Just wondering when you can expect to hear bub's heartbeat with a doppler?
I had an appointment with my GP today and he couldn't find bub's heartbeat. He wasn't worried at all and said that because I'm so tall (6 foot) that bub is possibly too low down still for the doppler to work.
I'm trying so hard not to worry but my ms has suddenly lessened and I'm scared it means my levels are dropping.
I tried to hear bub's heartbeat at 11 weeks and i couldnt hear anything. But i have been hearing it from 13 weeks. So it is probably just too early. My m/s also stopped at 10 weeks suddenly but came back at 11 weeks.
It depends on where the baby is positioned as well as the equipment used.
At my first hospital booking appointment (16 weeks roughly) the midwife after much pushing by me used the doppler and found the heartbeat right away. She said it was unlikely that she would find it because babies are very small at this stage but she did.
At my doctor's the following week I asked to hear the heartbeat even though it is his policy NOT to listen for the heartbeat until past 20 weeks so he refused. Then at the 20 week one it took 20 minutes before he located it. It was very stressful for me waiting to hear it but at the same time I could feel the baby moving so I knew she was alive. His doppler is older and less sensitive than the hospitals which is the reason he couldn't find the hb easily and why he doesn't like checking until 20 weeks.
My point is... try not to stress. Different equipment yields different results and depending on the stage you are at in your pregnancy the heartbeat can be very difficult to find because the baby is so small.
How far along are you? I have a measuring thing that says how big a baby is at each point of the pregnancy that was in the bounty bag with quick-eze which is a guide only but it puts it into perspective of the size of bubs.
What a goose I am! I just read your ticker which says 10 wk 3 days. According to the quick-eze thing your baby is 3 cm from head to bum which is probably why they had trouble finding the hb because the little wriggler could be anywhere with so much space to move around in.
BTW with my 1st pregnancy, I had intermittant m/s the whole time and she is now 4. So a lack of m/s doesn't always mean a bad thing... maybe you're just getting a reprieve for a day or so.
Last edited by curl; August 12th, 2008 at 04:52 PM.
Thanks so much ladies...I am 10 weeks 3 days...so it's probably just too early. I'm just so paranoid because I've just started to get a little bit hopeful and every other time I've let myself get excited things have gone bad...not this time...this is our lucky number 7 bubba...our miracle...I just have to stay positive!
Yes, it is wonderful and amazing... the miracle of life. Don't forget that the 3cm doesn't include the legs, its just body and head. But it does put it into perspective doesn't it?
As for your paranoia... completely understandable under the circumstances. You've been through so much already. Big hugs to you and best of luck.
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When can you hear bub's heartbeat with a doppler?
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