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Pregnancy

In a bit of a panic - couldn't hear heartbeat at 14+6. Advice please?

25 replies

ButIForgetMyself · 07/07/2008 12:13

We first heard the baby's heartbeat with the Doppler at our midwife's visit at 12 weeks.

I'm now 14+6 and have been feeling a bit poorly over the weekend - just like I'm sickening for a cold or something. However, last night I had pains in the left side of my tummy - nothing major, just felt like a little bit of trapped wind.

Went to the doctor today just to err on the side of caution and he couldn't hear the heartbeat with the Doppler.

He called the ante-natal unit but the person who runs it is at a conference so couldn't get me in today. He made an appointment for me with the midwife tomorrow, said that everything is probably ok because I've had no bleeding, it's just to reassure me. I have had a discharge though, but it's been white, I thought it may just be thrush. I told him about this and he said he'd get the midwife to check tomorrow.

I am now rather terrified that something is really wrong... anybody been though anything similar?

OP posts:

Report

Jackstini · 07/07/2008 12:17

Hi BIFM - I had same thing happen, it is just quite hard to find at that stage - you have to be really lucky.
I found hb on home doppler at 13 wks, then could not find it again until last week when I was 16+4.
My mw said on average they find about 80% of hb at 16 wks. It is not usually anything wrong, just the position the bay is in etc.
Hope this is a bit more reasuuring for you

Fanella · 07/07/2008 12:17

No advice but wanted to bump. I'm sure someone will be along in a minute.

Jackstini · 07/07/2008 12:18

Baby not bay - oops...

objectivity · 07/07/2008 12:19

I'msurprised GP didn't swab you in case of infection if the discharge is unusual. Why wait for midwife to do so?

ButIForgetMyself · 07/07/2008 12:23

I'm not sure. I had a course of antibiotics a month back which is why I thought it was maybe thrush.

I think when he couldn't hear the heartbeat and saw the panic in my face he knew I'd be better off with the midwife for all of it.

And why are men so useless? Phoned DP 50 minutes ago (he knew I was seeing the doctor) and he answered the phone with "I'll call you back", then didn't. I could REALLY do with talking to him at this moment in time.

OP posts:

MissingMyHeels · 07/07/2008 12:27

I wouldn't find wait until tomorrow acceptable tbh - there will be someone who can see you, you could pop into the labour ward perhaps? It doesn't seem fair to leave you worrying like this.

However, am sure it's all fine, GP's can be rubbish at things like this.

MissingMyHeels · 07/07/2008 12:27

I wouldn't find wait until tomorrow acceptable tbh - there will be someone who can see you, you could pop into the labour ward perhaps? It doesn't seem fair to leave you worrying like this.

However, am sure it's all fine, GP's can be rubbish at things like this.

MissingMyHeels · 07/07/2008 12:27

Ooops

chutneymary · 07/07/2008 12:32

Don't panic - if you have a placenta on the front or if you are not super skinny it can be really hard to hear a HB before 20 weeks. I saw the consultant on Wed at 17 weeks and neither she nor the MW could find a HB so got the scanner out!

I am sure you need reassurance now but I suspect that there is nothing to worry about. Is there an EPU / day assessment unit near you which has a drop in service?

Take care

ButIForgetMyself · 07/07/2008 12:34

I am about 75% sure I have nothing to worry about and the pain is probably just a reaction to eating raw peas out of pods yesterday morning, and the doctor just isn't as handy with a Doppler as the midwife, and my aches and pains are either tiredness or the start of a cold.

HOWEVER.... nagging doubts continue to take over all my conscious thoughts.

I've got a 18 month old child to look after (not my own!) until 7.15pm so can't really hop off down to the ante-natal clinic, unfortunately.

OP posts:

largeginandtonic · 07/07/2008 12:35

Dont worry it is very common not to find the bh with a doppler so early. Doctors are particularly useless

You should be seen by a midwife today though to allay your fears. Phone the maternity unit and they will happily see you, only takes i would imagine.

Good luck and try not to worry.

ButIForgetMyself · 07/07/2008 12:36

Not super-skinny by any means!

Don't know of an EPU locally to be honest - do they tend to be part of a hospital?

