normal heart rate at 12 weeks?

[oranges]

Hello,
I know, I know. I'm panicking over nothing. I had a 12 week scan today, and there it was, bobbing about. Only thing is heart rate seemd terrifyingly fast - 171bpm. It was 145 at 6+5. Is that too fast, or am I fretting over nothing?

I don't know what it should be but I'm sure the midwife would have said if it was too fast. Try not to worry.

My understanding is that fetal heart rate is between 120 and 160 but thw 171 might have been for only a fleeting moment when the sonographer did the calculation. I am fairly certain that if they had any concerns that they would have discussed them with you at the time or sent you to speak with someone. Try to relax (impossible, I know.)

I though that if it was below 120bpm or higher than 190bpm then this is the time to worry, i would not worry mine was 169 once when i brought my doppler but it went down to 155-160bpm.

I just found this :
An unborn baby's heart rate changes as they grow. By around 8 to 10 weeks of the pregnancy (when the heart beat may first be measured on an ultrasound image) the rate is significantly higher at around 170 to 200 beats per minute (bpm). However, by about 20 weeks, the rate drops to be more around 120 to 160 beats per minute, but may fluctuate between 110 and 170 bpm, usually in relation to the baby moving, being a higher rate when they are more active and lower when they are alseep. During labour and after birth the heart rate is normally between 120 and 160 bpm (ranging from 110 to 170 bpm).

HTH. (I just lost the webpage link.. Sorry!)

it is normally faster earlier in pregnancy so don't worry

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Can't believe I'm fretting over this when I am so relieved there is a heartbeat at all. Does the worry ever end??

Oh poor you oranges. No the worry never ends, but you get used to it. Congratulations on your pg by the way!

Nope! The worry does not EVER end. I have a funny post card on our fridge that says: The first 40 years of parenting are the hardest. I am starting to believe that this is true.

Do try to enjoy being pregnant. The time goes so, so quickly!

I gave up coffee after hearing the heartbeat the first time - got it into my head that caffeine would send the poor thing into hyperdrive. Can you tell I had a m/c before?

I know how worried you get following m/c. I have had 3 and I am currently 18weeks. (my latest m/c was at 18 1/2 weeks so my plan is to stop fretting next week... Yeah, right! What are the odds?!?)

Glad you are feeling somewhat better. Isn?t mumsnet amazing for that?

Mumsnet is wonderful . I can't think of any other place where you can get support for so many niggles. I've been lurking around the pregnancy after miscarriage thread too and think there are some amazingly strong, cheerful people there. I'm feeling a whole lot better, thank you. Can revel in the memory of my little bean dancing on screen now.