Another doppler question

[delta_blue]

Alan, I thought you might be able to answer this question. Might sound a bit silly, but lets blame it on the pregnancy hormones shall we

Ok...I have a doppler at home, I have heard the heartbeat on it for a second or two as bub must have moved away. I can hear the blood flow through the umbilical cord very easy. So I was wondering, is it safe to assume if you have blood flow through the umbilical cord that there is a heartbeat? Would the blood flow sound stop if the heart stopped beating?
Hope this makes sense.
Thank you

[Alan]

Hi Alison

Early in your pregnancy it is very difficult to find the babies heartbeat dut to its size and frequent movements. It is usually a lot easier to find the cord.
I would not rely on hearing the blood in the cord to indicate that your baby has a heartbeat. I know of a couple of cases where people have been hearing the blood in the cord only to find out later that the baby does not have a heartbeat.

[delta_blue]

Thanks Alan.
Another question...can the heartbeat stop at any time in the pregnancy? If so, are there any signs?