Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Did you listen to baby's heartbeat at first scan?

26 replies

Carlalala101 · 27/02/2017 14:42

When I had my first scan, the hospital was really busy and the appointment was so rushed that I was only in there for 3-4 minutes. I'm worried that the sonographer didn't perform it properly; he literally put the camera on, took a measurement and photo then said there's the heart and that was it. I can't remember if I heard my first DCs at the first scan but I'm pretty sure I did and that it was much more thorough. How was yours?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PurpleTraitor · 27/02/2017 14:43

What gestation is 'first scan'?

I wouldnt think anyone would be listening for heartbeats prior to 16 weeks at a minimum. They look at the heart beating on a scan not listen.

fuzzywuzzy · 27/02/2017 14:45

At the 12 week scan they did, and they told us the heartbeat rate.

They then measured the fluid behind baby's neck and all other marker tests.

Measured baby, checked baby's head and brain and that's it.

user1483387154 · 27/02/2017 14:47

Not with the first scans no. I heard the baby's heartbeat at about 14 weeks but saw it before then.

Original poster

Carlalala101 · 27/02/2017 14:54

That's more like what I thought I remembered fuzzywuzzy. This seemed far too rushed.

OP posts:

toomuchtimereadingthreads2016 · 27/02/2017 15:14

Yes they did at ours and took quite a few measurements like fuzzy said x

Notjustuser1458393875 · 27/02/2017 15:18

My first scans were each about an hour long, including lots of checking the heart (and the audio) but that was at Harris Birthright at King's which is top notch.

To allay your fears though, while your scan sounds very rushed, the sonographer can see the heart beating, so no need to listen.

EssentialHummus · 27/02/2017 15:23

I had mine today at 12 weeks. It lasted about 25 minutes. We heard and saw the heartbeat.

SockQueen · 27/02/2017 15:40

My first scan was at 5+4 so we couldn't see a heartbeat. If you mean the first "standard" NHS scan at 12 weeks, we could see a heartbeat but they didn't listen to it. If they can see it, then listening is just done by switching modes on the probe, it doesn't add any useful information, so it's not necessary, plus may be hard to hear at 12 weeks even if it's easily visible. If you have concerns that they didn't do all the necessary measurements, talk to your midwife, but not listening to the heartbeat at that stage is not a problem.

babyunicornvomit · 27/02/2017 16:17

My first scan was 12 weeks, about 15 mins long and no heartbeat. Had the heartbeat checked and listened to at 16 week midwife appointment x

gigi556 · 27/02/2017 17:57

I specifically asked about listening to the heart beat at all my appointments until they finally did as I had a previous miscarriage and was worried. At my 12 week scan they showed us the heartbeat but we didn't hear it. I don't think ultrasounds have sound... Sonographer said you can't hear it but you can see it and here it is. I got to listen at my 16 week appointment with the midwife over the Doppler.

AmyG87 · 27/02/2017 18:18

At my 12 & 20 week scans, we saw the heartbeat but didn't hear it as we were told the machines didn't have the facility.... however, at all of my midwife appointments since week 18, I have heard the heartbeat x

Mummyh2016 · 27/02/2017 18:31

Heard it at a private scan at 8 weeks and my midwife appointments at 16 and 24 weeks. Didn't hear it at an NHS scan.

JessieMillz25 · 27/02/2017 18:49

Didn't get to hear it either scans. Didn't think anything about it as it is our first baby. I got to hear it at my 25 week midwife appointment. I know lots of midwives let you listen earlier but our trust doesn't allow or before then.

arbrighton · 27/02/2017 19:31

My midwife asked if I wanted to try at 17 week appt with the warning that it might be too early and so not to worry if we didn't. We tried and it was there.

Nothing mentioned about heart at 12 week scan (DH noticed it but I somehow didn't)- they measured the baby length and NT fold but it wasn't a long appt, even if we did have to wait for bean to stop wriggling for long enough to measure.

20 week scan, it was pointed out and checked but we didn't 'listen' to it. Four chambers all there and then flow direction checked (colour coding)

Helbelle75 · 27/02/2017 20:36

We had a private scan at 10 weeks and saw and heard it then.
At our 12 week scan we didn't but were on there a good 20 minutes as she took all of the measurements.

Babyboom7 · 17/05/2018 20:55

Had scan 12w 3d at nhs,saw heartbeat but didn't hear. Asked if i could but was told scan doesn't pick it up😔. Such a pity

gryffen · 17/05/2018 21:27

Our area doesn't listen in until after 20 weeks and will never listen in at 12 weeks but monitor it on screen.

21 weeks had a good listen in as scan took over 40 mins and each appointment after I've had a listen in too at triage due to headaches.

Next appointment next week.

Nothisispatrick · 18/05/2018 08:00

Yes we did. Scan about 10 minutes long and the rate of the heartbeat was noted in my maternity notes and we got to listen to it

hammeringinmyhead · 18/05/2018 08:12

No. They saw it though.

usernotfound0000 · 18/05/2018 08:19

In my first pregnancy, we heard the heartbeat at the 12 week scan but in this one we didn't, I asked the sonographer and apparently they don't listen anymore in my area, but we could visibly see the heart beating. I did hear it at an early private scan though.

Poptart4 · 18/05/2018 10:30

No didn't hear it but saw it beating on the screen.

Alanares89 · 18/05/2018 12:48

We never heard the heartbeat either, just saw the big heart beat, no one seemed to believe me
That we never heard it and said “you must have heard it!!” It was NHS, maybe they don’t always facilitate it? Who knows but at
My next scan I’m going to ask to hear
It!

Lamaitresse · 18/05/2018 14:22

Yes, first scan with dd was at 5+4 (ICSI baby so knew dates precisely). I was amazed to even see a heartbeat that early, let alone listen to it. Am not in the UK though...

Iswallowtoothpaste · 18/05/2018 18:38

When I went for a early scan at 7+4 we saw a heartbeat but didn’t hear one. DD is now 4.

Loulabelle25 · 18/05/2018 19:31

Wow I’m feeling very luckily as my sonographers have always made a big point of letting us listen to the heartbeat. Likewise, my scans have always been incredibly thorough and I’ve been in there a long time - never felt rushed. We had an early private scan at 7 weeks and it was hearing the heartbeat that finally let me believe I was actually pregnant - they even encouraged my husband to record the sound on his phone!

Flip

1 2