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Pregnancy

Misheard heartbeat.

21 replies

ale233 · 05/03/2007 11:40

I went to the doctors nearly 2 weeks ago as I had just done a positive pregnancy test, the doctor listened to my tummy and we could hear the heartbeat, she refered me to the midwife. I had some slight bleeding last thursday ( it was more brown in colour ) I told the midwife about it as it was my booking in appointment that day. I explained about the doctor hearing the heartbeat and she said I must be at least 12 weeks pregnant but refered me for a scan because of the bleeding. I have been for the scan today and they have found a sac that measures about 5 weeks but cant see a heartbeat. The midwife doing the scan said it might be that its too early to see it yet. I explained about the heartbeat the doctor heard but she said that the doctor must have heard my pulse instead. I left feeling really upset as the midwife said they cant confirm if the pregnancy is ok or not and I have to go back in 2 weeks for another scan. Has anyone else had a sinmilar thing happen?

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belgo · 05/03/2007 11:43

How many weeks pregnant do you think you are?

I would think it a little strange for a doctor to mistake your heartbeat for a baby's heartbeat, but possible.

Hope it works out ok.

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lulumama · 05/03/2007 11:47

it would be quite unusual for a doc to pick up a foetal heartbeat before around 12 weeks, 16 weeks is the time in most antenatal checks, that the midwife will listen to the heart ...once the uterus is rising up out of the pelvis and the baby is bigger, it is easier to locate the heartbeat

did you hear the heartbeat? a baby;s beats much much faster than an adults....and sounds it...

if you went to the docs 2 weeks ago, having just done a positive test, and had only missed one period, you would have been around 4 - 5 weeks, far far too early to pick up a heartbeat , IMO,...

how many weeks do you think you are?

a heartbeat is not usually visible until 7 weeks +

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ale233 · 05/03/2007 11:49

I came off my pill in November and had a period around the begining of December, in january I felt pregnant but a test was negative, I only bled for 1 day in January. The doctor said that the january test was probably incorrect, because of only bleeding for 1 day in January I was unsure of dates.

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ale233 · 05/03/2007 11:52

Both me and my husband heard the heartbeat and the doctor said that it sounded fine and that there was only one heartbeat, she picked it up very quickly and it did sound fast, I have a 17 month old and it sounded like the ones I had when I was pregnant with her but it couldnt have been becasue the midwife today said that there was no sign of a 12 week baby

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lulumama · 05/03/2007 12:21

sounds like a very worrying time...can;t really explain it, hope you get some answers at the next scan x

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oops · 05/03/2007 12:25

Message withdrawn

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ale233 · 05/03/2007 12:50

I was at the early pregnancy unit today. it was them who said I would need to wait 2 weeks for another scan. Should I contact my Gp or the midwife about the blood tests?

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oops · 05/03/2007 12:54

Message withdrawn

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DarrellRivers · 05/03/2007 12:57

I really don't think you can hear the fetal heart at less than 15 weeks or so and particularly at less than 10 weeks using the hand help doppler
It must have been your heartbeat.
Good luck with it all

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jabuti · 05/03/2007 13:07

darrell, i was able to hear my baby's heartbeat at 11 weeks with a hand doppler. we have one at home, and my husband and i are pretty sure about it because the baby's heartbeat is MUCH faster than ours. i was also with my hand on my pulse to compare, and there was no doubt, mine was one and the baby was another one, the faster one.

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ale233 · 05/03/2007 13:54

oops, I contacted the midwife as I couldnt get through to the early pregnancy team and she said that blood tests wouldn't tell me if everything was ok or not and that I just had to wait untill my next scan, I'm going to be worried sick till then.

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Kelly1978 · 05/03/2007 13:59

Try not to worry too much, it sounds like everything is going fine. The bleed could well have been implantation, and it was old blood, so not as big a worry as fresh blood anyway. They wouldn't have detected a heartbeat from the scan anyway, and it is hard to see much at all that early, so it all sounds fine. I'm not an expert, but have had lots of experience with bleeding and early scans and have had four healthy children at the end of it and I'm sure you will be fine.

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oops · 05/03/2007 14:07

Message withdrawn

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oops · 05/03/2007 14:11

Message withdrawn

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MrsMcJnr · 05/03/2007 14:43

Really feel for you but know what the waiting game is like. The EPU where I am refuse to do the HCG blood tests as they say they can be unreliable and cause more stress, they will only re-scan every two weeks or so. I really hope things work out well for you. I've set up a thread for those of us in limbo, I thought it might help.

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ale233 · 05/03/2007 14:55

Thanks so much everyone for all your help, I'll let you know how I go on.x

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oops · 05/03/2007 15:20

Message withdrawn

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whoopsfallenoveragain · 05/03/2007 20:10

ale, I'm in the same situation as you although I haven't had any bleeding. I was told I had to wait 2 weeks but I called the EPU and they said they could tell if there was any difference after about a week so they have brought the appointment forward a few days from the Friday to the Tuesday. It still seems a long time to wait but not as long as the full 2 weeks.
Hope things turn out ok for you

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Alan · 05/03/2007 20:11

he heard your heartbeat

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ale233 · 05/03/2007 20:13

Thanks whoops, hope everything works out well for you.

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oops · 05/03/2007 20:39

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