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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

slow and irregular foetal heart beat

25 replies

bumbly · 04/04/2007 12:59

Today had the shock of my life - I went to see my gp re something completely minor and he decided to check the foetal heart rate with an ultrasound device.

He listened quietly for a while and said it was 120 and also irregular and slowing down.

Pretty worried...anybody else experience similar symptoms.

;(

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Bubble99 · 04/04/2007 13:02

What action has the GP taken? Has he referred you to hospital?

mumto3girls · 04/04/2007 13:02

oh dear - that doesn't sound good i admit, but what did your gp say? how many weeks are you....

lulumama · 04/04/2007 13:03

you should be at the hospital, having this checked out........how many weeks are you?

Bubble99 · 04/04/2007 13:05

I would take myself along to hospital and ask for fetal monitoring for an hour or so.

Original poster

bumbly · 04/04/2007 13:05

I am going to be 24 weeks in a few days..he said he'd ring the obstetrician at the hospital as the midwife he rang didn't seem to be too bothered...

I don't know much about foetla heart rates but 120 seems low to me

Should i just go to hospital myself!

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lulumama · 04/04/2007 13:06

i would be inclined just to go, as you can have a proper trace done at the hospital, and you will worry until it is done..

Bubble99 · 04/04/2007 13:09

I would. Just to get this checked. The heart rate itself may not be an issue but the irregularity and slowing may be.

I'm not a MW, bumbly, and I don't want to worry you, but yes, I'd go to the maternity unit (they must have some kind of day unit) and talk to the midwives/doctors myself.

mumto3girls · 04/04/2007 13:10

Did he tell you what it could be though? He sounds like he's given you some potentially scarey news and left you to deal with it...

Mum2FunkyDude · 04/04/2007 13:13

I had a boy and his heartrate was always slow, mostly aroun 120 went down to about 105 sometimes (usually when they rest) it goes up again when they are active. He is now 16 months old and very lively.

The only thing that will put you at ease is to have it monitored for a while.

HTH

deasterjags · 04/04/2007 13:17

If you haven't already left. Please GET GOING!!!

Just ring your labour ward and tell them you are on your way.

It's probably nothing to worry about, but you need to have a CTG trace and they may offer you a scan.

Sodding doctors [anger]

Original poster

bumbly · 04/04/2007 13:17

thanks so much for all those that have taken time to answer ..

right i just called the midwife on call at hospital and she said they can't monitor you until 26 weeks...so they would just send me home...

she said at 24 weeks foetal heart ranges from 110-160 - according to how it is feeling/moving

hmmm I don't know if that is reassurance or not but just still have my gps worried face in my mind!!

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Original poster

bumbly · 04/04/2007 13:18

you need to be 26 weeks for a CTG monitor to be fitted .....

to be precise is what she said

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Mum2FunkyDude · 04/04/2007 13:24

I suggest that you alternatively make an appointment with your midwife, if she refuses, call the GP on her or get a new one. The mw's role is also to re-assure you.

Original poster

bumbly · 04/04/2007 13:26

my midwife has not been very good at all - nothing bad to say really but I am just a number in her ever so busy schedule....

so in terms of reassurance etc that would involve her spending time with me and I have hardly seen her since being pregnant

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lulumama · 04/04/2007 13:27

have never heard that re CTG.....

the point is, however, you are worried, and neither the GP nor midwife has reassured you about your baby's heartrate.....

don;t be shy of asking again, and say how concerned you are

deasterjags · 04/04/2007 13:28

Well you are taking this a lot more calmly than I would be.

I am not sure where you live but in the borough where I had my kids the labour ward would see you anytime after 24 weeks before that we would be referred to the EPU.

I'd shout and scream, but I am a stroppy mare.

Good luck.

