When can you hear the baby's heartbeat? « Back to Group Discussions

[snozzberry]

My partner and I just got back from an orientation with our caregiver practice tonight, and our first appointment (8 weeks) is next week. I had been expecting that they would do the Doppler at the 8-week appt, but tonight I found out they wait til 12 or 13 weeks to check for the heartbeat.

Is my memory unreliable because it's been 5 years since I was pregnant with DD? When does your caregiver check for heartbeat?

I didn't get a chance to ask follow-up questions tonight because it was a group environment, but I plan to ask about it at the appt next week. Normally, I wouldn't be so keen to do extra monitoring like this, but after a miscarriage in May and a chemical pregnancy after that, I'm wanting a little bit of extra reassurance that this little bean is doing just fine in there!

[TwilightJoy]

My first appointment is on Oct 1 at 9 weeks. They told me that they would be able to hear the heartbeat with the ultrasound, but not with the doppler.

[SilaMarila]

Doppler usually won't pick up a heart beat until around the 12 week mark. Occasionally sooner, occasionally later. I would say between 10-14wks. So yes, it is worth a try earlier. It depends on the position of your uterus/your anatomy, and the location of the babe.

[lisedea]

Interesting...I am going in on Friday at exactly 6 weeks--and she said that there was a good chance of hearing the heartbeat at that time with an internal u/s.

[nstewart]

Yes, with the doppler not until later, at least 10 weeks as PP said.  With DS, I had my first appointment at 10 weeks and the Dr. tried to find the HB with the doppler and could not.  She said that was pretty usual for 10 weeks and not to stress.  She said doppler is not reliable until 12 weeks.

[amyknits1076]

With DD, I worked on an OB floor so I started using the doppler on myself at 8 weeks and trying to find it every few days. I didn't actually hear it until 11 weeks, so 8 weeks is a little soon IMO. Hopefully you get to hear it next time!

[porcelina]

I looked this up on previous threads, and while uncommon, it is sometimes possible to hear the heartbeat with doppler at even 8 weeks, and then increasingly likely thereafter, as others have indicated. I bought a small Doppler during my fourth pregnancy for peace of mind since I had had 2 miscarriages, and tried from about 8 weeks. I did find it early, though now I can't remember exactly how early. And yes, the internal ultrasound can pick it up (you see it, but I don't think you hear it) between 5.5 and 7 weeks, depending on how your baby develops.

[jacquelinej]

If you have an echocardio done, they can estimate heart rate.  That's what we are doing at 6 weeks next Friday.  If you tell your caregiver about your concern they may do one.

[snozzberry]

Thank you for the info, mamas!

Is the internal ultrasound common at the first appointment, or is that typically something you have to request?

[lisedea]

For me, I have been going to a fertility specialist for about a year--so that is the only reason why I have such an early appointment and with an internal u/s. In fact, I don't think she has a doppler...

Thanks for clarifying that you see the heartbeat with an internal--not hear it. I never knew that! This is my first pregnancy to make it this far...

[porcelina]

Originally Posted by snozzberry 

Thank you for the info, mamas!

Is the internal ultrasound common at the first appointment, or is that typically something you have to request?

It really depends on the practice. I would guess that most do not do it unless there is a question about dates (as in, you don't know when your last period was, or you have unusually long periods, or both), and most only offer only 1 ultrasound (20 weeks) during the whole pregnancy. However, mine actually does a first appointment scan on all (if they want it). If it is not standard, I doubt they would do it just because you requested it, there would really have to be a medical reason.

Edited by porcelina - 9/19/12 at 8:18am

[Quinalla]

Originally Posted by snozzberry 

Thank you for the info, mamas!

Is the internal ultrasound common at the first appointment, or is that typically something you have to request?

For my first appointment which they schedule in the 9-10 week range, my OB does do a U/S standard to confirm a HB and to check for twins and whatnot. So for some providers it is standard, for other not and it probably depends where you live too.

[lisedea]

Just for the record, I saw AND heard heartbeats at exactly 6 weeks--so it is possible! (By the way, there were three...yikes!)

[crunchybroccoli]

Whoa.... triplets?!?!?  Congrats!!! 
 

[kimble]

Originally Posted by lisedea 

Just for the record, I saw AND heard heartbeats at exactly 6 weeks--so it is possible! (By the way, there were three...yikes!)

woah! I have to admit that I've been freaking out a bit about the possibility of twins (I guess it's just moving on from worrying about m/c to something else) but TRIPLETS? Wow!

Sounds like you're in for the ride of your life

[snozzberry]

 

[jacquelinej]