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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When do midwives first listen for heartbeat?

14 replies

Tamlin · 01/04/2009 16:05

A friend of mine has just said that her midwife was able to find the heartbeat at her booking in appointment, at only nine weeks gestation. Is it usual for midwives to try to find it so soon..?

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ShowOfHands · 01/04/2009 16:07

Yes, absolutely. The baby's still hiding behind the pubic bone and very small indeed.

They don't try until 16 weeks here as it's so hit and miss before then.

lastboxoftampons · 01/04/2009 16:07

Mine didn't even try until 16-17 weeks! I was told it was too soon at my booking in, which was 13+ weeks.

ShowOfHands · 01/04/2009 16:07

Absolutely normal not to hear I mean.

juuule · 01/04/2009 16:09

A m/w found the heartbeat of one of mine at just 12weeks but I assumed that was very early as she was so excited at finding it she called another midwife in to listen to it. 2nd m/w also oohed and aahed.
Before she tried to find the h/b she did tell me not to be concerned as it was unlikely she would find it at that stage.

YanknCock · 01/04/2009 16:10

Nobody tried with me until appointment with consultant at 18 weeks.

doggiesayswoof · 01/04/2009 16:13

16 week m/w appt with me, both times

I saw the heart beating on the booking-in scan with both dc, obviously without hearing it (scan is done at 12/13 weeks in my area)

onadietcokebreak · 01/04/2009 16:16

Midwife tried at booking in appt but no sound found which I remember her saying was quite normal.

Next appt she found it. Can't remember what week this was though sorry!

izzybiz · 01/04/2009 16:18

With Dd she tried at booking appt (10 wks) and couldn't find it, she did it again 2 wks later, and found it.

With Ds recently, she didn't bother at booking as we now get nuchal scan at 12-13 weeks.

Original poster

Tamlin · 01/04/2009 16:25

I'm hoping she'll try at booking as I had a missed miscarriage at the New Year and would like some confirmation that there's something alive in there before forking out £180 for a nuchal... Sounds as if the chances of her finding anything are pretty slim, though - buggery.

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peachyfox · 01/04/2009 17:18

Ny midwife found the heartbeat straight away at my 10 week booking appt. Some don't like to try because it causes more problems if they can't find it, which is absolutely normal that early too. You can buy dopplers that claim to find the hb from 10-12 weeks -I know several friends who have these and most say they found it from around 11 weeks. It's a toss up between reassurance and increased anxiety..

ceebie · 01/04/2009 18:38

A consultant was reluctant to look for heartbeat at 14 weeks because she said that it's very normal not to be able to find it and she didn't want me worrying if she couldn't. She sought and found anyway!

When is your 12-week scan? MUCH easier to SEE a heartbeat - I saw the heartbeat at an early (about 6 week) scan and very clearly at the 12-week.

Marthasmama · 01/04/2009 18:41

I heard ds's heartbeat at 8 weeks because he was in the wrong place. Poor little fella was squashed out of the way be a big ovarian cyst!

traceybath · 01/04/2009 18:44

Try at 12 weeks but warn you that its not always possible to hear. They could with dc1 and dc2 but not dc3 until 16 weeks.

I'm in the bath area.

babycat · 01/04/2009 19:36

My midwife wouldn't try to find heartbeat at 16 weeks as she said it would be worrying for me if she couldn't manage to find it. I didn't say anything but as I had bought a doppler when I needed reassurance that everything was ok with my DD1 (she was conceived by ICSI and I was very anxious), DH & I had been listening to it regularly since about 10 weeks! I am now 20 weeks and had a midwife appointment on Tuesday and it was the first time I would have heard the heartbeat had I not had my own doppler .

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