Heartbeat at 8.5 week scan

mummyofnone · 2025-07-27T19:27:49+00:00

Hi guys - it’s me (yet again) firstly, if you have seen my posts you will notice I’m really struggling with my anxiety. 4 years of infertility and we are finally pregnancy through PGT-M. I had the 7 week scan and all was good. Had a rubbish and stressful week and said I’d like to book a practice scan to see the little one ans get some reassurance. I went to a private clinic and they did an ultrasound (on top of the abdomen) I saw the little red and blue markings on the scan- i think to show the heart and circulation. However the sonographer (who wasn’t very friendly) clicked a button and said ‘and you can hear the heartbeat’ I didn’t ask for that as I didn’t think we could so early on but it was lovely to hear (I actually asked him to play it again which he did for another 2 secs) anyway, I went down the Google rabbit hole and so many women have said it’s dangerous and I could have hurt the baby. I don’t trust the clinic now and will call the doctor tomorrow (I also won’t do a private scan again) on other threads - there have been so many lovely and supportive women (one or two have been exceptional) I am just wondering if I’m being silly or if Iv damaged my baby also, I know I’m struggling with my anxiety- I am having therapy and am trying various methods but I feel like I’ll have to accept the fact I’ll be scared until I get to the 12 week scan.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 29/07/2025 00:34

On the 27th when you wrote this thread you stated ' (I also won’t do a private scan again) '
however upon complaining to the doctor / private scan clinic ' they offered another reassurance scan. I took it '

why

why on earth did you have another private scan when the first one gave you so much anxiety

user1471511063 · 29/07/2025 00:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 19:36

MyCococo · 28/07/2025 08:30

OP, I'm so sorry you are going through such anxiety with this, but after your journey to get here, I absolutely understand why. I'm a sonographer, and you are right, we don't routinely use colour Doppler (the red and blue) or pulsed wave (the sound of the heartbeat) in early pregnancy. This is down to guidance from various societies, and because there is a theoretical risk that there can be some increased tissue heating with these modes. This will be the reason you have seen that we "shouldn't" do this on the internet. However, to actually pose risks to baby, you would have to have this mode on for a very long time, in the same spot without moving at all. I can absolutely promise you, a few seconds of hearing the heartbeat will not have posed any risk at all to baby. We often show a quick flash of colour or take a quick pulse wave, especially if people are struggling to visualise the heart movement on screen. I know that anxiety isn't a rational thing, but I hope this gives you a bit of comfort. Also, I'm sorry your sonographer behaved like he did, there are unfortunately some out there who don't deserve to be doing the job- we are so privileged to be part of women's pregnancies. xx

Thank you so so much x the clinic confirmed that the sonographer should not have done this and they offered another reassurance scan. I took it (with another sonographer in a different clinic) initially I was 8w5d and he was 2.57cm and today I am 9 days and he’s 2.66. We could see the heart beating clearly and saw the teeny little arms stumps waving. I felt better. They did confirm that if the sonographer had concerns he should have done an internal scan- to be honest, he was so rude and in such a rush I think he wanted it over and done with. I’m really really worried that he hasn’t grown a lot and that there may be long term risks from what he did (it was about 2-3 seconds the two times he did it) he said my BMI was heavier (I’m a size 10-12) and so he pressed down more and didn’t see a good rhythm in the babies heart. I know this wasn’t true as he showed us and told us it looked great and I think he was showing off with the heart rate. They are dealing with it in the clinic but after 4 years of infertility il frightened about what unseen damage he may have done x your reassurance has really helped- I’m so frightened x

OP posts:

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 13:31

user1471511063 · 28/07/2025 13:26

You have come on here for support but your attitude towards the sonographer is incredibly entitled.
They are a health professional with high qualifications.
Ultrasound does not harm you or the baby.
all the best for your pregnancy but please be kind, it sounds like you will need it.

Show quote history

as I said, it’s hearing the heartbeat that’s the worry and it’s published everywhere that this shouldn’t happens. They have launched an investigation.
i have been perfectly ‘kind’ but i think im allowed to say how im feeling - other people seem to understand and are kind but you seem to be personally impacted by the fact i am questioning a professional (someone I haven’t even named or mentioned the clinic name) - just because someone is a professional - malpractice is a real thing and if the clinic are worried that this has been done my concerns are valid.
please don’t message again as it feels as though you are the person being unkind

OP posts:

user1471511063 · 28/07/2025 13:26

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 13:09

Well if you were in the room and were part of the interaction, then you would be able to comment. I stand by my comment that the service was appalling, We have reported it and have been advised that the heartbeat should not have been made available to us and an investigation is taking place

Show quote history

You have come on here for support but your attitude towards the sonographer is incredibly entitled.
They are a health professional with high qualifications.
Ultrasound does not harm you or the baby.
all the best for your pregnancy but please be kind, it sounds like you will need it.

