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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think my midwife shouldn't have done this?

29 replies

tryingtobemarypoppins · 28/07/2009 19:43

I am 11 weeks and had my booking appointment today. I had a scan at 8 weeks and saw a heart beat - all fine.

My midwife said she would listen with a doppler for the heart beat today, but couldn't find it. She said not to worry and that she shouldn't really do it yet.

Really worried now!

OP posts:
maggievirgo · 28/07/2009 19:44

yeah, 11 wks is early to find the hb. People drive themselves mad with dopplers.

LIZS · 28/07/2009 19:45

I don't think it is uncommon not to pick it up before 2nd trimester, although you might, so don't worry unduly.

maggievirgo · 28/07/2009 19:45

ps, sonographers more skillled at locating the hb than a mw... mw only pull a doppler out of the bottom of their bag, one of a range of skills! sonographers spend all day finding the bits they need to look at..

Original poster
tryingtobemarypoppins · 28/07/2009 19:46

Is it normal for midwifes to have a search at this stage?

OP posts:
Theteathings · 28/07/2009 19:47

that's why they're supposed to resist it till 16 wks.

My mw was hunting for ages at 12 wks but they are so titchy then that they can be hidden away. (I got a doppler and it was pathetic. not a sausage).

maggievirgo · 28/07/2009 19:47

Mine never tried to find the hb so early. I think it was only from about 28 wks on that they started to listen to the heartbeat at each apt. sometimes it took her a while to find it.

maggievirgo · 28/07/2009 19:48

oh 16 wks? yes.

PrammyMammy · 28/07/2009 19:49

They tried to listen in on my booking appointment but couldn't hear anything, got all panicky and sent me for a scan straight away, everything was fine though. If i remember right i didn'r get to hear the hb till my 16 week appointment last time.
So try not to worry, i'm sure most people can't find a hb at 11 weeks. Will you be having a 12 week scan?

EccentricaGallumbits · 28/07/2009 19:50

NICE guidelines stae not to routinely listen to heartbeat with doppler at all.

Original poster
tryingtobemarypoppins · 28/07/2009 19:50

Thankyou that makes me feel a bit better! Still throwing up, sore boobs and exhusted with a toddler so fingers crossed.

OP posts:
FlappyTheBat · 28/07/2009 19:51

Hand held dopplers are nowhere near as strong as the ultrasound scanning machines, which you can see and hear a baby's heartbeat on a scan several weeks before a midwife will be able to detect a heart beat.

Although some MW's will try and find the heartbeat before 16 weeks with a doppler, the chances are they won't be able to detect it, nothing to do with lack of skills.

An ultrasound scanner would be a bit too difficult and heavy to cart around all day!

Original poster
tryingtobemarypoppins · 28/07/2009 19:51

Yes next week PrammyMammy, it will be a long weeks wait!

OP posts:
Original poster
tryingtobemarypoppins · 28/07/2009 19:52

True Flappythebat, but I was hoping she may produce an ultrasound scan out of her bag as panic set in!

OP posts:
lilacpink · 28/07/2009 19:53

Your placenta could be at the front of the bump (making it harder to hear), or baby could still low in the pelvis. I'm surprised the MW tried to find it so early. You've seen a HB, have symptoms, try not to worry (saying that I'm feelings movements now at 16 wks but still worry!)

meemarsgotabrandnewbump · 28/07/2009 19:55

I don't know what the policy is, but she should have warned you before listening that sometimes you can't hear anything and that it's totally fine.

I've had dopplers at 11 weeks and 14 weeks with 2 of my pregnancies so I don't think it's necessarily wrong of them to try.

reikizen · 28/07/2009 19:55

It is very hit and miss at 11 weeks, I usually don't offer as it makes people worry. If you look in a pregnancy book or google how small an 11 week fetus is you'll understand! The womb is still well in the pelvis so it's the devil's own job to find. Depending on how much 'mum' there is in the way, it can be hard at 20+ weeks!
Finding a fetal heart with an ultrasound is a completely different kettle of fish, don't forget that the sound you hear through the doppler is not actually baby's heart, it is a sound wave. In fact, midwives spend a lot of time practising how to use a doppler, and use it many times a day on a variety of women.

Original poster
tryingtobemarypoppins · 28/07/2009 20:03

I only weight 8stone 6 and are 5ft 5 reikizen, I was hoping there wasn't much mum in the way I have a bump already......probably as this is baby 2 I guess! Would you be fairly confident it will be ok??

OP posts:
mummy2isla · 28/07/2009 20:07

My midwife couldn't hear my baby's heartbeat on about 3 occasions! And she was fine. Fingers crossed everything is ok!

JRocks · 28/07/2009 20:12

My midwife stressed at my 15 week appointment that it was only a 'try' as the baby is so small at that stage it's difficult to detect. Please don't worry

mummytopebs · 28/07/2009 20:32

I work with 3 midwifes and am 14 weeks and i am constantly badgering them to have a listen but they all say rarely hear before 16 weeks so no point god help them when im 16 weeks i will be in there office everyday

lilacpink · 28/07/2009 20:54

The intial bump is your stomach/intestines being pushed up though - so the baby is still in your pelvis. The movement I can feel now is still only just above my pelvis at 16 weeks. My MW heard my baby last Fri, but again this was only just above my pelvis.

OnlyWantsOne · 28/07/2009 21:00

dont worry, my MW didnt find a HB til 17 weeks

katiestar · 28/07/2009 21:18

I have always had a doppler at booking visit.She always warned me that it might not pick it up yet and not to worry.

bumpsoon · 28/07/2009 21:35

Mine tried about 12 weeks and couldnt find it either ,she did say she could hear lots of swooshing though ,which means there is a pregnancy in there ! It took her ages to find the little monkey at 16 weeks too ,even though i could feel it moving (hiding).Please dont worry

Tillyscoutsmum · 28/07/2009 21:40

I think sometimes midwives can't win. If they refuse to try because it might be too early to hear it and they don't want to worry you, then ime, you end up resentful because they won't even have a try iyswim ?

Perfectly normal not to hear anything at 11 weeks with a doppler. If you're still having symptoms and you've heard a heartbeat at 8 weeks, then the odds are very much in your favour. I'm sure the scan will be fine next week