Can't find hb at 28 weeks

[woollysocksaresexy]

Hi all,
hope someone can shed some light for me... I've just had my 28 week appointment with my community midwife, but she couldn't find my baby's heart beat! She said that she could hear it moving around and I felt lots of kicks during the night so it was nothing to worry about and the baby was just lying in a difficult position! But... She couldn't find its heat beat! This to me is a bit worrying! The midwife said this was not uncommon, and booked me in for monday for another listen, if I was worried about movement before then to go to maternity assessment unit.
Has anyone had this happen to them? I thought it was hard to find at 16 weeks but never heard of a problem finding the hb at 28 weeks?!
Am I just being a paranoid first timer?!
Thanks muchly!

Hi,

Sorry to hear you're having a worrying time I've no experience of this but have heard it can be hard to find the hb if baby is lying in a strange position or something.

It's good that you and mw can feel movements but I appreciate it's still hard not to panic as I would too!

Can you go to MAU before Monday and get them to listen in for you so you don't have to worry all weekend?

Hope you get sorted x

I had this with ds2 ( now snoring in my arms ) he was head down, face forwards, like he was looking out of my tummy iygwim. He was back to back most the way through so had this problem a lot. You lo might be in the same position.

I had this - it took 20 minutes to find the heartbeat. All that time baby was moving around and my tummy was looking like something from Alien, so we weren't worried. I think that some babies don't like the dopplers and move away from them. If you can feel your baby moving around and kicking, I'm sure s/he's fine.

Hi sorry to hear you are worried. How long did the MW spend trying to find the hb? Was it just a quick few mins? if so then I wouldn't worry too much as baby could have been in a difficult possition. Also if you are feeling lots of movement then that's a good sign.
How do you feel though, are you happy to wait till Monday? Even though I have said I don't think you should worry lots I would personally still try to get checked out before Monday just so you don't spend the weekend fretting.
Could u go and see your GP to get them to check it for you? If you have a whole appointment to try and find hb you will hopefully have more luck, might be worth giving them a call.
Good luck, hope all is ok xx

Do you know where your placenta is? If it's anterior (at the front) then that could also be masking it. Ask when you next get a scan, if only to calm your fears.

I'd go on movement anyway: as I was always told when I --confessed- told people I had a home doppler, a HB is only useful in that instant - it's the movement which suggests how well the baby is doing. By definition, if you have movement, you have a heartbeat, so try not to worry (but I'd also push to see someone before Monday for your own sanity). x

NICE actually don't recommend listening to the heartbeat routinely in the antenatal period for this reason - it doesn't really tell you much of value and can cause worry if not found. If the baby's moving as usual then please don't be concerned. It was probably lying back to back - can be a sod to find in that position! Or you might have an anterior placenta which can make it tricky too. Strong vigorous movements are your best indicator of a healthy baby :)

Sorry you are feeling worried. It is not uncommon to struggle to find the HB if baby is in certain positions. I had to be on the HB monitor every other day with my DS2 (hi risk pg) and often the MW really struggled to find the HB as he was so low down inside me.

I would definitely go and see your GP or a MW today just so you are not worrying over the weekend.

BTW at my 34 week check the MW had to go and find a Dr to examine me as she couldn't find my baby's HEAD!!

Thankfully the Dr found it.

The night before my baby was delivered (emergency 29 weeker) the hospital midwife couldnt find the hb. She had to call the sister who also struggled for 30mins. The whole time my bump was moving around like she was dancing. The whole situation would have been awful given the circumstances, if she hadn't have been moving around so much.

Movements are the best indicator of fetal health so if you can still feel your LO moving around then it's highly likely that everything is fine. If you can't wait until Monday it would do no harm to phone the labour ward or assessment unit (or whatever your hospital has) and see if you can get checked out.

At my 34 week appointment my mw really struggled to find the HB, we could see my bump moving about so we knew all was ok, but baby was lying very awkwardly and still is which makes it harder. As everyone else has said if you're at all worried go and get checked out over the weekend.