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 13:16

Mumofsoontobe3 · 28/07/2025 13:05

Sorry you're feeling so anxious OP. I was the same in my first pregnancy. Congratulations on your pregnancy! The scan absolutely would not have caused any harm or injury to your unborn baby, the clinic you have gone to are regulated and scans wouldn't be advertised and given if they were any major risk to you or your baby. I'm heavily pregnant with my 3rd now, due any day and I just had scan number 14 this morning. Baby is very active+ healthy and I heard the heartbeat too. NHS do the very same thing. Have you had your booking appointment with the midwife? Could you have an open discussion about your anxiety? They are very good and offer a lot of support to you throughout your pregnancy. I hope the remainder of your pregnancy goes well - be kind to yourself, it's a vulnerable time for you.

Thank you so much for your message and your good wishes xx I had seen the heartbeat before so I was happy all was ok. I’m ok with the scans- I can see them being useful but I’m so worried about the fact we heard the heartbeat. It’s against regulations and they say it produces heat that it shouldn’t. The clinic itself are concerned that this has happened and are looking into it which makes me feel me feel even more worried x

OP posts:

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 13:12

GoAwayNaughtyPigeon · 28/07/2025 12:58

In terms of the scan - yes, the baby will be fine and it won't harm it. Seeing a heartbeat is a good indicator the pregnancy will be viable, but it isn't a guarantee - but please take it as a little bit of reassurance that seeing the heartbeat drastically reduces your odds of miscarriage vs not seeing one. Anxiety during pregnancy (especially after losses etc) is absolutely awful, be kind to yourself ❤️ I found it easier to sort of disassociate from my pregnancy for the most part and not really "think" of myself as pregnant most of the time until I had an appointment. I have known another woman who paid for weekly private scans to reassure her as it was the only thing that made it bearable for her - you do whatever is best for you!

Thank you - I’m not too worried about the scan itself- it’s more the fact we heard the heartbeat and I have been told that this shouldn’t be done before 13 weeks- the clinic is looking into this now - which is making me so anxious
I feel so so worried, I’m trying to manage my anxiety but feel like hearing the heartbeat might have caused him damage as it produces a heat that is risky to the embryo x

OP posts:

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 13:09

user1471511063 · 28/07/2025 12:49

you are the reason these reassurance scans are offered, you took advantage by paying privately to have it and your attitude towards the person helping you “the crappy sonographer” is pretty horrible, crappy even!

Well if you were in the room and were part of the interaction, then you would be able to comment. I stand by my comment that the service was appalling, We have reported it and have been advised that the heartbeat should not have been made available to us and an investigation is taking place

OP posts:

Mumofsoontobe3 · 28/07/2025 13:05

Sorry you're feeling so anxious OP. I was the same in my first pregnancy. Congratulations on your pregnancy! The scan absolutely would not have caused any harm or injury to your unborn baby, the clinic you have gone to are regulated and scans wouldn't be advertised and given if they were any major risk to you or your baby. I'm heavily pregnant with my 3rd now, due any day and I just had scan number 14 this morning. Baby is very active+ healthy and I heard the heartbeat too. NHS do the very same thing. Have you had your booking appointment with the midwife? Could you have an open discussion about your anxiety? They are very good and offer a lot of support to you throughout your pregnancy. I hope the remainder of your pregnancy goes well - be kind to yourself, it's a vulnerable time for you.

GoAwayNaughtyPigeon · 28/07/2025 12:58

In terms of the scan - yes, the baby will be fine and it won't harm it. Seeing a heartbeat is a good indicator the pregnancy will be viable, but it isn't a guarantee - but please take it as a little bit of reassurance that seeing the heartbeat drastically reduces your odds of miscarriage vs not seeing one. Anxiety during pregnancy (especially after losses etc) is absolutely awful, be kind to yourself ❤️ I found it easier to sort of disassociate from my pregnancy for the most part and not really "think" of myself as pregnant most of the time until I had an appointment. I have known another woman who paid for weekly private scans to reassure her as it was the only thing that made it bearable for her - you do whatever is best for you!

