am very very very stressed at the moment with one thing or another-i am 16wks pregnant in 2 days,been this morning to the midwife at gps surgery and she couldn't find the heartbeat. Said some can't be heard until about 17 weeks.
i am also not feeling movements (this is my 3rd child and i was feeling movements from 15 wks with the other) if something has gone wrong would there be other symptoms please? i am thinking pain/bleeding/spotting etc? i have no preg symptoms and no miscarriage symptoms-just a hollow empty feeling. anyone?

My midwife refused to try to find one before 17 weeks because it can be hard to do.

Have you had a previous c section? That can also make it harder.

If you are worried go back or speak to your GP. Was your 12 week scan ok?

i've not had a c section. i've not had a scan since 9weeks on 9th dec. it seems an awfully long time from 9th dec - 24feb which is my 20wk scan.
she did try for quite a while to find it this morning and couldn't.

My MW said our NHS trust policy is not to even attempt to find a heartbeat before 20 weeks!

Do you know the position of your placenta, because an anterior placenta could be making it more difficult to feel movements.

I found the big gap between the two scans quite unsettling too. Hope things settle down a bit for you.

I first heard it with GP at about 14 weeks. Could you go back to the midwife or GP in a few days and ask them to try again? I have read that its harder to detect the heartbeat with an anterior placenta - could it be that? Position of placenta could also affect how strongly you feel movements.

i just know that i was feeling proper kicks with dd2 well before now (i get the odd flutter but it is usually some sort of 'gas') and no heartbeat.
i think i might be a bit deranged with one thing and another...

Surely if you mw could see how stressed this is making you feel, you could push for a scan? Being a stressed pregnant mother is not fair, and especially if there is a way that could be allieviated. I really hope you get some answers soon. Every pregnancy is different and hopefully there will be a good reason why you're feeling this way.
Just as a by the by, it seems so many people get 2 scans? Round here, the only one you get is 20 weeks; if you want one before this, we have to self refer to EPAC, and that's only if there's a problem..

The MW had real difficulty finding DD's HB at 28 weeks. She was like 'I'm sure it's nothing to worry about' - surprisingly I wasn't too worried as she then kicked me. I don't think it's always that easy tbh.

It can also depend where baby is sat, DD used to like to settle with her back to my back or very low in my pelvis which made it very difficult to find her HB. Sometimes it couldn't be found at all although I would get the odd kick or flutter so I'd know she was okay.

An anterior placenta could also prevent you from feeling movements yet too so perhaps that is a possibility.

If you are really worried then speak to the MW again and perhaps see if they will see you tomorrow and try again or something? It can be very hard before 17 weeks to find a HB anyway though, please try not to worry x

Several times I went and they couldn't find DD's heartbeat. One time they couldn't find her head either, bit distressing. They usually asked me to come back in a few days in the hope that she would have moved to a better spot.

It might be that the baby's just in an awkward place. If it has its back to your stomach and is kicking inwards towards your back you wouldn't feel it. Again, DD did this several times. Could you ask for an appointment in a few days to see whether it's moved?

I hope you get it resolved soon and all's well.