Please tell me this is normal.....

[buliej]

Sue - I would think that they schedule the 1st scan at a time where they think they can see a heart beat...although yours is earlier than I'm used to. Have you tried googling to see when a heart beat can be detected via a vaginal U/S?

[buliej]

I found this:

A mass of fetal cells, separate from the yolk sac, first becomes apparent on transvaginal ultrasound just after the 6th week of gestation. This mass of cells is known as the fetal pole. It is the fetus in its somite stage. Usually you can identify rhythmic fetal cardiac movement within the fetal pole, although it may need to grow several mm before this is apparent.

So, it sounds like your scan is early - but you may be able to see the heart beat. You definitely will be able to see the gestational sac and yolk sac.

[Frosty's mum]

Bubby's heart is formed in the 5th week of fetal development. I've seen them reported on scans as early as 5+ weeks, but when you can't see one that early, do you wonder is it way too early or is it not there? So most doctors would ask you do it after 6+ weeks, if it's not there, it's most likely not there.

Doppler can usually be heard once the uterus protrudes beyond the pelvic bone (at 12 weeks), you can usually hear it around 11 weeks, I found mine 2 days short of 11 weeks. You need some practice to find it when it's that small, if you can't it's likely that you've just missed the correct spot. If you do buy a doppler, I suggest to take it in to the clinic or your GP and ask them to show you how to do it.

[31becc]

Hi Sue - I just had a scan today - my first at 6 weeks and 2 days ( I thought I was 4 days) and saw the heartbeat very clearly.

[MummaSue]

Thanks guys!
I'm getting really excited now. I wondered if that might have been too early.

I'll keep you all posted.
Sue xxx

[buliej]

Sue - thanks so much for starting this thread. It motivated me to call my FS rooms and ask to move forward my first scan and they agreed. One less week of waiting!

[MummaSue]

YAY! Buliej that is great news!
Sue xxx

[Possums]

sue and buliej- here's hoping for great scans! i know the waiting is so hard

[nicjay]

Sue, you'll only get to see the HB at an early scan. I'd say you are in with a reasonable chance at 6w1d, if they can't see it externally they'll just do an internal. BTW, I had my first scan externally at 6w6d and could see the HB clearly .

I didn't actually hear bub's HB until I was about 16 weeks along, although it is possible to hear it a few weeks earlier than I did. A lot of caregivers won't try to listen with a Doppler though before about 14 weeks or so because you can't always hear it then. Good luck!