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 28/07/2025 12:54

I wish I had had a heart beat with every pregnancy I had.

user1471511063 · 28/07/2025 12:49

you are the reason these reassurance scans are offered, you took advantage by paying privately to have it and your attitude towards the person helping you “the crappy sonographer” is pretty horrible, crappy even!

tripleginandtonic · 28/07/2025 10:25

Kindly OP , if this is going to be your only pregnancy I'd really try to enjoy it. All these early scans cause more worry. It will fly to 12 weeks which us when most get their first scan. Amd they'll be able to date you properly then.

MrsEverest · 28/07/2025 10:15

Sound doesn’t hurt your baby.

The issue with scans like this is they don’t treat the underlying problem which is your anxiety. It’s natural and understandable but there are better ways to be supported in it.

HellaElla · 28/07/2025 09:52

mummyofnone · 27/07/2025 22:53

Thank you so much for being a support and for being so understanding. I actually can’t understand why everyone seems to be so annoyed with me. It has been a hard few years and this is the first time after countless heartbreaks that I’m finally pregnant: part of me can’t believe it and part of me feels so scared that something will go wrong. I accepted that I would be worried so thought I would get these scans for peace of mind. I couldn’t believe that I could hear the heartbeat at 8 weeks (I didn’t even ask to) but it made me so happy. I came home and googled the process as I’m interested and I saw so many people say it’s been advised that you dont do that as the waves can basically damage the baby. I read more and more and so just wanted to ask some women who have been through the same thing to get a little reassurance - I would be devastated if I did something to help my anxiety and I hurt the baby.
Did you have your heartbeat scans early on- a really nice lady on this thread said that it wasn’t actually the heartbeat we could hear, it was a sound representation from what it could see xx
I’m so glad your pregnancy went well and that you have a beautiful healthy baby xx
Thank you again for being lovely x

Show quote history

Hi yes, I was scanned pretty much every 2 weeks from about 4 weeks onward if I remember correctly! I can’t recall exactly when they first did heartbeat audio but from the very first moment they could they did. I hope you’ve had some reassurance from the people on this thread who have come back with experiences. And also be gentle with yourself about being worried. I remember vividly how much additional stress and upset it caused me being constantly told that I was ‘worrying too much’, that I needed to ‘think positive’, even that I was going to cause more harm with my anxiety etc. I had eventually to tell certain people in my life that they were not helping with those comments and avoid them while pregnant. I hope you’ve have good support around you. Sending hugs!

MyCococo · 28/07/2025 08:30

OP, I'm so sorry you are going through such anxiety with this, but after your journey to get here, I absolutely understand why. I'm a sonographer, and you are right, we don't routinely use colour Doppler (the red and blue) or pulsed wave (the sound of the heartbeat) in early pregnancy. This is down to guidance from various societies, and because there is a theoretical risk that there can be some increased tissue heating with these modes. This will be the reason you have seen that we "shouldn't" do this on the internet. However, to actually pose risks to baby, you would have to have this mode on for a very long time, in the same spot without moving at all. I can absolutely promise you, a few seconds of hearing the heartbeat will not have posed any risk at all to baby. We often show a quick flash of colour or take a quick pulse wave, especially if people are struggling to visualise the heart movement on screen. I know that anxiety isn't a rational thing, but I hope this gives you a bit of comfort. Also, I'm sorry your sonographer behaved like he did, there are unfortunately some out there who don't deserve to be doing the job- we are so privileged to be part of women's pregnancies. xx

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 08:07

Ginnygi · 28/07/2025 05:34

@mummyofnone I've heard people say that 'AIBU' category attracts a certain type of people on here so whenever someone posts on it, regardless of what they post, OPs get bashed.

Never seen anything similar in the pregnancy forum so for future, I'd advise you post there if you have any concerns. Much friendlier folk there ❤️

Thank you- I will do. To be honest I didn’t even notice where I posted. Feel a bit to scared to post again lol but if I do, I’ll try there xx thank you heaps xx

OP posts:

muddlingthrou · 28/07/2025 06:37

Firstly OP, congratulations. I have two gorgeous IVF babies, and we ‘listened’ (as someone said up thread, it’s not really listening) to the heartbeat at 7 weeks. I’m sure IVF clinics wouldn’t regularly do something that risks the baby, so I hope this is reassuring. Wishing you all the best xx

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 28/07/2025 06:26

mummyofnone · 27/07/2025 23:08

Even if they listen to the heartbeat so early on? That’s the area of concern that I have now x

Show quote history

It makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. I don't know where you read that but it's not true. "Listening to the heartbeat" is just a sound effect the machine makes to match the wave pattern.

