Did anyone hear the heartbeat with a doppler at 11-12 wks?

[Preggobunny]

I went to my first maternity appointment yesterday and they couldn't hear the heartbeat. Of course... I am not too worried because my symptoms are still here in full force! But I thought I'd be able to hear, I was so looking forward to it. Has anyone else heard with a doppler that early?

[Lauren82]

You should be able to hear it at 11-12 weeks but the baby is still so tiny so it's easy to scan right over or scan in the wrong spot.
I've heard it as early as 9 weeks. But that was at home with a rented doppler. My experience is that an OB or midwife wont spend much time trying to find it in the office. It's definitely taken me about 10 minutes of sloooow scanning to find it. Also, the sensitivity of the probe can make a difference too. The doppler I rent is more powerful than the doppler my midwives have.
Everything is probably just fine and I bet they'll be able to pick it up quickly at your next appointment.

[lyterae]

DDCC

We had our first appointment at 11 weeks and caught it for about half a second before it vanished. We had much better luck at our 15 week appointment.

[MeghanG]

I heard the heartbeat yesterday at 9 weeks but was shocked. I think the u/s facility I was at just has exceptionally fancy equipment. With my last pregnancy, the doctor didn't even check until 12 weeks.

[kalamos23]

I picked ours up today at 9w1d with a home doppler (2mhz - not as strong). It was there for a good 3-5 sec, no flickering, so I'm pretty confident that it was the baby.

[Lauren82]

Originally Posted by kalamos23

I picked ours up today at 9w1d with a home doppler (2mhz - not as strong). It was there for a good 3-5 sec, no flickering, so I'm pretty confident that it was the baby.

My rented doppler should arrive tomorrow. I'm so glad you found your bean's h/b.

[hannybanany]

I heard it for the first time at home at 11 weeks exactly. When I went to the midwife at 11 3 she couldn't find it, even after spending a long time searching. Now at 12.5 weeks it's easy to find.

[Morwenna]

We heard it a week ago at 10w5d and I was surprised that my midwife was able to find it! It can really make a difference where the placenta is though--with my 5th, the placenta was smack across the front of my abdomen and we didn't hear anything for almost 18 weeks! Try not to worry if you can't hear it--I know that's really hard though.

[Sihaya]

I found it with a friend's doppler this weekend at 11w1d, but it took a while to get it, ~10mins. My OB and midwife both won't even try with the doppler before 12 weeks and the place I'll be renting my doppler from won't send it before then either.

[dizzysmom]

I've heard the heartbeat both times at just past 12 weeks, but my OB makes it a point to remind me that it is possible not to hear it that early. If your OB or midwife wasn't worried about it, I wouldn't be either.

[Taryn237]

We heard mine today 10w1d with a doppler but it took my MW a long time to find it. I really wanted to record it to send to DH so she was persistant and we got it!

[~Amy~]

Heard our babe's yesterday at 10w2d, but it took a LONG time (and me going to empty my bladder twice) and 2 nurses to find it. We heard DS's at 10w1d, also took a while to find.

[audreyhorne]

we heard the heartbeat today at 12 weeks, but my mw was initially trying too low, once she moved the doppler up she found it right away, and commented that its often higher than she expects in early pregnancy. if your mw wasn't concerned, i wouldn't worry either.

[trimestersdoula]

DDCC. Definitely don't worry. I have a friend where they couldn't hear the heartbeat until after 18 weeks. She was a bit heavier but other than that there was no reason for them not being able to hear it.

I was almost 11 weeks when they tried for the first time and they couldn't find it. It is very normal not to be able to hear it at 11-12 weeks. Some doctors/midwives wont even try until after 12 weeks.

[beckwith]

Hi--I've been lurking to this board, but just wanted to let you know that I'm also between 11-12 weeks, and I went to hear the heartbeat yesterday and couldn't. My OB had warned me beforehand that it was early, but I was still really worried. I had an ultrasound today, and everything was great. Baby was really moving, and I was measuring ahead. In hindsight, I think I should have just waited until my 15 week appointment to try and hear the heartbeat, but I was really excited! I'm sure everything will turn out fine for you too. Good luck!

[Astrid1024]

I heard it at 9 weeks with my doppler that I bought (and am admittedly somewhat paranoid to use) and then again today at 10 weeks. I am 5'7" and weigh 122 pounds though. That frame helps the cause a bit. Also, having a full bladder helps push the uterus up.

ETA: DON'T WORRY! My HCP said that their dopplers don't always pick up the heartbeat this early and NOT TO WORRY.

With my first pregnancy, my midwife didn't even try with her doppler until 14 weeks.

[ILoveMyBabyBird]

hmm now i'm wondering if i should even have dh come with to my appt. on tuesday, i was hoping to hear the hb, but i'll be somewhere around 10 1/2-11 weeks, so it sounds like it is totally hit or miss with that.

[donutmolly]

With my last baby, my mw said that she'd be able to hear the hb by 10 weeks -- and by 12 weeks for absolute certain. But then at my 12 week appt., she couldn't find a hb after trying for a long time... she offered to send me for an ultrasound if I wanted, or to come back in a week to try again... I opted to wait the 4 weeks for my next regular appt. (I really just wanted to trust my body). Sure enough, there was the hb, and now I'm chasing DD3 around all day long.

I wouldn't have been worried if my mw hadn't been convinced she could find a hb by 12 weeks, but even my very experienced mw can be wrong!

[kissum]

I found mine today @ 10 weeks, but I had the time and the urge to find it, yk? I think a doc or mw won't spend 10 minutes most of the time. I'm sure you'll hear it next time!

[CookAMH]

We did, but it IS possible to not hear it just yet and have everything be fine. A lot can depend on where the placenta is growing and position of your uterus. Can you get back in in a week or two for another try?