when can you see the heartbeat on an ultrasound?

[eth37]

Hi, I am going for a dating scan on Wednesday. I actually know how pregnant I am as was temping (I will be 6 weeks and 3 days) but because I conceived while breastfeeding, and have very irregular cycles, the GP wants me to have one. I am just wondering whether this will be too early to see the baby's heartbeat, if all is well? Does anyone know?

The baby usually has a heartbeat from around 6 weeks. But it's possible that due to dating inaccuracies, equipment limitations sonographer's ability, fullness of bladder etc that it's sometimes not possible to see it. And before that there's little to see anyway. So you may see something, you may not. If you don't see a heartbeat, it doesn't mean that there's something wrong necessarily.

If they can't see much abdominally they may give you a transvaginal scan too.

I had a scan at 6+6 because of previous ectopic and there was a heart beat then....

With DC1 I had a scan at 6+2 because of previous MMC and saw a heartbeat. With DC2 went at 6+3 and saw just the sac and yolk, went back 10 days later and saw the heartbeat, was told that am some 3-4 days behind LMP dates. With both DCs scan was vaginal. So you don't always see it at 6 weeks, but definitely will at 7-8 weeks.

Thanks ladies. Am just worrying as I thought it was around the 6 -7 week mark. I'm expecting it to be transvaginal, but we will see. Will report back!

You don't always see it at 6 weeks, but if you do, then apparently the pregnancy has a 98% chance of a successful outcome.

Hi, i went at 6 weeks 5 days and saw a lovely heartbeat didnt need a transvaginal one either which was great.