Ginnygi · 28/07/2025 05:34

@mummyofnone I've heard people say that 'AIBU' category attracts a certain type of people on here so whenever someone posts on it, regardless of what they post, OPs get bashed.

Never seen anything similar in the pregnancy forum so for future, I'd advise you post there if you have any concerns. Much friendlier folk there ❤️

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 00:07

User0141 · 27/07/2025 23:07

OP I'm not a doctor/sonographer. But my experience is that to be offered the chance to hear the heartbeat at an early 'reassurance scan' is normal and not a risky thing to do. But I think you are right that there is a detailed type of scan to do with blood flow and the heart/placenta etc specifically that in theory could cause damage (the emphasis being on could). Maybe that's what you've found when you googled. This is a very specific type of scan that would not be done without clinical need (my second pregnancy was very complicated and so I had a lot of ultrasounds that were specifically focused on the blood flow issue - these scans often took 30 mins+ , they were nothing like a routine scan. And they're certainly not just listening to the heart beat for a few seconds).

Edited

Thank you so much- that’s really reassuring xxx
I hope all went well with your pregnancy and that your baby is doing well xxxx

OP posts:

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 00:06

Eenameenadeeka · 27/07/2025 23:57

I relate to this type of anxiety and I've found I really have to ban myself from googling anything because it really just gives you new things to worry about, it doesn't resolve the anxiety. I'm sure it will be okay. Xx

Thank you xx Google is dangerous - so is my stupid brain x

OP posts:

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 00:05

Thunderpants88 · 28/07/2025 00:01

I have had 4 babies. Paid for private scans weekly for my own reassurance and got to listen to the heartbeat at 7 weeks, 9 weeks and 11 weeks with all of them. Caused zero adverse effects. As someone said above it’s the sound made by the machine to reflect the beats from the ultrasound.

you need to relax and lean in to the successful pregnancy you are carrying. Every day say “I am pregnant. I can trust my body”

Thank you so much xx I do trust my body- it’s my stupid brain I don’t trust x
hating myself that I could have put my baby at risk just to reassure myself xx thank you for your reassurance- you are really kind x

OP posts:

Original poster

mummyofnone · 28/07/2025 00:03

Janefx40 · 27/07/2025 21:16

@mummyofnonecongratulations on your pregnancy. I also had a long journey to my pregnancies and get the anxiety - I honestly don’t know how I survived those early weeks. I re-read my WhatsApp conversations with my best friend the other day from that time and my anxiety was off the charts.

I was at a recurrent miscarriage clinic and being treated by one of the leading experts in miscarriage and early diagnosis of issues with the baby during pregnancy and I asked this question and they said it was fine. There were days when I had more than one scan, hearing the heart beat, within 24 hours.

Something else I have often said to people is “please don’t worry about the worry”. People often tell women to stop being anxious when trying to conceive or pregnant and I think that can compound the worry. It’s great that you are taking your mental health seriously and have sought support. Do everything you can to feel well but don’t worry if you feel anxious. It is totally normal. Keep going to therapy and seeking support but also make yourself comfy, be nice to yourself and ride it out. It’s so hard but hopefully all will be well and the anxiety will gradually improve.

wishing you all the best with your pregnancy x

Thank you so so much! Thank you for understanding. The thing I hate the most is when people say ‘think positive’ or ‘seek help’ I wish I could think positive, it’s not a switch I can turn on or off. I hate the impact the anxiety is having on me and it also impacts my poor husband too (he has spent the evening reading over these messages to help reassure me)
I really am trying to get help because I know it’s not healthy but I’m starting to feel like a lost cause x
were you heartbeat scans early on?
I really hope all went well and you have a beautiful healthy baby now xx

OP posts:

Thunderpants88 · 28/07/2025 00:01

I have had 4 babies. Paid for private scans weekly for my own reassurance and got to listen to the heartbeat at 7 weeks, 9 weeks and 11 weeks with all of them. Caused zero adverse effects. As someone said above it’s the sound made by the machine to reflect the beats from the ultrasound.

you need to relax and lean in to the successful pregnancy you are carrying. Every day say “I am pregnant. I can trust my body”