Heartbeat at 8.5 week scan

[mummyofnone]

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.

Good heavens, the baby is about 1cm long and well buried in your womb. A few ultrasound waves will not do any damage!! They literally use them to check unborn babies every single day.
Wait until they want to yank him or her out by the head with the forceps! You will keel over 😂

Words of advice: toughen up! Otherwise the next 18 years will finish you off!

I’m a medical doctor and have been pregnant 11 times - I’m lucky to have 4 healthy kids but i know how awful pregnancy after infertility can be. Following my multiple losses I was offered early reassurance scans and also paid for numerous private scans. I’ve researched it to death and there is no credible evidence for ultrasound being a risk to the mother or foetus. My youngest measured small and I was having weekly ultrasounds for the whole of the 3rd trimester - she’s currently in the bath fighting with her sister and splashing water on the floor. I understand how scared you are but I think you need to step away from google and maybe from Mumsnet too. However, once you’ve seen / heard a heartbeat at 8 wks the chances of a successful pregnancy are massively increased. I hope you have a happy healthy pregnancy x

I had IVF so I get the anxiety but DD (my first pregnancy) was one of a two embryo transfer, but her twin didn’t make it. I had scans at 6 weeks, 7 weeks, 9 weeks, 10 weeks and 12 weeks plus additional checks to see if they could beat heartbeats and how many.

DD is now a robustly healthy 18 year old who is about to go off to university to study chemistry. The scans were fine. This is not something to worry about.

I had multiple scans for my successful pregnancy. When I asked about hearing heartbeat, I was told it's not known if it's safe. When there was an issue with my first pregnancy which sadly ended, they said they could've checked blood flow but didn't want to due to potential risks. I'm saying this so some posters would stop making fun of the OP and acting as if she'd made it all up.

I think there's little evidence and I honestly think you will absolutely fine. Some medics tend to avoid it just to be on the safe side but if it was really dangerous, they wouldn't do it. So many babies get this done and all is well. I think it is just one of those things that aren't studied enough yet and different clinics follow different recommendations.

The problem with reassurance scans and anxiety, os they dont work. You aren't feeling better and only it that moment were you feeling ressured. Leave the scans alone, and seek additional support for your mental health.

Best wishes.

It’s not about the ultrasound- it’s the fact that he listened to the heartbeat and it’s been said that to listen to it (and not see it) so early on is risky

yes, I know I need to ‘toughen up’ and I’m having therapy for it but after 4 years of treatment I think it’s ok for me to be worried

thanks for your advice

I had ultrasounds every two weeks until the second trimester in both my full term pregnancies. It's fine!

"Listening to the heartbeat" isn't actually a real thing. The heartbeat of an 8 week old embryo doesn't make any sound that you could actually hear. You can see the heart flickering on the ultrasound and the machine translates that to the wave pattern you see to make it easier for the sonographer to measure the heart rate. The sound you are referring to is basically an audio depiction of that pattern. It's not the actual sound made by your baby's heart.

Thank you so much for being so lovely and so kind.
im not too worried about the scan itself (I had an internal one first and saw the heartbeat) its more that they let me hear the heartbeat at 8.5 weeks and I didn’t know I could. At the time I was so happy but now I have read that it could damage the baby and its development. I wasn’t filled with confidence at the clinic but now I’m just so worried that hearing his/her heart has pumped extra rays or waves into their body and has damaged them. Apparently lots of clinics don’t do that so early so now I’m spiralling xx I’m so glad you have your beautiful babies ❤️❤️

Are you saying that you read it’s dangerous to listen to the heartbeat and you believe it? Of course it’s not. You really need to stop Googling and remember so much on the internet is bullshit.

I’m sorry you are so worried and I would maybe focus on ways to control your anxiety. Perhaps some meditation?

Thank you for your message
i wasn’t clear in my post (sorry)- I’m not afraid of the scan itself- it’s more that they let me hear the heartbeat and apparently that’s not safe so early on. I didn’t know it was risky and I’m really frightened x

Yeh, I read that hearing the heartbeat so early on pops additional waves onto the growing embryo and shouldn’t be done before a certain time (medical professionals have said it and not just random wiki sites) I’m really worried about that now
dont want to be medicated and my anxiety has really come during this journey: I’m trying to manage it with activities and counselling but moments like this throw me and I spiral x

Thank you for understanding and for being so kind
it’s hearing the heartbeat that has scared me. Because it wasn’t NHS and was private clinic with a crappy sonographer who acted like he hated the world- I don’t trust them. I was only googling to see how they do that so early on and read the reviews that it shouldn’t be done- so came here for a little support xx thank you xx

If you've believed something you've read and worried about it, then what can anything anyone says here do to change your mind? We could be writing anything, with no proof and you would believe it. You're better off using that energy elsewhere in your pregnancy and life. Good luck.

You’re right- thanks
really getting the feeling everyone thinks I’m crazy now and wish I hadn’t posted

Omg! Thank you so so much - that has really helped me. You are a superstar, thank you so much! I was so scared I pumped them full of bad waves and felt like my anxiety and need to check could have caused them harm
thank you so so much!

No one thinks you're crazy. You're anxious and im trying to gently say that we aren't going to do that here. You'll jusy find something else to worry aboit. That's what anxiety does, it just moves focus instead of going away.

It is honestly nonsense. Every early scan lets you listen to the heartbeat. And private hospitals are super concerned about being sued - do you really then they would do it if there was any risk at all? I had it done at the Portland at 8 weeks. It was completely standard practice. “Baby” is now 7 and fine.

I suggested meditation, not medication. Because you really do need to get this level of anxiety under control if you can. I understand why you are feeling so worried, but you should be feeling excited and happy, not scared and sad.

Best of luck, OP.

I just thought people can share their experiences
but thank you anyway

No don't worry, it's not like radiation or anything like that. It's perfectly safe! I had recurrent miscarriages before successfully conceiving my first baby and I was being treated by a doctor who was extremely risk averse. He did an ultrasound at every appointment even when it wasn't strictly necessary.

That’s so reassuring thank you and I’m so glad you have a healthy little one ❤️
I think it’s that they said the waves are intensified when they hear the heartbeat and it’s not a good idea so just stick to visuals. I wish I had known (to be honest I wish I never ever went private)

oh sorry! I misread! 🤦🏽‍♀️ I tried meditation loads- my counsellor also tried but my mind is so so busy and I struggle. Doing something like colouring in helped a little. I’m usually not this bad but this pregnancy has brought out a different side of my worry

I know what it's like to have anxiety, but the internet really is a double-edged sword. For all the great information there is, there's just as much nonsense. If you could try to avoid googling these things, you'd probably feel better.

I think you’re right xx thank you xx

I think I feel ok about ultrasounds - it’s that they said it was hearing the heartbeat that was the dangerous thing that shouldn’t be done
i hope that your baby is doing beautifully well xx

@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

This message really makes me want to give you a big hug!!!! You're not crazy at all. You're anxious and your nervous system is just going a bit wild at the moment which is totally understandable. I'm really glad youre getting some help and wish some people behind screens could be a bit gentler and kinder.