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thread: Couldn't find the heartbeat on doppler at 15 weeks

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Adelaide
    15

    Couldn't find the heartbeat on doppler at 15 weeks

    Just been to the doc for a check up and she tried to find the heartbeat with the doppler and couldn't She said she could hear the placental flow which means healthy baby....and told me not to stress, I've had two previous m/c so I'm not really capable of not stressing!! We did see the baby on our nuchal fld scan and heard the heartbeat on the doppler a couple of weeks ago...am I stressing for no reason? Has anyone else had the doc not be able to find the heartbeat? I'm sure she would have sent me for another us if she was worried......going back in 2 weeks instead of 4 cause she wants to reassure me....just hope my little peanut is ok

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Aug 2006
    327

    At my last checkup with my ob (15 weeks) he couldn't find a heartbeat with the doppler. He did a quick US with his little machine in his office and was able to see a healthy heartbeat. So the dopplers don't always pick up the heartbeat. It doesn't stop you from worrying though.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    Canning Vale, Perth
    1,318

    im sure bubs is ok...i remember they had touble finding mine at 16 week checkup, it can be combination of where the babies lying, if ur placenta is at the front it muffles alot, and remember ur bean is still very small at the moment!

    worst thing you can do is stress, try take it easy ok GL

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jan 2009
    5,235

    Oh you poor thing, that is tough - not worrying is not easy! All I can offer is, whether you worry or not, it won't change the outcome, so best to try not to worry easy for me to say I know!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Dec 2007
    Taking a ride on my grdonkey :D
    2,716

    Aww hun, I can so understand where you're at right now... when I was pg with DD she ALWAYS wriggled away from the doppler and ultrasound thinger, so most of my antenatal checks were spent stressing as the doctor/midwife struggled to figure out where she was... She was totally fine throughout, just didn't like being prodded!

    At least there are some indicators that all is well, I've got my fingers crossed for you!! I really hope everything goes well.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    In a land of bubbles and trouble
    1,479

    I empathise with you - i had 2 losses between #2 & #3 - at 15 wks my GP didnt even want to try so I wouldnt worry - I made her - couldnt hear the h/b just the placenta *anterior* - so worried anyway

    We now have a beautiful boy - and I am sure your birth announcement will be very exciting

  7. #7
    BellyBelly Professional Support Panel

    Nov 2005
    QLD
    3,068

    Hi Tash
    Don’t worry hun It can be very difficult to find the heartbeat using a Doppler when you are only 15 weeks. Being able to hear the placental flow is a good sign. I’m sure that there is nothing to worry about.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    174

    I know how you feel Tash.
    I had to go to hospital at 14 weeks with severe nausea and the Dr tried to find a heartbeat. He told me he found it but the midwife said it was actually the placenta and often a heartbeat can't be heard till about 17 weeks. A couple of weeks later my Ob found it so please don't stress.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Apr 2009
    Northern Beaches Sydney
    533

    I really wouldn't be concerned (I know its easy to say and difficult to do especially with your history). If the doc had been any way concerned they would have done something about it. We had same issue when we went to see our OB at 16 weeks and he couldn't find heartbeat .... after a few goes he switched to small little US machine he had in office and there was the little tyke kicking and head banging away! Turns out bub was lot higher than he had thought which is why doppler didn't pick it up. Before he used the US machine and saw where bub was placed he said that placenta could be to front which can also mask the sound. While it did give me a fright first of all when we couldn't hear anything at least it meant I got to get another look at our growing baby

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Follow Pandora On Twitter

    Jan 2005
    cowtown
    8,276

    the ob registrar couldnt find the heartbeat at my hospital booking in appt at 15 weeks, they used the mioni u/s machine to check and was OK.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Adelaide
    15

    Gee it does sound like this is very common...maybe they should stop using the dam things!! Make me worry a lot less that I know a lot of other people have had this experience. My Doc is very good so I know if she was at all worried she would have sent me for another u/s so I am feeling a lot less worried now but it still seems like a long wait till next friday! (Just hope she can find it then!!)
    Thanks again everybody for your replies!! xoxox

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    Where the heart is
    4,360

    If it makes you feel any better, I had my last check at 13 weeks, midwife measured me as 14 weeks (but adjusted down to 13 again due to it being 2nd pg), couldn't find the heartbeat with the doppler ... on top of me looking more like I'm 10 weeks pregnant (some seriously stubborn abdominal muscles!!) and not feeling any movements (after being under the impression that next-timers feel movement so much sooner than first pgs!). I'm not having u/s's, either, so I've got nothing to go on except the MW telling me it's normal and me just hoping it's normal until and unless it's not!
    As it seems to be so common, I feel better since reading everyone else's replies, too

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    Where the heart is
    4,360

    If it makes you feel any better, I had my last check at 13 weeks, midwife measured me as 14 weeks (but adjusted down to 13 again due to it being 2nd pg), couldn't find the heartbeat with the doppler ... on top of me looking more like I'm 10 weeks pregnant (some seriously stubborn abdominal muscles!!) and not feeling any movements (after being under the impression that next-timers feel movement so much sooner than first pgs!). I'm not having u/s's, either, so I've got nothing to go on except the MW telling me it's normal and me just hoping it's normal until and unless it's not!
    As it seems to be so common, I feel better since reading everyone else's replies, too

  14. #14
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Melbourne
    1,521

    Hi,

    My Ob couldn't find Peanut's heartbeat at 15w either. He used the portable u/s machine and said it's very rare to be able to find the heartbeat with the dopler that early. Since then he's had no trouble

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Perth
    3,686

    posted twice somehow!
    Last edited by Taurean; April 30th, 2009 at 07:45 PM. : double post!

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Dec 2008
    Brighton, Brisbane
    277

    ^^^^^^^Yeah that^^^^^^^

  17. #17
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    Adelaide
    15

    Ok so being miss Impatient I couldn't wait till Friday! I managed to get today off work and was lucky enough to get in to see my doc! And Guess what!!!! She foud the little peanut hiding low and to the left!! Heart beating away...oh what a sweet sweet sound!
    now I won't feel like jinxing anything if I take the tags off my new maternity jeans!!Thanks again to everyone who has replyed I really appreciate it, its really got me through the last (almost) 2 weeks! Now a three week wait til my ultrasound...can't wait!!
    xoxox

  18. #18
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2008
    3,132

    I had an appointment where the doctor couldn't find the heartbeat on a doppler because the baby was moving too much but found the placental flow. She said that the placental flow is driven by baby. If you don't have a baby with a heart beat, you don't have a placental flow. I think your baby is fine which is probably why your GP was unconcerned.

    Glad to see that you got to hear your baby's heartbeat this morning! Enjoy taking the tags off your maternity jeans

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