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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Would a healthcare professional shield you from the truth

16 replies

Hopeful2102 · 30/09/2017 02:59

I have been reading online that babies should have a heartbeat of 160bpm to be considered safe. At my private scan (8 weeks) the technician said they couldn't tell me the speed. Then at my scan with the EPAU (8+5) the midwife said it was too early to tell although there was still a heartbeat. I've seen online some people saying they found out how many beats from 7 weeks+ so I would like to know whether I've been told this to keep me from worrying? My next scan isn't for 3 weeks or so.

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Mrsjohnmurphy · 30/09/2017 03:20

I have had dozens of scans over 3 pregnancies and the heart rate was never even noted in the official notes. I did have a scan at approx 8 weeks with my second after bleeding, she said that the fact an appropriately sized embryo with a heartbeat at that gestation was an excellent sign and that high 90% would go to term.

There are no guarantees at any stage but it's a good sign, maybe talk to someone about your anxiety?

Out2pasture · 30/09/2017 03:25

the heart rate changes as the baby develops and is affected by it's activity.

DungballInADress · 30/09/2017 03:29

Get off Google. No good will come of it.

If you look hard enough anything over a certain BPM is supposed to help you tell whether you're having a boy or a girl. I can't recall ever being told what my DCs heart rate was at any appointment, scan or even during Labour.

MaryShelley1818 · 30/09/2017 06:23

I'm 29wks pregnant...no one has ever mentioned or recorded the heartbeat. And I have scans every 2wks! (Growth scans)

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 30/09/2017 06:44

No.

A HCP will not shield you from the truth.

fairyofallthings · 30/09/2017 06:48

As it was a private scan they might just be trained to do scans to show you a picture and not be a hcp so aren't allowed to tell you anything medical.

christinarossetti · 30/09/2017 06:54

No a HCP wouldn't shield you from the truth.

A heart beat at 8 +5 is very, very hopeful.

All the best.

MaryShelley1818 · 30/09/2017 06:57

A private scan should always be carried out by a full medically trained sonographer. I have never known that not be the case and have had several.

AnUtterIdiot · 30/09/2017 07:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wowbutter · 30/09/2017 08:10

I have had two early scans, one put me at 7+2 and one at 7+6 both showed a tiny blob, with a flickering heartbeat. Neither time did they tell me how many bpm there were. The sonographer said it was too hard to tell and the machine was confusing mine with the babies and giving false readings.
I could see the heart beating. I knew it was doing it.

Please try not to worry.

sorenipples · 30/09/2017 09:55

I was recently told it was against protocol to measure heart rate at 8 weeks as it was deemed unreliable. Instead they just looked for cardiac activity. With a previous pregnancy a couple of years ago it was measured (at a private scan). Like you I panicked that they were being deliberately evasive but I think that was just paranoia. 2nd trimester now and no sign of problems in this pregnancy.

RedBlackberries · 30/09/2017 09:59

I had a little heartbeat at 8 weeks. No mention of how fast it was going. HCPs wouldn't shield you from the truth.

Bisquick · 30/09/2017 10:00

Foetal heart rate varies quite significantly throughout pregnancy, so don't compare the 160bpm number to anything you see now. Better to trust them when they say they see a heartbeat and in a few weeks you'll have a good estimate of what the rate is as well. Google will just mean more worrying tbh.

user1493413286 · 30/09/2017 10:05

I wouldn’t worry about it at this early stage; it may be that some devices can detect it which is what that people online have found but others can’t.
The 160 bpm is more important at the end; I was being monitored from 27 weeks and my baby was between 140-180 and always considered to be fine.
They’ll tell you if there’s a problem.

Tilapia · 30/09/2017 10:10

No they wouldn't shield you from the truth. They might have done this years ago, but these days it is not good practice (due to the legal risk if they give you the wrong info).

Original poster

Hopeful2102 · 30/09/2017 12:13

@mrsjohnmurphy i am actually waiting for a counselling service to contact me back all i seem to do is worry and stress which I know isn't good. @fairyofallthings the form i signed did say they couldn't give medical advice which is why i kind of accepted it coming from them but got scared when the midwife said that.

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