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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

16 weeks - couldn't find hb, freaked out

27 replies

littlebylittle · 13/01/2011 16:18

Midwife seemed unworried but also unsympathetic as to why I was worried. Baby no 3, all conceived with treatment, two mc before dc 2, and the only time I've ever heard of not hearing heartbeat at this stage was friend whose baby has died. That's why- even if it makes me an irrational fool. She said she can't refer me for scan because my routine scan in three weeks and too early for obstetric referral. But said g p might be able to do something.
Does anyone know of anyone who this has happened to where all fine, or know any statistics? Otherwise I might have long three weeks with not much sleep. My suspicion is that they don't scan because it makes little medical difference. And n h s can't afford the luxury of putting minds at rest. I do understand, just very difficult to swallow.

OP posts:

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LargeGlassofRed · 13/01/2011 16:22

This happened to me with my twins, she could only find one heart beat at 16 weeks, she wasn't worried but I knew I couldn't wait till 20 week scan, so I paid for a private scan, about 70 quid I think.
|It was so worth it, and even got to find out their sexes.

emma31177 · 13/01/2011 16:24

hi sorry ure going through this how about a private scan i no it will cost but will put ure mind at rest or like a friend of mine she turned up at a&e and said she was worried and after a few hours they found her babys heart beat

good luck wish i could be more help ive worried since day one of this pregancy x

slinkypinky · 13/01/2011 16:24

God, how awful. Have you looked in to getting a private scan? Would prob cost between £100 and £150. Or ask to speak to the supervisor of midwives and push for a scan. There is no way you can wait three weeks, you will go quite mad.
Really hope all is well, may just be too early but the stress will not be good for you.

hobbgoblin · 13/01/2011 16:27

I paid for private scan and also equipped myself with a DIY doppler. Are either of these options for you to get you through til next scan?

Also try your HV/community midwife/GP all may be more sympathetic.

doblet · 13/01/2011 16:47

I was told at my 16 week appt that they didn't look for the heartbeat as it was still early and that not being able to find it was not a bad sign but just more likely to freak the mother out. I was really disappointed but my mind was put at rest at my 20 week scan. Hope your next midwife visit goes better.

midori1999 · 13/01/2011 16:50

Midwife couldn't find either of my twins HB at 16 weeks. She said it was common and not to worry but did get another midwife to do a quick scan to reassure me.

ShowOfHands · 13/01/2011 16:52

They don't scan because it's common not to find the heartbeat. It's a bit hit and miss. Some areas won't even try. The fact that the midwife was unconcerned wasn't due to her being heartless. She probably sees it a lot.

Please try not to worry. Could you have a private scan?

wigglesrock · 13/01/2011 16:54

My midwife didn't even try at 16 week appt, my GP practice has a policy of not trying until 18-20 weeks. I am now 35 weeks, most of the midwives have had trouble finding the heartbeat - the baby has been breech up until last week. I went for appt a few weeks ago and it took the midwife ages to find the heartbeat, we were both giggling because the baby was kicking us both really hard but there was no heartbeat!

iwantavuvezela · 13/01/2011 16:55

Have to go with the others here - my midwife refused to listen for heartbeat at this stage as she said it often causes more worry - if you can perhaps your early pregnancy unit at hospital will scan you (often you can just turn up for that)
I know its difficult but i wouldnt worry too much and would look for peace of mind going for a private scan / or ask hospital
good luck

littlebylittle · 13/01/2011 18:36

Thank you so much. I feel very reassured. That said, brilliant g p managed to get scan appointment for tomorrow so hopefully will feel even better then. Or at least informed. Mumsnet is fab

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ParisPreMom · 13/01/2011 23:10

Hello,
I just read in What to Expect When you're Expecting that if the placenta is 'anterior' - at the front of your uterus - in your case, that will make it harder to sytematically hear the heartbeat (block it in a way) but that it's nothing to worry about at all.

littlebylittle · 14/01/2011 06:43

I am having butterflies at thought of scan, but know at least only have to wait til lunchtime. You're right about anterior placenta- had that both other times, but they didn't mention at 12 week scan. Could still be the case, although by 16 weeks they'd got heartbeat the other times. Wait and see.

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GoldFrakkincenseAndMyrrh · 14/01/2011 07:02

I have an anterior placenta and a transverse baby. No heartbeat on a Doppler at all so far and I'm 27 weeks.... Finding a hb isn't an exact science so try to relax until lunchtime. Good luck!

Btw ParisPreMom are you in Paris (FR) or is it just a random name?

littlebylittle · 14/01/2011 08:03

That's good to know, g f and m, thanks. Although now dd, 5, has put toy stethoscope on tummy and said she can hear baby, I am now reassured!

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pozzled · 14/01/2011 08:07

Good luck with the scan- hope all goes well.

Deliaskis · 14/01/2011 09:52

My mw listened for and found HB at 16 week apt, but before she did, she was very clear in stressing that she 'probably wouldn't' be able to find it, it was perfectly normal not to at that stage, and it didn't mean anything was wrong.

Hope all is well and you have a happy scan this afternoon. Good luck!

D

Northernrose · 14/01/2011 10:20

Good luck with your scan. In my area they don't actually listen in at all with the doppler until 24 wk midwife appointment, as they say they're unlikely to hear and don't want to cause undue distress.. so feel for you that you're in this position. Hope all goes well today and it's great that your GP was able to get you a scan.

onadietcokebreak · 14/01/2011 10:25

Good luck with scan.

PrincessScrumpy · 14/01/2011 10:29

My gp did this and said come back next week and we'll try again. I burst into tears and he decided to send me for a scan an hour later at the hospital (on the grounds my stress might harm the baby). Lady doing the scan was very cross with GP for trying to hear heart at 16 weeks but I got the reassurance so I was happy.

littlebylittle · 14/01/2011 14:17

All fine, thumping heartbeat and very fidgety baby. They couldn't have been nicer at hospital, and obstetrician said scan was right course of action, she'd have done same herself. Puts seal on reassurance, which was fifty percent there after all the replies yesterday. Hooray for mumsnet and thank you very much.

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Deliaskis · 14/01/2011 14:19

littlebylittle so pleased to hear your good news!

And you got an extra look at baby too!

D

MandaHugNKiss · 14/01/2011 14:21

Great news; now relax!

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melrose · 14/01/2011 14:30

Happened to me at 18weeks with DS2, sent to EPU on my own by fairly unspympathetic midwife, teraful phone call to DH, 100 miles away who drive home very fast, thought I had lost the baby, had to wait ages for a scan to find out all was fine!

Midwife at the hospital said she wished community midwives would not listen for the hb so early as it can be difficult to detect and just causes uneeded worry

Bonkerz · 14/01/2011 14:35

my midwife explained to me that she doesnt even check for a heartbeat with a doppler till after 17 weeks and even then she would rather wait till after 20 weeks. I was really ill for 7 weeks with infections and sickness and so scared about my baby but even then the midwife refused to check.

Northernrose · 14/01/2011 15:15

Great news little

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