HELP! No hb on doppler at 10 weeks - normal??

[mnuser456]

Prolific name changer / regular user.

Please calm me down. Went to doctors today for a general check up and doctor asked if I'd like to hear baby's heartbeat on the doppler.

I'm 10+1 today and have been suffering quite badly with the nausea and vomiting although I've been feeling quite 'normal' last two days. Doctor could not find baby's heartbeat but we could hear the blood flow to baby through placenta (or cord?? I wasn't listening to him just desperate for him to find baby's hb).

I've had 2 early mmc's, both around the 6 week mark so know all too well women can have silent miscarriages.

Doctor did say it might still be too early for him to detect hb as baby probably still quite low but i'm freaking the fuck out.

For reference I did see hb on baby at a scan at 7+2

Most midwives wouldn't attempt to hear a HB on a Doppler before about 14 weeks. What was the doctor thinking?

I suspect you've been needlessly scared.

Your doctor was a complete twat to offer that! My midwife did it at my 16 week appointment but was very very clear that it would not be unusual not to hear anything and not to worry if she couldn't find the heartbeat. Previous pregnancy in a different area they have waited to the 25 week mark!

Please try not to worry have you had your 12 week scan date through yet?

I'm very surprised he even tried - most midwives won't do it until at least your 16 week appointment! It's very rare to hear the hb at 10 weeks and trying causes unnecessary anxiety, exactly like in your case. Silly doctor in my opinion. Good luck x

Hello OP, I am an ex Community midwife and I wouldn't even have attempted to try and hear the heartbeat with a Doppler at 10 weeks. It's really difficult to hear before around 12 weeks and even then it's hit and miss until the height of the womb is well above the pubic bone.

Likelihood is that everything is absolutely fine and that the Doppler was just unable to pick up the heartbeat because the height of the womb is still well below the pubic bone.

As above, I thought it was around 12-14 weeks at the earliest that you could hear a heartbeat on the doppler. Did the Dr leave you with any follow up?

Here you go, this seems to have some actual figures (although no details on source) rather than just untrained people telling others on forums they could hear heartbeats:

"In some woman the fetal heart can be detected as early as 8-12 weeks. The fetal heartbeat should be audible 95% of the time in 12-week pregnancies, and nearly 100% of the time after 14 weeks."

www.fetaldopplerfacts.org/facts/dopplers/fetal-doppler-use.php

I've just had my midwife apt at 18wks (belated 16wk apt) and asked about listening to hb and mw said no way would they attempt this early as far too hit and miss to hear it. Won't even attempt it until 24wks.

So there is no way your dr should have attempted to find it at 10wks - talk about a sure fire way to stress a pregnant woman out! What an idiot!

I'd suggest you ring your midwife, explain what's happened and see if they can offer/arrange anything to ease your mind. It's horrible to have this worry at the best of times, you have my sympathy op.

Thank you so much everyone! I have been so upset and worrying that something has happened to baby and I have been overanalysing all of my symptoms, or lack thereof.

Doctor didn't seem concerned that he couldn't find a hb so no follow-up.

Have my 12 week scan Tuesday week so less than 2 weeks to wait!

Crazy!!! I've had 3 babies and never once been offered to hear the hb before 16 weeks! You can't always hear it then either! Please don't worry x

Yes - doctor an idiot.

My midwife (who knew what she was doing) didn't even try until I was 16 weeks.

My midwife never did mine until 16 weeks you defo won't hear a heartbeat now baby is far too tiny

Oh and fwiw, I had a 24 hour period of feeling really well and energetic when I was 10 weeks pregnant with DC2. Naturally I panicked and raced off to the EPU to check everything was ok (last pregnancy ended in miscarriage). All was well and I soon went back to feeling like shite for the next 29 weeks. So just enjoy not feeling too sick for as long as it lasts

My midwife wouldn't do the heartbeat on the Doppler until after the 20 week scan because it can be difficult to find the heartbeat early in the pregnancy.

As others have said, I'm 22 weeks as MW won't listen until heart beat until next app at 24 weeks (we bought a Doppler anyway which wasn't recommended) but the MW said they don't check for this exact reason, because if they can't find it then mum will worry! So daft your doctor tried that's not fair on you at all

my best friend had this at 12 weeks, the baby's now 9 months and one of the most sociable babies i know.
10 weeks is early, the fetus is tiny and the risk of not finding/being able to hear the heart is quite significant.

Thank you for the reassurance ladies! Really need it as wasn't going to be able to sleep well tonight

Ridiculous!

My midwife didn't even try until my 16 week appointment, and even then it was with the caveat that she might struggle to pick it up even at that stage.

I'm sorry you have been worried unnecessarily. Glad you're feeling more reassured now and I hope you have a lovely scan in a few weeks

My midwives have always waiting until the 16 week check to try to hear the heart beat and even then they've always warned me that it still may not be possible to hear it.
I'm super surprised your doctor offered this!

Obviously freaking out so went to EPU this morning and everything fine. Baby's heart beating away and measuring bang-on dates. So angry I was unnecessarily worried!

My midwife won't use Dopplers at all- she says the best indication is bubba's movements from 24 weeks onwards. She also said she despairs with dopplers as it's so easy to either miss a heartbeat or to accidentally hear the mother's heartbeat. Sounds like your doctor was completely incompetent doing this at 10 weeks!?

Oh great news, what a relief! Try to enjoy your pregnancy without worrying too much (easier said than done I know)