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Original poster

No heartbeat at 16 weeks?

73 replies

BigBaboonBum · 09/12/2017 11:37

Hi everyone, I had my 16 week midwife appointment and she spent about 15 minutes looking for a heartbeat but couldn’t find one. She seemed to be quite in a flap about it, maybe she was getting impatient I don’t know. I have to go back in two weeks to try again but I’m really worried. Is this normal? I came home and tried (although only for maybe five minutes) to find it myself and I couldn’t. I’m so worried

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regularbutpanickingabit · 09/12/2017 11:40

That’s awful for you. Firstly, be reassured that there are lots of reasons why at 16 weeks she might not find the heart beat using a Doppler - position of your placenta, size of the baby, position etc. However, she should have either reassured you or referred you for a scan. I would call back the maternity unit and see if there is any way you can see someone else or have a scan?
Can you afford a private scan if not?

NerNerNerNerBATMAN · 09/12/2017 11:40

They're not supposed to check at 16 weeks where I am, new rules apparently. Sounds increadibly stressful for you. Can you feel baby at all? I could feel tiny flutters at 16 weeks but only because it was DC2 and I knew what it was. I wouldn't want to be waiting two weeks for another check!! Why do they expect you to wait for so long?

Sorry you're experiencing this OP.

happymumof4crazykids · 09/12/2017 11:42

It's not always possible to find a heartbeat on a dopler early on especially if Mum is overweight or there is an anterior placenta. Surely the midwife informed you of the likelihood of not hearing the heartbeat yet?

thingymaboob · 09/12/2017 11:47

That's so incredibly stressful! I cannot believe that you have to wait two weeks! What the hell are you supposed to do now? In my area they still see people at the early pregnancy clinic. She must've known this was going to be really awful and traumatic for you. I can't believe she didn't send for scan. Only thing I can think is that she wasn't suppose to listen in as too early and is trying to cover herself by not referring you?

LostMyBaubles · 09/12/2017 11:49

Wow, really surprised that she didn't refer you to be scanned

I know sometimes you can't hear but ALWAYS better safe than sorry

If you're worried do get checked out

Mustang27 · 09/12/2017 11:55

Why weren't you referred for a scan? She can't make you wait two weeks with that hovering over you.

PrincessoftheSea · 09/12/2017 11:57

Agree - they must refer you for a scan. My midwife also had problems finding a heartbeat at 16 weeks so agree with others it might be too early and cause needless worrying.

Steeley113 · 09/12/2017 11:58

I would not be waiting 2 weeks. Call your GP, EPU or maternity unit and explain you are extremely anxious now and need a scan. They will book you in!

Callamia · 09/12/2017 11:58

I agree with everyone else, and that she should have told you first that it’s not always possible to find a heartbeat at that point.

If it’s any reassurance, I had a situation where my midwife couldn’t find a heartbeat, but I’d felt the baby moving minutes before. She did find it eventually, but I was surprised that she’d found it so difficult.

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 09/12/2017 11:59

Those machines are hopeless! I spent hours with one midwife trying to get my twins. They were both fund but she scared me repeatedly.

littlemissalwaystired · 09/12/2017 12:00

Occasionally it's hard to find the heartbeat at 16 weeks. Midwives should normally remind women of this before they listen in, to prevent exactly this sort of (understandable) anxiety. Can you arrange to see your midwife in a week or so for her to try again?

littlemissalwaystired · 09/12/2017 12:02

Also, please never try to find the heartbeat yourself. Home dopplers should be well and truly banned. There's several things midwives are listening out for and many sounds make you think it's the heartbeat but it isn't, hence why training is so important. If you can get a scan in the next fortnight that sounds like the best possibility x

Rebeccaslicker · 09/12/2017 12:05

My midwife couldn't find it at 16 weeks either - she wasn't bothered. Baby is so tiny it could be anywhere! Sure enough, 20 week scan showed sodding anterior placenta which is why I am feeling v little at 23 weeks...

If you are at all worried book a private scan, don't use a home Doppler. But it is very common for them not to find it at that stage, so do try not to worry.

TheEagle · 09/12/2017 12:07

I’m sorry you’re in this position of uncertainty and worry.

I’d echo all of the advice above; call your EPU or maternity unit, explain what’s happened and ask for a scan.

best of luck.

Girlwiththearabstrap · 09/12/2017 12:40

I'm really sorry you had this happen. NICE guidelines do now state that listening in at 16 weeks is too early so midwives don't tend to as standard. It really doesn't mean anything is wrong, which is why they dont refer for scans but I understand the worry. You could phone your midwife to see if they'll listen in a week or so to put your mind at rest?

Original poster

BigBaboonBum · 09/12/2017 13:02

Thank you everybody for the replies. I’ve just made an appointment for an ultrasound for this evening, it’s a bit out of the way but nowhere else had appointments. This was a cancellation due to snow so I was lucky to get it so I’m not complaining! I didn’t want to ask NHS in case they thought I was wasting time, and this is quicker. But now the wait until the evening

OP posts:

Expectingbsbunumber2 · 09/12/2017 13:43

I'm sorry your going through this worrying time. I agree with others you should have been sent for a scan. 2 weeks seems a long time to wait. Glad your having a scan later and I hope all goes well x

peachypops · 09/12/2017 17:05

Fantastic you’ve got an appointment this evening. Hope hope hope everything is ok.

booellesmum · 09/12/2017 17:21

Hope little one is ok.

Mustang27 · 09/12/2017 17:25

Good luck with scan. I'm sorry you have had the stress of this.

ApplesTheHare · 09/12/2017 17:26

Hope the scan goes ok OP

ineedwine99 · 09/12/2017 17:27

Fingers crossed for you OP

tampinfuminragin · 09/12/2017 17:38

Hope the scan goes ok

Sunshinesaz86 · 09/12/2017 17:40

Good luck, I had a MW listen in at just over 14 weeks and found a heartbeat and turns out I have an anterior placenta but could still find and very early on.

You should complain about you MW not referring you for a scan and expecting to wait 2 weeks. That's just awful!

I do hope baby is fine and just tucked up.

WaitrosePigeon · 09/12/2017 17:42

Best of luck with the scan this evening. I’m sure everything will be fine xx

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