18+4 and no heartbeat with doppler- please tell me what to do :-(

[jkb]

Hi

I am 18+4 and have a doppler & have been finding the heartbeat within seconds since i was about 12 weeks. I have been having problems & so i always doppler twice a day (I have a huge clot in my womb which has caused 2 massive bleeds- last one at 16 weeks). The heart was fine this morning- now this even- despite me trying for over 1 hour- NOTHING- i am very skilled at using a doppler as was shown by a previous midwife. Could my baby have died- i cant sleep now- i dont know what to do :-(

Baby is still really small at this age, they might of turned or moved, ring antenatal at your hospital if your worried.

go in to labour ward now

Are you feeling movements yet? It could just be that baby has moved into an awkward position, they still have quite a bit of space at 18 weeks.

I think you might just have to call your pregnancy assessment unit, but be prepared to be told not to use a Doppler in future. They really don't like them as it leads to (usually) unfounded concerns when the baby moves and the heartbeat can't be found.

Ring your midwife/hospital or whoever your contact is for out of hours at this stage of your pregnancy.

And throw the doppler in the bin - they do more harm than good IMO because they get people in a panic.

And try not to panic, your baby has probably just turned and now you can't hear anything.

Yes don't be too concerned that you can't find it. Give the hospital a call - and relax. Easier said than done i know :(

I didn't mean that to sound blunt! Sorry, I ment ring antenatal and explain see what they recommend esp if your worried, you wont be able to relax. Have you tried having a sugary drink, maybe walk around and try again?

lia - the OP is only 18 weeks. Most labour wards will not accept women until they are past 20-24 weeks, it depends on the hospital.

There is no service out of hours untill baby is viable at 24 weeks- when i had both my bleeds i was just told to go to a & e

antenatal ward then. as someone said further up, call whoever your contact on your notes is and then go in to be checked. They won't mind

go to a and e then, at least they have proper equipment and can hopefully put your mind at rest. Have you got children already?

I have got 2 children already. Labour ward is only for over 24 weeks & A & E really only if bleeding (which i am not) They do NOT scan unless monday - fri in normal hours & so they can do nothing.... I guess i know there is nothing I can do till morning- but im convinced baby has died- i just feel somethings not right

well i hope you manage to sleep. Do you have a dh? They wouldn't need to scan, they could find the hb in a couple of minutes with a hospital grade doppler. I would be inclined to take dc's with me if it was me.

I dont think i will sleep- I have just had another go & nothing.... this morning it was right in middle & very clear- 145 beats PM - my doppler is hospital grade- i really think the worst has happened

There's nothing you can do right now if hospital won't help :( Call your MW in the morning and try to rest but worrying isn't going to change anything and, to be honest, neither would medical intervention. At this stage it's up to nature.

Thinking of you and hoping hard.

I think you should show up at AnE, they will have to see you if you are there.

I have heard bad things about dopplers panicing people, its why I have never gone and got one.

I hope you either get up and go or try to rest until morning.

everything crossed for you btw.

fingers crossed x

I had an experience at one of my routine mw appointments to check my blood pressure. The midwife said "I'll just check the heartbeat", and started to try and find it. 10 mins later she called in another mw, who tried to find it. Then they tried all their different dopplers. Then they called a third midwife who couldn't find it either. Then they started to ask me if my partner worked far away or could get here quickly!

They were just about to send me to the main hospital when they finally found the heartbeat! It had taken about 40 minutes, 3 midwives and about 5 different dopplers. I was about 32 weeks pregnant I think, so baby was big enough to feel moving, and of course he didn't move at all during this time. I too thought the worst, but it just goes to show how difficult it can be to pick up the heartbeat.

I don't know if this will reassure you, but I wanted to share my experience with you to let you know how these things can work out.

I did have a moment like this in my 3rd pregnancy. I went cold all over and convinced myself she'd gone :(
Luckily I had a routine mw appt that afternoon and of course she found the hb no problem and told me I had a very wriggly baby!
I never used a Doppler in my subsequent pregnancies. Bloody nightmare they are.

My midwife said that they don't check for the heartbeat that early on in pregnancy any more because it isn't uncommon to be unable to find the heartbeat and that this causes unnecessary panic, especially as the hospital wouldn't do a scan to check.

Hope things are ok now.

How are you this morning op?

Just thought I'd also add that it seems very early to be checking. My MW didn't start using the doppler until my 25 week appointment and said she didn't earlier as it's too unreliable.

hope things go ok for you

I have a home doppler and most times at that stage I would put it on and hear the hb straight away. A couple of times I had a scary time when I just couldnt find it, like 30 minutes of looking, an then she would appear as if by magic, so it can happen and everything be fine. Most home dopplers have a range of about 3-5cm so if she has got snuggled up really low and towards the back it's entirely possible that she's there and fine. that said, it's Tuesday now, so really hoping you have had some reassurance x