16 week midwife check.

[shelentei]

Do they check for the heartbeat at the 16 week midwife check up? I can't remember.

Mine did, although apparently it isn't standard

Mine did. But there is a fairly high chance of not being able to find it due to your baby's position.

Mine did and found it straight away. It was lovely :) no midwife till 28 weeks now!

Mine didn’t and I was sure I heard my DS heartbeat by this stage at last pregnancy. My midwife just gave me blood results and arranged next appt. I was looking forward to hearing heartbeat too so just be prepared they might not x

Mine didn't (and I was expecting them to as they did when I was pregnant with DD1 four years ago). They said it's policy not to as they can't always find it. I was pretty disappointed but did see their point.

They aren't supposed to anymore. The first one is now technically meant to be at either 21 weeks (first baby) or 28 weeks with subsequent babies. Mine did, but only because she had a student with her and the student was keen to try. But she said she couldn't write it in my notes and gave me the option not to have it done in case the student couldn't find it (because they couldn't send me for a scan if she didn't). I wasn't too worried as I was having plenty of movement so I let her do it and she was able to find it no problem. So yes, but no, it isn't part of the standard appt anymore.

Mine did, and she's listened to it at every appointment since

Definitely seems to depend on your area. My midwife told me in my very first booking appointment that I'd hear the heartbeat at my 16 week appointment, so I was aware early-on that it was the plan. In the end I had my 16 week appointment at just 14 weeks and she picked it up instantly, loud and clear!

They did at my 16w appt! I wonder if different Trusts/ CCG have different policies.

I just got back from mine (I'm 17 weeks) and my midwife did. This is my second, they did with my first around this time as well.

There was a thread on this recently - it seems to depend on your area/trust. The midwife did at my 16 week appointment and again at 21 weeks but I gather some won’t so be prepared for them not to.

Mine did - and I was quite surprised, as I'd read a lot on here that they don't do this any more. Thinking about it now, she didn't record it on my notes, so perhaps it was 'unofficial'. I did read on another thread that they're particularly reluctant to do it on larger women as it makes the heartbeat much harder to find (and so more likely to stress out the woman), so that might also explain why even within one area some women seem to be told it's not done and others have it - they're unlikely to want to say 'we don't do this for you'.

Mine did, too, but with the disclaimer that she might not be able to find it and not to worry. She found it immediately, though!

They aren't really supposed to (www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg62/chapter/1-guidance) although many do. They cannot refer you for a scan if they cannot find the heartbeat, though.

They are not supposed to. It can be difficult to find and causes unnecessary anxiety. NICE actually say we shouldn't be routinely listening to the fetal heart in low risk pregnancies as it has no benefit at any gestation and only tells you what is happening for that minute. The only reason we still do it is because women expect and like to hear it.

Mine did last time but apparently the new rules here are not until 25 weeks.

NICE actually say we shouldn't be routinely listening to the fetal heart in low risk pregnancies as it has no benefit at any gestation and only tells you what is happening for that minute.

Out of interest, how does this square with reassurance scans, which the NHS fairly frequently performs on women with bad histories but no particular indications of problems in their current pregnancies? Surely the same applies - no benefit and can only ever give you a current snapshot?

Mine did - with a warning it might take a while to hear it.