No heartbeat at 14 weeks with doppler

[RachelF87]

Hi, i hd my second midwife appointment today and she couldn't find a heartbeat with a doppler. Im 14 weeks 1 day and had my dating scan last week (13weeks 2 days) and seen the babaies heartbeat. Baby was very active! This has now worried my slightly however midwfie did say she couldnt feel the babay had come out of my pelvis. Has anyone else had the same situation?

Also, as a result of this worrying i have now bought a Anglesounds doppler to use at home. Has anyone used these before? Thanks

I'm pretty sure I read on here that they can be a bit of a menace to use and that its not uncommon to find the heartbeat using a doppler alone till past 16 weeks.

I don't much more than that but didn't want to leave you hanging!

I was told by my midwife at my 16 week appointment that it can be hard to find a heartbeat so not to get my hopes up. Home dopplers don't have a very good reputation. I do have the angel one (it was a gift) but the one time i used it I had to move it around a lot to find the heartbeat

When I was pregnant both times, my mw (same one for both pregnancies) refused to use the heartbeat finder machine thing (sorry - name escapes me right now) before16 weeks as she said sometimes it could be hard to find and caused unnecessary stress and worrying when 99% of times everything would be absolutely fine.

Same goes for those Angelsound machines, it can be hard to find the hb, esp if the baby has moved and again, causes for the most times, unnecessary angst

If you are worried, I would go and speak to your mw again and see if she can try again to give you reassurance. Good luck!

If the baby is moving around it's clearly got a heartbeat!

When I had my 16 wk the midwife warned before hand it may take some time to track down depending on where abby was or that she may not find it at all so don't panic.
Most midwifes won't even try until 16 wks or after as the baby is usually still tucked down in the pelvis and they can't get close enough to pick it up.

Also be very careful with the home brought ones as they are even less sensitive than what the midwifes/doctor will use, we have one and even at nearly 20 wks I haven't picked up anything clear enough to say it's the heatbeat amoungst all the other noises in there even though I can feel bubs moving about.

Also unless you are experienced it is easy to mistake other sounds for the sound of the heartbeat, such as the placenta. Midwives don't usually listen to the heartbeat prior to 24 weeks now because it is harder to find earlier than that. I used my Angel Sounds doppler twice and it made me worry too much.

The baby is so small at 14 weeks and can wriggle and hide away. It took the midwife a while at my 24 week appointment. I'm now 29 weeks.

Yes it is probably just a bit early. If you've seen your baby's heartbeat on a scan and not had any bleeding, cramps, etc then it's most likely fine . If your midwife thought there was anything to worry about then she would have booked you in for another scan or asked you to come back for a follow up appointment.

I have used the angel sounds home doppler. I found it really easy to use and heard a heartbeat from 10 weeks (though I think this is unusual and lots of women can't find it until nearer 20 weeks). The sound you're looking for is a steady beat, like your own heartbeat but faster. If you hear a whooshing sound a bit like the sea then that's not it! Try not to panic if you don't find it. Lots of women avoid home dopplers because they can stress you out even more.

Its extremely unlikely that you will hear a heartbeat on a doppler under 16 weeks and even then it can be a bit hit and miss and hence why some midwives won't offer it. I'd be amazed if she could 'feel' the baby (or fundus) at this point as well, it is only the size of a lemon.

Be careful of the home dopplers. I was warned not to have one because it is very easy to puck up your own heartbeat rather than the babies and rely on that for reassurance when in fact, it is much safer to get to know the pattern of your baby's movements and eventually, kicks. This 'hinterland' between 12 and 20 weeks is so hard, i remember it well with both of my girls and its hard to not panic when your morning sickness starts to tail off, and before the early butterfly movements start. It wont be long before you feel those little flutters now though (i felt mine around 17/18 weeks).

In reflection though this is the first time i think you really have to trust your body, and your instincts to protect your baby. Listen to them, and never stop, especially when your baby arrives!

Thank you everyone, feel much better now. In these early weeks i find myself panicing so much and reading into things! Again thanks for the comments

Yes as PP say it's common not to find it that early so don't panic.

ONe thing I disagree with is that with the home one IME it's impossible to mistake baby's HB with placenta or with yours... it's so completely different... a bit like galloping horse!

But agree no substitute for knowing movements later on. I went in for reduced movements and all was fine but they were absolutely great and stress how important it is to go in if you notice a change - no messing around with fizzy drinks or lying on side.

Most midwives are told not to even use dopplers at 16 weeks as it can be a bit hit and miss, quite why she tried at 14 weeks is a bit odd to me.

Personally I wouldn't use a Doppler type thing at home, I think they cause more anxiety and obsessive thoughts which outweigh any perceived benefit, but that's just my opinion.

At 16 weeks it took my MW 6 minutes to find! At 20 weeks it still took a skilled midwife a minute or so. I really wouldn't worry!

I was checked almost weekly and they wouldn't use a dopplers before 16 weeks, as it just wasn't reliable then.

Hi, like everyone else said I understand it can be hard to find the heartbeat early on.

But you asked for advice on using the angel sounds doppler. I bought one against my better judgement at 10 weeks, but agreed with myself before hand that I wouldn't get worried if I couldn't hear anything as it seems unlikely as a lot of people can't.

First two attempts I found nothing except my own heartbeat and whooshing noises. I watched some YouTube videos so I understood what sound I was listening for (hint - some people on YouTube are also listening to their own heartbeat)! Anyway on third attempt I found the heart beat. Definitely it - it sounds like a train - ca chunga chunga chunga - really fast. I was able to count for ten seconds showing heart rate over 160 beats per minute.

My big tip - try the doppler lower down that you'd expect - I.e. Actually within the hairline! I'm now 14.5weeks and have listened another twice since then. Still finding it in the hairline. Limit myself to no more than once a week and each time I reason to myself that might not find it & not to be worried if I don't.

It's actually a secret of mine that I have the doppler as I don't think my sister (a gp) would approve! Also my midwife told me she'd try to hear the heartbeat at my 16 weeks appointment next week but warned me it might not be possible ... I haven't admitted to her I've heard it already!

Either way, try not to worry as I'm sure everything is fine & it seems to be normal not to be able to pick it up until later on.