Can you feel the heartbeat from outside?

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June 21st, 2009, 08:05 PM
first_time_mummy

Can you feel the heartbeat from outside?

My DP was feeling my tummy the other night to see if he could feel our bub kick, and he said he couldnt feel much other than a heartbeat.

This made me think... was it just my heartbeat? or could it be bubs that he was feeling?:rolleyes:

I put my hand where he had his, and i could destinctly feel a very quick and faint heart beat. It wasnt mine as i felt my pulse and i was beating much slower than the beat we could feel.:rolleyes:

Could this have been bub? Is it possible to feel a babys heartbeat from outside?
June 21st, 2009, 08:10 PM
~Kate~

I would have to say unlikely. It was probably just blood flow. But then again, maybe if bubs was in the very best position then a miracle perhaps. I've never heard of it so maybe someone else can jump on and enlighten us...;)
June 21st, 2009, 08:13 PM
amberj

I don't know... My inclination would be to say probably not, simply because its often hard enough to find a heartbeat on a doppler, and it wasn't until I was about 35-38 weeks pregnant that I could find the heartbeat with a stethascope. The placenta and uterus are also pretty thick.

However, anything is possible- if your bubs was in the right position it could happen. I think it would be hard to mistake your heartbeat and your baby's, so if it didn't seem like yours, then it probably was your bubs, however unlikely it might seem.

Congratulations, sounds like a great experience!
June 21st, 2009, 08:14 PM
ubba82

I dont think so, bubs probably had the hiccups!!!
June 21st, 2009, 08:16 PM
first_time_mummy

amberj- Thats what i thought...i was like, na, it couldnt possibly be its heartbeat, but it gave me shivers when i felt it, cause it was definately much faster than mine.
It was very strange, but fingers crossed it was bubs heartbeat, and DP got to experience it too :)
June 21st, 2009, 08:17 PM
first_time_mummy

:

I dont think so, bubs probably had the hiccups!!!

can they get hiccups?
June 21st, 2009, 08:20 PM
DaintreeDream

I know the feeling that you are referring to, it really does feel like a heartbeat, I felt it from about 20 weeks with DD up until she was born and assumed it was her heartbeat however I read somewhere not long ago that it is not the heartbeat but something else, no matter how hard I try I cannot remember what!, but it did make sense when I read it :D.

It was definatly not the hiccups, completely different sensation, I felt both things on a daily basis :D I just never felt by baby kick as my placenta was on the front wall so these other movements was all I had for reassurance.

If I find where I read it or if I remember I will pop back in, maybe it was the bloodflow as Kate said :think:.
June 21st, 2009, 08:23 PM
~Kate~

Bubs can definately get hiccups...such a cool feeling! You'll know it when bubs has it.
June 21st, 2009, 08:26 PM
ubba82

Yep they sure can get hiccups! They are swallowing amniotic fluid and sometimes they drink it too fast!!
June 21st, 2009, 08:26 PM
first_time_mummy

ohok.
Thanks.
Lol, cant wait for bub to have the hiccups....couldnt imagine what it would feel like...lol...
I look forward to it :)
June 21st, 2009, 08:28 PM
lauren22

:

Yep they sure can get hiccups! They are swallowing amniotic fluid and sometimes they drink it too fast!!

^ that is the cutest thing ever said :lol:
look its sounds unlikely but i agree with the other certainly possible bubs could be in prime position.
June 21st, 2009, 08:32 PM
first_time_mummy

:

... possible bubs could be in prime position.

I hope, that would be so wonderful if we have experienced lil bubs hb together.....:)
June 21st, 2009, 08:32 PM
amberj

ugh, hiccups. DS got them everyday, multiple times a day from somewhere about 20 weeks-ish. It was cute the first month. Then it got kind of old. It feels much like when bubs is kicking, but its rythmic- but not nearly as fast as a heartbeat. If your bubs does get hiccups in the womb, they will probably have them when they are born as well. DS was just a really hiccupy baby, inside and outside the womb.

I hope you did feel your bubs heartbeat, that would be very cool.
June 21st, 2009, 08:36 PM
first_time_mummy

:

It feels much like when bubs is kicking, but its rythmic- but not nearly as fast as a heartbeat..

Ooooohhh, i think i may have felt these hiccups...
I have often wondered why bubs kicks are only one or two, then other times, it could be a constant bubbling feeling....

How long do these hiccups last? I have felt a light pulsating feeling go for about ten consecutive pulses...could this be hiccups? or would they usually last longer than ten or so?
June 21st, 2009, 08:41 PM
amberj

DS's hiccups usually lasted for anywhere between 2-10 minutes, sometimes longer. I think his hiccups got stronger and longer the more my pregnancy went on, so the 10 or so bumps you feel could be the start of hiccups. As they get bigger, you really can't miss them because they shake their whole body and it can get quite uncomfortable, especially when their head is on your bladder!!
June 21st, 2009, 08:46 PM
Floweryfields

It's probably your heartbeat in the umbilical artery - I know the gyno could feel mine pulsing when he was feeling my belly button the other day.
June 21st, 2009, 08:47 PM
DaintreeDream

:

you really can't miss them because they shake their whole body and it can get quite uncomfortable, especially when their head is on your bladder!!

My DD's hiccups were just light but in rhythm, she was breech and I could feel them down low near her bum, not near her head (no idea why), they were so gentle for me, never uncomfortable, they did last 2-10 minutes usually but sometimes it was just brief, she to gets them alot in the outside world :D.

Wow, it seems that things feel so different when bubs isn't breech and placenta is placed on the back wall, I barely felt any movements with my DD, I am looking forward to all of the new things I will experence this time.
June 21st, 2009, 08:48 PM
Visitor8

it would probably have been the hiccups. Ashton used to get them so bad for ages and quite obviously my stomach would move with them lol
June 21st, 2009, 11:59 PM
SophieRose

Hiccups! Thats what it is. I was freaking out because for some reason i saw the soft kick-like feelings that were happening rythmically meant something was wrong.
I get them all the time!! At least two or so times a day. And bubby moving doesn't seem to stop them either.

I feel better now. Although they annoy the heck out of me. I really don't enjoy them in the slightest.
Kind of a cute thought that my little mans in there with hiccups. Hehe
June 22nd, 2009, 09:13 AM
Evie76

I love when the baby has hiccups. It's just the best!! I had a sonography session and the baby was hiccuping then too - so we got to see it.

DS hiccuped heaps - and still does. He's funny when he hiccups - I say to him, "I remember when you used to do that before you were born." He just looks at me funny and says, "No, mummy."
June 22nd, 2009, 09:18 AM
mybabylove

it sounds like the hiccups.
My bub gets them daily..... too cute! :p
June 22nd, 2009, 02:22 PM
Now we're 3

Does anyone else find it confusing trying to work out whats happening inside them or is it just me?

I've felt heartbeat which I just assumed was mine as wasn't particularily fast. Also didn't think it would be possible to "feel" this through the layers - especially as OB can find it difficult to locate on doppler at times

Also felt what I can best describe as bubbles - sometime just one or two and then other times they keep going for a minute or so. Had assumed the bubbles were how the kicks felt in the early days. They have changed slightly over the last week or so but still don't feel like an actual kick? I don't see my stomach move when it happens so not sure.

Poor hubbie is hanging out to be able feel the baby move/kick and I keep saying soon soon but don't think he believes me anymore:rolleyes: