Has anyone else never heard their baby's heartbeat at a scan?

[jinxxybinx]

Hi all.. so I'm currently 21 weeks pregnant and I've now had both my dating scan and the anomaly scan.. still don't know what we are expecting to have though as the baby was too shy to show us!!

I know that pregnancy is different for everyone. Just I'm wondering if anyone else is in the same situation with not hearing the heartbeat at this point? At the first scan I asked and the lady said to me we should hear it at the second scan. Then I asked my midwife at my last appointment to double check and she said I most likely would, but yesterday when the sonographer carried out the scan we could only see the heart beat.. I asked her too and she said I couldn't hear anything until one of the checks with my midwife!! My next isn't until next month.

Also, this is my first pregnancy so I don't know what to expect! Just everyone has told me they heard their babies heartbeat at both scans!! 😥

I think you get to hear but not see with the midwives and if you are high risk you'll hear it in the later appointments but if you're not high risk then you won't get any more after second scan. Be grateful there is a heartbeat babes!

Last pregnancy they listened to heartbeat at 12 week scan, then midwife used doppler at 16 week appt and each subsequent after.

In current pregnancy no heartbeat listened to in any scan but did hear it at midwife and consultant appts when they used the doppler each time.

So long as you’re low risk and baby looks like they’re developing well and there’s no worries I wouldn’t worry.

On my first pregnancy, I heard the hb at both scans. This pregnancy, I’m having the scans done somewhere else. At the 12w scan I could see the hb on the screen but no audio. Haven’t had the 20w scan yet but hopefully will hear it then. The MW will always check the hb with the Doppler though, so you’ll hear it at each of your MW appointments going forward.

I was having twins and I don’t remember hearing the heartbeats at either of the first scans but think I did at later scans - the midwife used a Doppler and so did the consultant. I’d ask your midwife when you next see them.

I had 4 scans last pregnancy and 2 so far this one and have never heard a heartbeat at a scan.

Last pregnancy I heard it twice at normal midwife appointments (16 and 24 weeks) and twice when I went to the maternity assessment unit for reduced movement and bleeding. This time at 24 weeks at a normal midwife appointment.

It must depend on your hospital/area. I’ve never heard the heartbeat at the 12 or 20 week scan, but heard it at every midwife appointment since 16 weeks as she uses a Doppler then...

Third pregnancy, 8 NHS scans total and never heard the heartbeat at a scan. I’ve seen it flickering.

I heard it at 12 week appointment via Doppler, 16 week scan, 20 week scan and the other day when I went to the hospital to have a check done. Must just depend on area?

I have lots of extra scans due to a medical condition and don’t think I’ve ever heard the heartbeat at a scan, just seen it. Have heard it at midwife appointments with the Doppler instead.

It’s just at ur midwife appts as far as I’m aware, that’s what happens in my area

4 NHS scans with my son and never heard it during a scan. Only heard it during midwife appointment from 28(??) Weeks. I heard it during a private 4D scan.

Didn't hear it at 12wk scan for current pregnancy, not expecting to for anomaly scan either.

I wasn't aware that some people do hear it during NHS scans. No one I know did.

Oh bless you! We heard heart beat at the 12week scan, at my 16week midwife appointment at home and at the 20week scan. I was told at my 8week private scan that we could see the heart beat on the trace line but not hear it but then when I had to have another scan at 10weeks we heard it. I wonder if it’s a policy in your area or something to do with the scanner? X

I don’t think I heard it on any of my scans - there’s not really any need as they look directly at the heart to see if it is beating ok. You’ll hear it at your midwife appointments when they listen with a doppler though.

I didn't hear his heartbeat until my 28 week midwife appointment, but a friend heard it at every scan. Think it just depends where you are

Three babies and many many scans here and I have never heard the heartbeat at a scan.

I’ve had lots of scans and have only heard the heartbeat at my private one.

For the others, I’ve either seen it on the screen (but not heard) or they’ve done a Doppler on the cord so we’ve heard the blood flow.

Your midwife should listen for it with a Doppler though at your routine appointments x

Thanks everyone!! I was only worried as I had my mother in law and a few friends say to me that it isn't right apparently because they heard everything at both.. thinking back, that would have been years ago, haha! But hearing all of this on here with you guys has really put my mind at rest! I just thought it was a little odd as I haven't heard anything at my midwife appointments either. I thought I would at my 16 week one from what I'd read online, but when I asked her she said it might be at the 20 week scan, if not it would be my next appointment where I will be 24 weeks oh well! Just happy the little ones all healthy and coming along beautifully.. that's all that matters!

A lot of midwives don’t use the doppler at 16 week appt as sometimes it’s really hard to find as baby is tiny and keeps moving about.

I’ve had five miscarriages and each time I’ve had the doppler my own heart stops waiting to hear my baby’s heart beat. I was in tears at 16 weeks as the midwife took a while to find the heartbeat and I managed to convince myself the worse had happened!

Your notes should say what the bpm is if you’re curious. And hopefully you’ll hear the heartbeat at your next midwife appt. it is lovely to hear.

Also congratulations on your pregnancy.

@fuzzywuzzy I'm so sorry to hear that 😓 that must have been so horrible.. I'm glad to hear everything was okay though. I will have a look and see if it says anything!

I just can't wait to hear it :) and thankyou!

Also can't wait to finally find out what we are having, lol. I think we will have to go privately to find out though

I have twins. I had about 20 scans. I never heard my babies heart beats.

Saw them obviously, but never heard them.

Never had a scan.

You don't actually hear the 'heart beat' using ultrasound.

The doppler measures the blood flow through the heart and you can hear the doppler.

If you want to hear it then a £5 stethoscope will work.

Congrats and good luck with your little one.

I don't think I've ever heard the heartbeat at a scan, only seen it (on my second pregnancy now and so far I've had three scans in each pregnancy).

The only time I've actually heard the heartbeat is when my midwife checks it with the doppler at routine appointments.

I've seen lots of Youtube videos where the heartbeat is heard at scans (I've done a lot of googling!). I thought this was a normal thing?
We saw the heartbeat of our little one on Tuesday, but didn't hear anything. I figured baby was too tiny to be heard yet and perhaps our next scan (next Weds) we would hear it. Maybe not....?