OP posts:

Flibbertyjibbet · 07/07/2008 12:58

Agree with others who say that you shouldn't have to wait till tomorrow. Ring your local maternity unit or just turn up there and you will be seen.

I don't want to worry you any further but from my own sad experience I know that lack of any bleeding does not always mean that everything is ok. I think your doctor is being insensitive, and probably phoned the midwives without getting you any priority. Ring them yourself and get down there straight away. The only thing that will alleviate your worry is to hear the heartbeat or see it on a scan. I have always found midwives to be very accomodating when a pregnant lady has worries.

I can't beleive that your doctor, knowing that you had gone to him for reassurance, then fobs you off with waiting another 24 hours. Shocking. Tell the midwives this, they will be sympathetic and see you even if they are busy.

Our large hospital has an EPU but smaller hosps may not - I should think a midwife will see you regardless of the hospital set up. Good luck and now get off mumsnet and get seen by a midwife. xx

eandh · 07/07/2008 13:02

i had this at 16 weeks, had my scan at 12 weeks all ok had midwife appt at around 15 weeks all fine heard heartbeat, had a bleed at 16weeks went to drs he couldnt find heartbeat, midwife happened to be coming into the surgery as I was going out she said 'hello' I was a bit upset, took me in her room and found heartbeat within minutes (and said Drs were a bit out of practice with the dopplers)

Let us know how you get on

ButIForgetMyself · 07/07/2008 22:01

Sorry... just to bump. Am still very worried and nervous.

OP posts:

chutneymary · 07/07/2008 22:32

Poot you. As others have siad, it is more likely to be GP incompetence than a problem with the baby. Am on baby no 3 and it has been said to me MANY times in early appts that I mustn't worry if the MW can't find the HB straight away. MWs find HB for a living and they can't always find them this early. I've had a GP who found a HB which I thought was slow - turned out to be mine and he didn't even realise! This was late on in pg.

As pg isn't an illness, some GPs are not as, er, well versed in what to do as one might like. I'd go to the labour ward 1st thing if there's no EPU. Is your discharge itchy - with thrush your fanny will be on fire so it's quite hard to mistake.

Try to get some sleep. Bet in 12 hours you'll have some reassurance

chutneymary · 07/07/2008 22:32

Poot you. As others have siad, it is more likely to be GP incompetence than a problem with the baby. Am on baby no 3 and it has been said to me MANY times in early appts that I mustn't worry if the MW can't find the HB straight away. MWs find HB for a living and they can't always find them this early. I've had a GP who found a HB which I thought was slow - turned out to be mine and he didn't even realise! This was late on in pg.

As pg isn't an illness, some GPs are not as, er, well versed in what to do as one might like. I'd go to the labour ward 1st thing if there's no EPU. Is your discharge itchy - with thrush your fanny will be on fire so it's quite hard to mistake.

Try to get some sleep. Bet in 12 hours you'll have some reassurance

sunshine185 · 08/07/2008 16:44

ds kicked me in the tummy last week at 18 weeks, so worried after a sleepless night i went to docs next day and it took her what felt like forever to find the hb but she did!!

she said the baby is still very small and if hidden behind the placenta or in the wrong postion the hb can be hidden! the baby had indeed moved and was on the right!

try not to worry honey...x

Jackstini · 08/07/2008 19:18

Hi BIFM - did you get any joy with the mw today? Was thinking of you

ButIForgetMyself · 08/07/2008 20:41

Thanks everyone - yes, she found the heartbeat within a minute, strong and loud. What a relief. I was so proud of the little mite. And the mw commented on how well my uterus is growing.

Apparently I have some kind of gastric bug thing though, and also lucosytes in my wee sample which we have to keep an eye on.

Again, thanks for the support everyone

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sunnytimes · 08/07/2008 20:45

Message withdrawn

minouminou · 08/07/2008 20:47

Oh, goodo!
Put your feet up and relax, now, eh?
Carry on growing that fab uterus.

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Jackstini · 08/07/2008 22:29

Oh glad to hear it! such a relief isn't it

Fanella · 09/07/2008 09:06

Oh brilliant, very relieved for you.

largeginandtonic · 10/07/2008 11:42

Hooray!

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