Original poster

bumbly · 04/04/2007 13:34

calm - oh it is just the computer screen that make me look calm - am pretty worried to put it mildly

but gp is ringing obstetrician and getting back to me tomorrow, midwife in hospital said they won't monitor me and so am pretty much left on my own to do my own research on web

;( but thanks for all your wishes!

not much I can do as far as I can see if even hospital won't see me...

have taken the plnuge and left message with my midwife (no direct number for her available) but as I said earlier have been pretty disppointed with my nhs midwifery service (think it is a lack funds etc) - she has seen me 2 times since being pregnant and both were pretty short visits!

will update situation as soon as I get told more!

bumbly

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Mum2FunkyDude · 04/04/2007 13:45

Hi bumbly, welcome to the world of NHS.
I was seen at 12 weeks for booking in and scan. Again at 17 weeks by midwife for the second time. Then again at 26 weeks, and from then on every 4 weeks until nearer the due date when it becomes once a week. The reason being that if you should go into labour before 24 weeks, chances are the baby won't survive so after that date your baby is considered having a fighting chance. Very cruel and horrid to a first time mum, but it is the reality of the system.

Glimmer · 04/04/2007 14:13

Hi Bumbly. So sorry about the worry. It's probably best to wait for a day and see if they get back to you. I have a really nice GP but she is utterly incompetent and doesn't know the first thing about pregnancy. So that's a possibility. If you continue to be worried and won't get any further clarification you could consider to go private.

glittercaz · 04/04/2007 18:39

wanted to try to offer some reassurance here - I am only 24 weeks tomorrow and earlier this week has some foetal heart monitoring and was concerned baby was moving less.

to echo what the midwife told you they said anything between 110 to 160 is normal.

hopefully all will be fine but if you're worried (which you obviously are), go to the hospital and kick up a big fuss...it is their JOB to reassure you, don't allow them to fob you off. If you're almost 24 weeks I don't think this is a job for the epu...I was told that it can be tricky to monitor the heart rate at this stage as the baby is still small etc, (though the managed this with me). Let us know how you get on. xxx

Original poster

bumbly · 05/04/2007 08:23

Hi Glittercaz

;)

I too will be 24 weeks soon (tomorrow)! Congratulations.

Still no news but today suspect will hear from hopefully both my gp and midwife and will try to get as many folk to "listen" in...

There seems to be a concensus that at 24 weeks the foetal heart is still variable and also with the baby still having space to move around it causes random fluctuations in rhythm...well I hope that is the case..any midwives out there care to confirm/negate?

;)

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glittercaz · 05/04/2007 10:22

Hi Bumbly,

I meant the day after tomorrow - it seems we have the same due date (27th July)!

Obviously I'm not a midwife but I can confirm your question - when I went in for mointoring they told me the foetal heartbeat, if it could be heard in the first place, was indeed variable. I watched the bpm fluctuate over the course of about 20 bpm (if that makes sense!) . I was also told not to panic if it dropped off altogether (which it did a few times) as this was just the baby moving away from the machine.

Am sure all will be fine for you, but you need to have your mind put at rest so do go see a midwife. I would also consider complaining to/changing your GP, as the treatment sounds pretty outrageous to me...let us know how you get on xxxx

Original poster

bumbly · 05/04/2007 10:29

Hello Glittercaz - we have the same due date!!!!

Still no news from midwife or from my gp...so am waiting by the phone!!

I will definitely update you!!

Thanks for the reassuring words!!!!

Is this your first pregnancy?

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glittercaz · 05/04/2007 13:41

Yes, is it yours? Am very excited, but I have been utterly neurotic/got into panics over certain things I must admit, so my heart really went out to you on this thread....how crappy that you've still heard nothing, is there any way you can get yourself down to the hospital? xxx

Original poster

bumbly · 05/04/2007 17:35

Hi Glittercaz,

Same due date! ;)

Well if you are neurotic or panicking about anything then don't hesitate to talk to me too!!

Your message was really nice at a time when am myself ever so neurotic and worried...

right an update..

My midwife actually came to visit this morning and had a listen. She found a heart beat of 140 but because of ant placenta it was difficult to find at times....

so she didn't seem too worried if at all - but I still have my gps worried face in my mind!! And she was aware of the gps concerns... so two differing opinions!

gp away on easter holiday now .....argh!

everything always happens the wrong time!

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