Heart Rate at 7 weeks « Back to Group Discussions

[planegreen]

Hi All,

Could you post here if you know what your baby's heart rate was somewhere are 7 weeks?  

We went in this morning for an early ultrasound and the tech sure didn't want to say anything about the heart rate but the nurse claims it's ok.  The dr will review my u/s and contact me if anything looks off but right now I'm worrying to myself. 

7w1d - 97bpm

[askew]

I did not have an u/s until 9 weeks but the heart rate was 150. Can you google and see what the range of normal is? I think there is a very large range. I know they used to say high hr was a girl and lower was a boy. IDK though. Try not to worry! 

[HippieIncognito]

Mine averaged 135 at 7 weeks but I know that she calculated it 3 or 4 times and it varied, slower sometimes, faster sometimes. I wonder if yours just calculated it once and it happened to be when it was going slower? Just a thought. Maybe you can request to go in in a few days for a recheck to help calm nerves. I know it's so hard not to worry. Big hugs.

[planegreen]

Originally Posted by askew 

I did not have an u/s until 9 weeks but the heart rate was 150. Can you google and see what the range of normal is? I think there is a very large range. I know they used to say high hr was a girl and lower was a boy. IDK though. Try not to worry! 

Google was my first stop.  It depends what site you read.  Some say that's on the low end of normal but others say that's trouble.  So... just not sure.  I'd love your statement of low being a boy though! :) 

[carmen358]

DD's was 154 at 7weeks and this one was 152 at 7w1d.

[TiredX2]

I don't remember what my first two kids were and we didn't opt for an early u/s this time.

According to Livestrong:

Shortly after formation, the tiny heart has a beat that is similar to an adult's heart rate, then it begins increasing at a few beats a week through the ninth week. The heart first begins to beat at a rate of about 80 beats per minute around five-weeks gestation, then steadily increases to a mean of 175 bpm by the ninth week. The increase in fetal heart rate at this point in the pregnancy is so steady that a study by medical sonographers published a formula to help determine the fetal age based on heart rate: Embryonic age in days = EHR(0.3)+6.


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/101602-babys-heart-rate-during-pregnancy/#ixzz2HhW1f2tj

This was also interesting:

http://www.bellybeats.com/article_info.php?articles_id=3

Starting at week 5 the fetal heart will accelerate at a rate of 3.3 beats per day for the next month.

The fetal heart begins to beat at approximately the same rate as the mothers, which is 80 to 85 beats per minute.

Fetal heart rates for weeks 5 to 9, assuming a starting rate of 80 heart beats per minute:

• Week 5 starts at 80 and ends at 103 beats per minute
  • Week 6 starts at 103 and ends at 126 beats per minute
    • Week 7 starts at 126 and ends at 149 beats per minute
      • Week 8 starts at 149 and ends at 172 beats per minute
        • Week 9 the fetal heartbeat tends to beat within a range of 155 to 195 beats per minute.

        The fetal heart rate will begin to decrease and generally will fall within the range of 120 to 160 beats per minute by week 12

I'm sure there is a lot of variation, though.  Are you 100% sure you're 7 weeks or could you be closer to 5-6?

[Stormikris]

My RE doesn't measure the hb. Said as long as the heart is beating regularly that is his concern.

[planegreen]

I'm 100% sure I'm 7w based on all period, ovulation and ultrasound measurements.

[mamaki]

I had an ultrasound at 6 wks and the heartbeat was "low" - not sure how low. Had a repeat ultrasound at 7.5 weeks and normal heartbeat - 144. My midwife was very reassuring that the heart starts beating at about 6 weeks and takes some time to "ramp up" so it's quite normal. Could you maybe be a couple of days earlier even? If not, I still wouldn't worry. Maybe your LO is just a little late getting going. When is your next checkup or US?

[CraftyMcGluestick]

This is all very interesting; I had no idea that hb rate was so closely linked to gestational age. I had an u/s at 8 weeks with a hb of 156 bpm. It looks that is right in line with the chart Tiredx2 posted, but I have no knowledge of what it could mean if the hb is significantly higher or lower. I always assumed there was probably a huge range of normal. My best advice would be try not to think about it. The extra stress and worry you are putting yourself through will not change the outcome good or bad, but it will wreck you personally. Big hugs and fingers crossed for positive outcomes.

[tinynyota]

I know how hard it is not to worry! For this pregnancy, mine was 110 at 6w1d and 150 at 7w3d.
That said, I've had several miscarriages and, with one exception, none of those embryos developed a heartbeat. Seeing a heartbeat at 7 weeks is a hugely good sign! Especially if the US measurements are fitting with your dates, which it sounds like they are. The one time i did see a heartbeat, then had a mc, the HR was 85 and the US measurements were almost a week behind. Even then, my OB said she was very surprised at the outcome.
Just to keep your anxiety at bay, though, I would push for a follow up at 8 weeks. Sending tons of good thoughts your way!

[harmie0515]

Originally Posted by Stormikris 

My RE doesn't measure the hb. Said as long as the heart is beating regularly that is his concern.

That is my experience, too.  As if I need to be given another thing to stress about.    Good luck and big hugs.

[marci mommi]

My babes HR was 155 at 7w5d.

[TiredX2]

Planegreen--- has your doctor contacted you?  Did everything look good?

[planegreen]

Originally Posted by TiredX2 

Planegreen--- has your doctor contacted you?  Did everything look good?

I just got here to update.  Thanks for asking.  My dr called me this morning.  While he is happy with the u/s, he is not happy with the heart rate.  I go in tomorrow for another u/s.  He said if it hasn't increased, I will lose this pregnancy.  If it has increased, I should be still good to go.  He wants me in again because of the low heart rate but also because I miscarried the last pregnancy and it's taken some time to get pregnant again.  He didn't sound negative nor positive, just in between, stating the facts.  Tomorrow I will be 7w5d, so 4 days after the first u/s.  Can't wait for tomorrow to come and go so I know something more. 

[somegirl99]

Fingers crossed for you planegreen!
 

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by planegreen 

I just got here to update.  Thanks for asking.  My dr called me this morning.  While he is happy with the u/s, he is not happy with the heart rate.  I go in tomorrow for another u/s.  He said if it hasn't increased, I will lose this pregnancy.  If it has increased, I should be still good to go.  He wants me in again because of the low heart rate but also because I miscarried the last pregnancy and it's taken some time to get pregnant again.  He didn't sound negative nor positive, just in between, stating the facts.  Tomorrow I will be 7w5d, so 4 days after the first u/s.  Can't wait for tomorrow to come and go so I know something more. 

Fingers firmly crossed here.  Good luck.

[GISDiva]

Originally Posted by TiredX2 

Fingers firmly crossed here.

Here too!

[alphahen]

Sending positive thoughts your way Planegreen. 

[carmen358]

Good luck to you.