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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How far along were you when you first heard the heartbeat?

22 replies

Canadianmom · 10/06/2004 15:43

Feeling paranoid (again!) I am 14 weeks and 2 days but the ante-natal clinic had no record of my existence so I don't have a scan booked for another 2 weeks. The suggestion was to see my gp for an ante-natal appt in the mean time. To make a long story short(ish) the GP could not find the heartbeat. She tried to send me for a scan at the EPU but they said that I am 'too far gone' and that I should wait for the scan in two weeks.
I would not be this worried if not for the two symptomless missed miscarriages I have already had... ARGH!!! Any support/suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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madgirl · 10/06/2004 16:17

that's disgusting i think. lots of smiles to you. anyhow, i didn't hear this one's h/b until i was 17.5 weeks, cos of late booking in appt. your gp should be able to listen in for you, or does your hospital have a day assessment bit which may be part of the labour ward?

madgirl · 10/06/2004 16:18

why not call the midwives and ask to go to the next clinic just so you can have peace of mind?

webmum · 10/06/2004 16:27

I was almost 14 weeks, but don't use this as comparison, maybe the GP is not as skilled as the midwife?

DO try and get an appointment with your m/wife, I cannot believ they'll make you wait so long with your history!

Good luck

littlerach · 10/06/2004 17:41

I was 12 wks, but MW did say I was lucky to have heard it. Can you not go to EPU and have a scan?

bunny2 · 10/06/2004 17:50

Canadianmom, I cant believe they are being so unhelpful. At 12 weeks I heard the hb (the midwife found ti straight away but she did say often the gps couldnt at 12 wks, they just dont have the experience). At just before 14 weeks I bled a little and it sent me into hysteria mode. The gp told me to ring the EPU, the EPU said the gp could listen for a hb but I couldnt get him to see me straight away. My midwife was off sick so, desperate, I called the maternity unit of the hospital (not the EPU) and asked if they could have a listen. They told me to come in straight away and immediately found a hb. It took a few minutes but did so much to reassure me. Keep trying all avenues till someone listens.

smellymelly · 10/06/2004 18:33

I'm not sure if this will help at all, but I have just heard both heartbeats this week - now 10.5 weeks. But this is only because I have my own PD1+, and it sometimes takes ages to find the 2nd one.

I think your GP is probably pushed for time, so I would try a midwife when she has more time to find it. Should be no problem at 14 weeks!

sponge · 11/06/2004 09:17

They don't routinely listen for heartbeat until at least 24 weeks now, for exactly this reason - because early heartbeats are often hard to find and very dependent on baby's position, and can therefore cause unnecessary worry. So the fact that some people have found one easily at your stage doesn't mean that it will be easy to find yours but need not be bad news.
Worth trying to see a midwife though as they are more experienced and baby might have moved - but the scan will be more certain as you can then see the heart beating.

BIBIBOO · 11/06/2004 09:28

I heard hb at 15 weeks, but even then the midwife took AGES to find it - so don't worry too much, esp as the gp probably isn't as skilled at finding it as the mw anyway.
x

Original poster

Canadianmom · 11/06/2004 19:35

Smellymelly: What is a PD1+? Sorry if I sound stupid. I am a new MNer and unfamiliar with some of the acronyms...

I am trying not to worry but 2 weeks seems like an eternity to wait. My GP was very honest about her lack of experience with the doppler and the doppler in question's age but that did not make me feel much better. I thought that it should be relatively easy since I heard dd's at 12 weeks and ds2's at 13... Hopefully I am just being paranoid--as mothers tend to be! The GP felt reassured with the size of my uterus and the fact that I have not been bleeding but these are small consolation as my missed miscarriages were only discovered by scan as I have never bled or been small for dates...
Sorry for going on and on about it. I do know that if I am not meant to carry the baby to term then a scan is not going to change that so I should just chill out and wait. Thanks for your answers!

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 11/06/2004 19:40

don't be sorry - sounds like a perfectly sensible concern to me. I burst into tears with my first one when they couldn't find the heartbeat (and I had never had a miscarriage so I only imagine it makes it worse). They never found the heartbeat in my appointments between my 12 week and 20 week scan and it turned out it was because dd was in a funny position (posterior is it? can't remember but she had her back up towards my tummy so that her legs were kicking my bladder ).

