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

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.

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

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!

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.

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 :rolleyes:

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

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.

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.

Thanks alot to everyone who has replyed! Does make me feel better to know that i'm not the only one who has had trouble finding the heartbeat...keeping fingers crossed for two weeks time when she can try again with my wiggly little monster!! I think she did say my placenta was probably at the front and it was hiding behind, and she said my fundal height was the perfect measurement it should be so I guess this reassures me!! (And my pants don't fit anymore so i guess it is growing well!)
Thanks again guys...I'll keep you posted in two weeks :pray:

My OB would only use the u/s as she would find it difficult to find the heartbeat with a doppler...which was a bit sad cause I wissed out on hearing that magical sound....

Also my placenta was to the front which actually cushioned the kicks bubs was giving me so I did not feel kicking until way later which was freaking me out....

I hope the 2 weeks goes by quickly for you and you don't worry to much more....sending you all the best wishes I can...

Just wanted to throw something else into what everyone else has said, If you are super concerned then perhaps make a GP appointment and ask them to order another ultrasound. Stress isn't good for you or for bub so if it is really super dooper worrying you then just go to the Dr and request (demand) another US.

Sounds like all is well though so try not to worry - easier said then done sometimes ;)

Nae x

Try your best not to worry hon. As everyone else has said, it's not uncommon at all. I had to have an urgent checkup this week as I fell on my tummy and the midwife told me she was hesitant to use the doppler as she may not be able to find the heartbeat which would only lead to more stress. I'm 19 weeks and my placenta is posterior but the midwife said it was still unlikely she'd find it. She did actually find it without any problems but my little one is sitting right at the front - I can feel where it's positioned most of the time - so I was a bit of an unusual case.

I'm sure your little bubs is just fine honey. Midwifes often say they're hesitant to use dopplers because they can cause unnecessary stress.

Take care of yourself ;)

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 :D

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.

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

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 :)

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 :)

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 :D

posted twice somehow!

Tash and Mayaness - the position of your placenta can make a HUGE difference. If it's anterior, so positioned at the front, it can cushion both baby's kicks and heartbeat.

If you are really concerned though, organise a scan and you can see the heartbeat on the screen - I know hearing it is amazing but seeing that tiny heart beating away is pretty awesome still. :D

Tash - my ob has never used a doppler to find Tex's heartbeat, only ever the US machine, so I think that some in the field are taking your advice an not using them for the very reason that you suggest!

I'm sure that everything will be fine, but if you do have doubts I think it is worth talking to your GP and getting an US just for your piece of mind. If you can hold out to you next appointment, and she can't find it then, maybe ask for a US at that point - any excuse is a good one to see your little one kicking away at you on the big screen!

Good luck and take care.
FG

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

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

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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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

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Hmm, I can understand how you felt. I never had happened to all my pregnancies except this one. Went to the doctor's 2 weeks ago and he found one heart beat with the doppler and he tried to find the other twin's heartbeat he couldn't but he said everything was ok and I've been worried and just trying feel for lot's of kicks and movements from babies.

Will find out tomorrow when I go for my review scan for the 20 wk scan...don't worry, everything will be ok. :hug:

dont stress tash...
I know its hard not to stress when theyve given you news like that, but stressing will only make things worse, for you and bub.

Im sure everything is fine, the little bugger just want to play tricks on mummy.
How did it go. Have you had news on hearing bubbas heartbeat again?

oops, sorry, just saw ur message a few replies up.

Good to hear everything is ok. Told you lil peanut was trying to scare you, just wanted to play tricks on mum. :)

congrats and all the best xx

Hiya! Yeah everything is going great now thanks first time mummy! Now 23 weeks along and have no fear the peanut is still there, it is reminding me all the time! It either thinks it can dance or it has the hiccups all the time! I absolutly love feeling it move!
Hobbes- Hope everything went well at your ultrasound..no matter how much you try not to worry, you just can't help it!

Hi Tash

Thank for asking...scan went really well, bubs are doing well and heart rate is below 150 and i think that's normal. Again both turned and had their heads together (how cute!) and this time scan only took 30 mins and not 1 hr (phew!) :D