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Original poster

Home Doppler anterior placenta

15 replies

cogitosum · 13/01/2013 10:02

I (stupidly) got the angelheart Doppler thing and promised myself not to panic but can't find a heartbeat and am now a state!

I'm 14 weeks. I have an anterior placenta which I understand may make it harder and I'm not slender. But looking online there just seems to be loads of people saying they found it at 8 weeks with an anterior placenta etc

I heard the placenta quite clearly. Does that normally indicate things are ok? I'm just terrified of missed miscarriage (had previous mmc but at 9 weeks). I've had scan and everything was great at 12 weeks 5 days so thought the anxiety would get better but it hasn't yet!

Has anyone else used a Doppler and not found a HB at 14+ weeks?

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katesav87 · 13/01/2013 10:20

Hey I have had a home doppler for a long time I'm now 21 weeks but it sometimes is very hard to find the heartbeat takes a good while to find it. I too could only hear the placenta at first and baby was tucked down underneath it. I always find him quite low down so always look lower and higher than u would usually. If u are worried call the midwife. They get lots of these worries. I know wat it's like to feel anxious and use ur home doppler for reassurance. Alot of ppl have a go for this reason as it makes ppl panic but I think they r great things. Just relax and try again then if no luck call ur midwife just to check. Midwifed find it hard at even 16 weeks to find the heartbeat and the chances of something going wrong after ur scan now r small. Xxx

shelly81 · 13/01/2013 10:23

I'm 22 weeks & have an anterior placenta my midwife still takes a while to find heartbeat don't worry. Xx

sundaesundae · 13/01/2013 10:24

Try lower than you think and angling the probe a bit. I found going to the left or right of belly button and angling worked well.

MW will try and listen at 16 weeks probably, but they can't always get it either. Try not to worry, if you had a good 12 week scan and you have no other causes for concern it is probably just tucked away safely growing away.

Themobstersknife · 13/01/2013 10:27

Don't panic! The GP couldn't find my baby's heartbeat at 14 weeks. I was sent for a scan and all was well but I also had an interior placenta. My consultant doesn't recommend listening for heartbeats at all, because it can create false reassurance if a heartbeat is found when a baby is poorly and not moving, or, as in your case, can create false panic. He says even midwifes shouldn't be listening for them. As soon as you can start to feel regular movements - which may not be for another 8 weeks or so - you should really not use a doppler, as any change in, or lack of, movements should be acted on, even if you can hear a heartbeat. I got lectured on this, as I also bought a listening thingy, so am just repeating what I got told!

Riotgrrrl · 13/01/2013 10:30

Hi,

I have had anterior placenta with two of my pregnancies. Both my gp and midwife have found it hard to find fetal heartbeat at 16 weeks. Both have found placenta and said i can hear the placenta sounding strong, so am not worried. My midwife at the moment said it isn't unusual to have difficulty finding it so don't worry. i know it so easy to say but try not to worry too much. x x

Original poster
cogitosum · 13/01/2013 12:26

Thank you. I was using it low down as I'd read a few reviews and I was using it for at least half an hour so tried loads of different angles.

I'm trying hard now to worry as I know it can be hard to find.

I actually thought I was feeling movement a couple of days ago but not now Sad so doubly panicking!

OP posts:
phoenixrose314 · 13/01/2013 19:00

Don't panic. I didn't use mine until 18 weeks as I knew I had a anterior placenta and would only scare myself if I couldn't find the heartbeat. It took me a long old while to find it, my advice would be go down low and tilt slightly inwards - it should hurt a little but you'll hopefully hear something.

Please relax though - you may just need to wait a little longer. I know it can be very worrisome in that time between feeling sick and feeling movements, I was the same!! But trust me, your little one is tucked up growing nicely xxx

Original poster
cogitosum · 13/01/2013 19:10

FOUND IT!! DH heard as well so I know it's not just me wishful thinking! We estimated it was about 160 BPM...

Not going to use it now until next weekend.

Starting the week very happy now! Grin

thank you very much everyone

OP posts:
weeblueberry · 14/01/2013 11:33

Glad you finally managed to find it - what a palava eh?

We've been very lucky in that, although I have an anterior placenta, its somewhat off to the left hand side so I've always managed to find the heartbeat by putting the wand near my pelvic bone on the right. I think it's all about finding the sweet spot. Smile

Pollyannak · 08/04/2022 22:13

Hello.
Can anyone tell me-
If you Doppler your stomach and hear heart rate 60-80bpm… is that the placenta- or does this happen if you are not pregnant too?

GrowBabyGrow · 08/04/2022 22:40

@Pollyannak 60-80 bpm will be your heartbeat. Baby's heartbeat will be much faster - 110-160bpm

Pollyannak · 08/04/2022 23:01

I know - but I mean Will you hear that whether you are pregnant or not… or is the sound the placenta ?

Kaw10 · 09/04/2022 03:38

The placental "beat" is about the same as your own heartbeat.

IDontDrinkTea · 09/04/2022 03:50

@Pollyannak

Hello. Can anyone tell me- If you Doppler your stomach and hear heart rate 60-80bpm… is that the placenta- or does this happen if you are not pregnant too?
That’s your pulse, not a baby. It is not an indication you’re pregnant, you’d find that on a man too
Pollyannak · 09/04/2022 13:44

Thanks!!

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