard her heartbeat for the first time, so all you have to do is keep god by your side and everything will be fine. Oh yeah congradulations and I hope that everything goes well for you.
Nicole
I don't think you need to worry. The earliest a fetal heartbeat is usually heard is 12 weeks. You should hear it at your 13 week visit. Good luck.
Hi H.-
11 Weeks is still REALLY early to try to find the baby's heartbeat. I am 16 weeks pregnant (Due Dec. 25th) and my OB just listened for the first time today at my appointment. If there was true cause for concern, your OB would let you know. Try not to think about it-easier said than done, but you will be stressing yourself out over what is most likely nothing.
Hugs-
J.
