MIdwife unable to find heartbeat at 10 week appointment. « Back to Group Discussions

[PGNPORTLAND]

When did everyone else hear heartbeat for the first time?    I had an early ultrasound at 7 weeks because I've had a previous loss and the heartbeat was good and strong then (visually) but today she couldn't find heartbeat with the doppler.    I was really looking forward to that reassuring sound.    Trying to convince myself that all is probably well but I'm kind of a mess.    I have an ultrasound in a week and am so worried about seeing a dead baby on the screen:(

[nstewart]

I had an ultrasound at 12 weeks and they could see the heartbeat.  I had a midwife appointment at 12W6days and she found it right away, but told me to expect it to take a while.

With DS I had an appointment at 10 weeks (maybe even almost 11 if I recall correctly) and the doctor could not find it after several minutes of trying.  I was told this is perfectly normal and not to worry.

[PhilsBabyMama]

10 weeks is very early.  With my 4 year old son, my midwife couldn't find his heartbeat at my first (maybe 10 weeks,maybe more, I can't remember exactly) appointment either.  She was able to find it with the doppler a week later.  I just heard this baby's heartbeat last week (11 weeks and a few days) but it was very hard to find again.  I have a tilted uterus, so I think that may make things more difficult as well.

Don't stress out!  It's totally normal not to find the heartbeat at 10 weeks!

[pastormama]

Yep - I had an appt a few weeks ago at 11w4d, and it took a loooonnnggg time to find that heartbeat with doppler.  The midwife didn't think she's be able to, but then she finally found the baby hiding down low on the left.  Very normal to not hear until a few weeks later, she said!

[heatheresc]

Sorry you're feeling stressed about this PGNPortland! I am sure everything will turn out well, but I know it is hard not to worry when you don't hear anything!

Last week I had a consultation with the midwife I'm hoping to use, and I caved and asked her to use the Doppler (normally I prefer fetoscope), although I was only 9 weeks, and she couldn't find the HB. I really wished I hadn't asked her to do that, because I would be less worried now, even though it is very early...
 

[jacquelinej]

Yup as all have said, Doppler is harder to find it on earlier dates.  We are still doing ultrasounds so doppler has not even been tried yet and I don;t even know if they use doppler here in Japan.  I am 11 weeks today.

I hope you can relax a little and try not to let it overwhelm you.  

[PGNPORTLAND]

Thanks everyone.    I'm trying very hard to put it out of my head until the ultrasound on Monday but it's hard.    I'm just so worried about hearing bad news again after my loss in May.    If there is a happy bouncing baby on the ultrasound to see I will be so overjoyed.
 

[AmandaLynnH]

I went in at 9 weeks for my first OB appointment and she spent what felt like forever mashing my lower abdomen with the doppler trying to find it even though she said it might be early.  Since she couldn't she offered us a chance to pop on the ultrasound to see it and had trouble finding it then too which kinda freaked me out but she eventually found the little monster hiding out way down low and to the left.  So she tried again with the doppler and still couldn't find it, but we saw it on the screen.  Hang in there and let us know how the ultrasound goes!

[PGNPORTLAND]

Ultrasound is today.   Hoping for the best but feeling really nervous.   It's been a looooong week.

[kimble]

Originally Posted by PGNPORTLAND 

Ultrasound is today.   Hoping for the best but feeling really nervous.   It's been a looooong week.

Fingers crossed for you to get some good news!

[Quinalla]

Originally Posted by PGNPORTLAND 

Ultrasound is today.   Hoping for the best but feeling really nervous.   It's been a looooong week.

Sending good thoughts your way!

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by PGNPORTLAND 

Ultrasound is today.   Hoping for the best but feeling really nervous.   It's been a looooong week.

Good luck!!  Let us know how it goes.

[PGNPORTLAND]

Hi Mamas,

Everything went wonderfully at my ultrasound on Monday.   Sorry it's taken so long to report back.    I was so nervous beforehand and was really questioning my decision to bring my 6 year old along but, in the end, I was so glad I did.    We saw an active little baby bouncing around, waving his/her hands, the whole deal and my daughter was super excited!     Feeling lots of relief now.    Even gave myself permission to unpack and start wearing the maternity clothes!

[kimble]

Happy to hear it went well!

[Ghislaine]

Yay!  I'm so glad the ultrasound went well! 

I just had my first midwife appointment this week and she couldn't find the heartbeat so now I have to wait until my next appointment.  She did hear the placenta though so at least I know for sure one thing's doing what it's supposed to do!
 

[PhilsBabyMama]

Yay!!  Glad to hear it, mama!

[nstewart]

 awesome!  Your DD must have thought it was pretty cool!

[Loogiejane]

I had my first prenatal appt at 12w1d and thats when my midwife found the heartbeat. But it took her a little while I imagine cuz he/she's still a small little bugger. It was SO cool though going on the little hunt for the heartbeat. She'd hear my heartbeat and say nope, that's you...and then found the baby's for like 2 seconds and then again could only hear mine...then when mine got really loud at one point she told me it was my uteran artery and then finally she was able to find the baby again. I think at 10 weeks it's too early so I wouldnt worry.

[Loogiejane]

oops i gues i was late on this thread before reading all the way through! so glad it went well for you!

[Quinalla]

So glad to hear your appointment went well and how cool for your DD