Baby's heart rate on early scans?

[Saffra]

I had an early scan today, where the baby was measured as 7.5 weeks. Really relieved to see heart beat and all looked fine at this stage.

I asked whether they could tell me the heartrate (as I heard ppl mention a heartbeat/rate on forums before), but I was told they cannot tell this at this stage. Just that there is a heart beat and that's it.

Is this true?? If this is the case, how do other people find out whether they have a 'good'/'strong' heart beat?

I think the good/strong comes from a sonographers comment. I had scans very early with both pregnancies and the never measured the HR until the dating scan at between 10 and 12 weeks. I was told with DD2 'ooh a good heartbeat' and when I asked what she meant she just said that it was a regular beat and detectable at the very early stage of my scan.

I had an early scan last week and asked about the heartrate, she said she would have to use a stronger thing iykwim, she said they don't like using it before 12 weeks.

Hi
I was never told the heartrate until my 16 week midwife appointment where she listened to the heartbeat with a doppler. I asked at the 12 week scan and they told me they don't even measure the rate! The main thing is your baby has a heartbeat and I'm sure it's healthy and strong! It probably depends on the hospital and their various policies as to whether they can actually tell you so early on.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Ah right, yes, perhaps it is the equipment and/or hospital policy.

She never made any comments about it being good or strong, just that it was there. I guess that is all that matters (although secretly a 'healthy' comment would have been much welcomed!).

Hope everyone's pregnancies are progressing nicely (despite any concerns with early scans, etc).

Nothing better than seeing good news on that screen. DH & I have been on tenterhooks over the past 3 weeks. Just 4 weeks until the 12 weeks scan now. More waiting, but at least a heart beat has been found and that is a v good thing.