If an unborn babies heart beat is usually 140-160bpm, but you had found the heart beat on a doppler and it was over 160bpm twice, would you worry?

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

I am 10+ somethingorother weeks, have rented a proper doppler with a display on it, measuring the beats per minute. I found the heart beat for the first time yesterday, and it was at around 170bpm, and then I found it again in the evening and it was shooting up to 185bpm, would you be worried?

How fast is too fast?

[sorkycake]

girl

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

LOL Norty!

[fiodyl]

I thought it was supposed to be a boy if the heart beat was fast?

[kayzisexpecting]

Its meant to be a girl if the heartbeat is fast.

[lulumama]

and this is why i think dopplers are a Bad Thing to use at home. not finding the HB or wondering if there is a problem with it is not good for you.

you being stressed might well lead the baby's HB to be raised

a MW would not even be listening in at this point in pregnancy.

[kayzisexpecting]

Just found this.

If the fetal heart rate is under 140 beats per minute (BPM), it's a boy.
False. A baby girl's heart rate is usually faster than a boy's, but only after the onset of labor. There's no difference between fetal heart rates for boys and girls, but the rate does vary with the age of the fetus.
By approximately the fifth week of pregnancy, the fetal heart rate is near the mother's ? around 80 to 85 BPM. It continues to accelerate until early in the ninth week, when it reaches 170 to 200 BPM and then decelerates to an average of 120 to 160 BPM by the middle of the pregnancy. Normal fetal heart rate during labor ranges from 120 to 160 BPM for boys and girls.

[lou031205]

Totally normal.

[belgo]

agree with lulumama.

Try not to worry NJ. If you really are worried, phone your midwife.

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

I'm not especially worried about it, I know as adults we have a normal range and if it goes outside of that it isn't a problem usually, just wanted to double check

Thanks for that Kay, it is all quite fasinating !

And Lulu, hands off my doppler woman, t'is mine!!!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Move away from the doppler

While it can be a reassurance, it can also stress people out for no real reason.

No pregnant woman have had the fetal heart rate monitored continously from conception to birth, so whilst there are parameters of 'normal', there could be stages where the hb does things that we are unaware of - but are ok. Hope this makes sense!

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Noooooooooooooooooo, where the doppler goes, I go! I have only tried it about 3 times, (before yesterday!) hadn't found it before that, and promised DH I wouldn't fly off the handle if something didn't seem right, and I haven't done.

If I'd have been worried I would have rang someone yesterday, I knew it was all probably OK, just wanted to doubly check!

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Oh, Lulu, have just remembered, did you add me to your FB? Are your intials AY? Have been meaning to ask for agesssssssss.....

[Heartmum2Jamie]

Your baby's heartbeat is FINE. I am almost 21 weeks and this baby's heartbeat is consistently in the high 160's and 170's (has been since 10+ weeks) and the midwife says it's perfect. Incidentally, the old wives tale says heartrate of 140 is a girl, but I am most definately having another BOY!

[MamaG]

NJ I'm on lulu's facebook so look out for me - you'll know me by my status, so loko at her friends

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Thanks Heart

MamaG, do I have to? I will if Lulu ever get's back to me...!

[lulumama]

yes , they are!

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Ta da, as if by magic she returns Were your ears burning?

Right well at least I can accept it now, had it hanging around in my inbox for yonks, I don't like a messy inbox!

[lulumama]

just a bit ! yes. don;t leave me hanging around !!

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

LOL Done

MamaGeeeee, I can't find thee....

[coolmamma83]

Hey yall im 18 weeks and my babys heartbeat is only 150 is that bad

[pepperfish]

Don't go by the machine reading, count it out yourself over the space of a minute as the midwives do. Doppler readings of HR are a guide and aren't exact - you'll probably find you get different readings to that of the machine.

[Choccyhobnob]

Well mine was 133 at my 16 week appointment and mw said it was perfect so there's obviously a wide range.