2 weeks does seem a long time to wait but if they are sure your uterus is growing then perhaps you'll have to put it to the back of your mind....but it is awful and I do sympathise and I think they could have been a bit more sensitive.

gettingthere · 11/06/2004 19:51

Candianmom, I had a scan with my GP around 13/14 weeks (can't remember exactly) and they found no heartbeat at all. I asked for an urgent ultrasound which they arranged and the hospital found the heartbeat. They originally suggested I wait a few days but like you I had miscarried previously and couldn't bear the thought of waiting. The problem turned out to be faulty equipment at the GPs surgery. The GP had it checked, spoke to me and apologised for the anxiety caused. I don't understand why you can't go to the hospital, and I wonder if you should ask again, otherwise you'll worry until you do go I would think. Good luck.

smellymelly · 14/06/2004 10:57

Sorry Canadianmom a PD1+ is a doppler used by the midwives, which I managed to but from ebay (cost about £200 though) for my last pregnancy (never got to use it for that one). It is worth it as you can sell them 2nd hand on ebay for a good price too.

It is truly a godsend, although the heartbeat is hard to find, I have alot more time than the midwives, we (dp and I) actually found both really quickly this morning...

homebird11 · 14/06/2004 13:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eidsvold · 19/06/2004 09:55

I was 20 weeks but prior to that had not had an antenatal appointment due to moving and emigrating. I do know with my last pregnancy my dd was a squirmer and often it was difficult to find her heart beat - even later in the pregnancy. This one was also squirmy but I think the Gp persisted as I had not had any sort of antenatal visit.

Hope that helps.

bunny2 · 20/06/2004 23:15

I had the midwofe check for a hb on Saturday as I had had some bleeding. She took a long time to find it as the baby was hiding very low down. I am 18 wks and would have expected it to be found immediately ut it doesnt always happen like that. Gps are just not practised enough sometimes.

jolly4 · 26/06/2004 11:23

hi dont think this is right thread but hear anyway, i had a scan at the EPU yestda morn an they could not see any thing the date of my last period was 11th may so i worked out that conception was likely 21st - 25th may then am i right in saying implantation takes place from day 7-10 which takes me too between 1st -4th june is that when the embryo starts too grow?thats means the embryo is 23 days well i hope that it is too small too see they can see the sac thats it i have too wait 2 weeks til i go again so i am as you can imagine worried that i havent got a pg i am not bleedin an not in pain can anyone help please

zebra · 26/06/2004 11:33

Sorry, Jolly4, they "should" have been able to see something. I have seen an egg sac on a scan taken on the day a woman was due her period -- just 4 wks pregnnt, and you should be more like 7-8 wks.

Maybe U haven't ovulated at all rhis time, yet? R your cycles usually v. regular? Did U get a positive pregnancy test?

jolly4 · 26/06/2004 13:43

yes i did my pg test the 12th june it was + and done one yesterday , they can see the sac just cant see anything inside

Jimjams · 26/06/2004 13:46

They can't see anything inside until about 6 or 7 weeks usually. There isn't anything they can do though unfortunately- that's why they've asked you to come back in 2 weeks......

smellymelly · 26/06/2004 15:48

Did they scan you internally ? Sometimes it is the only way to see inside the sac.

I had scan at 5 weeks - saw 2 sacs ( I'm having twins by the way) but nothing inside.

At 6 weeks - with external scan saw 1 yolk in one, but nothing in the other. With internal scan saw both sacs and heartbeats.

At 8 weeks - were able to see both externally, with heartbeats etc.

Hope that is some help.

2 weeks sounds like an awfully long time to wait, cannot you not ask to go back in 1 week, that's what they said to us, as they thought one may be a pseudo (spelling?) sac.

jolly4 · 26/06/2004 20:14

cheers smellybelly an jimjams i do feel more positive now not as on a downer thinkin the worst as you say i reckon its cos i am too early i will let you know this may change my EDD now or will it?

jolly4 · 26/06/2004 20:18

cheers smellybelly an jimjams i do feel more positive now not as on a downer thinkin the worst as you say i reckon its cos i am too early i will let you know this may change my EDD now or will it?

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