Midwife finding heartbeat

[Eatingallthecake]

Does anyone know how early a midwife can find a heartbeat? I.e. with the Doppler not a scan? I've had two missed miscarriages (both found at a 9 week scan, baby had died a week or so before) and I'm pregnant again. I have had positive early scans but I'm approaching the 12 week scan (actually next week at 14 weeks) and my anxiety levels are beginning to increase, as before every scan, that something has gone wrong since the last one.

I have my booking in appointment with the midwife this week when I will be 13 weeks. I was wondering whether she will be able to detect a heartbeat with a doppler and provide some reassurance or whether I just have to wait it out until the scan. Any advice gratefully appreciated.

I don’t think they will try to listen to heartbeat until at least 16 weeks so I’m afraid I think you’d have to wait. I really hope all is well at the scan.

In our area the midwife won’t try to hear for a heartbeat until 16 weeks as it’s too hit and miss before then.

She most likely will be able to detect it. Sometimes not until a bit later, so don't panic if one isn't heard on the day. But as I said, you'll probably be able to catch it by 13 weeks. Good luck! I know that anxiety all too well (though I'm not expecting now, the memory of it never leaves!).

Mine wouldn’t try until 16/20 weeks.
Can you afford to have a private scan done to allay your anxieties?
Also discuss your anxiestoes with your midwife x

That's a good reminder from the other posters!! It's true. She won't try to listen for one at this appointment. My memory is that I first heard my kids' around 17 weeks... for the reasons mentioned above.

Before 12 weeks the baby is still too low down within the "bowl" of your pelvis. I know it is a very anxious time .

Thank you for all your speedy responses. Yes I do remember from my first pregnancy with my son (pre miscarriages...blissfully unaware of any major anxiety etc!) that the midwife listened for a heartbeat at the 16 week appointment but said even then not to be alarmed if she couldn't find it as it was early days. So 13 weeks is probably pushing it!

I actually had a scan two weeks ago, at 11 weeks and all was fine. And have the NHS one next week. So don't think I can justify another private one in between. Just have to try and be rational about it and hold on to the fact that if everything was okay at 11 weeks, chances are it still will be now.

Some areas it's at the 16 week appointment with others at 25 weeks.

At 16 weeks it's hit and miss and can cause anxiety if not found, so some prefer to wait.

You're right if everything was fine at 11 weeks it is incredibly unlikely anything bad will happen now. Try and hold on to that.

Not until 16 weeks, usually, and even then with the huge caveat that it's very hit and miss, and they will not send you for a scan if they cannot find the heartbeat.

my midwife tried it first at 16 weeks (found it) but she warned me beforehand that she may not be able to find it and that this is normal too. 13 weeks is probably way to early for the doppler.

Try and think of the positives, everything was ok at your 11 week scan and that is further than both previous miscarriages. Now you’ll have a 14 week scan - so you’ll have gotten 2 weeks further than a normal 12 week scan. Then hopefully you’ll hear it on the Doppler at 16/17 weeks. So only 3 weeks between each bit of reassurance.
Scan anxiety sucks and it is totally understandable that you are worried but if all was good at 11 weeks your chances are good. Good luck

As a rule, the NHS no longer tries until after 16 weeks. So if it's your first baby, that would be 21 weeks, I think? Or 28 weeks for your second. They may offer to try on the sly at 16 weeks, but they aren't supposed to and if they can't find it, you won't get offered any further scans until your 20 week one. My midwife often comes with a student midwife and she offered to let the student midwife try in order to practice, but she made it clear that if she couldn't find it there was nothing they could do. Normally, if they can't find a heartbeat, you'd get referred for a scan, but she said she wouldn't as they weren't supposed to try anyway so early and wanted to make sure I was okay with that. I was feeling plenty of movement by then so knew baby was fine, so was happy to have her give it a go (and if I'd had any concerns I would have just taken myself for a private scan). But yes, 21/28 weeks is the earliest now. If you want to know sooner, it's definitely worth booking yourself in for a private scan. I had a previous mc too and I found it really reassuring.