Will a scan at 8 weeks hear the heartbeat?

[UrsulaSings]

I lost a baby in my first pregnancy and wanted to have an early scan to check for heartbeat. I wondered whether anyone has had a scan at 8 weeks and if they heard the heartbeat?

The last thing I want is to go for reassurance scan and then not hear the heartbeat as it's too early!

Thank you.

Hi op, I was similar to you, miscarriage then 8 week scan in next pregnancy. We did hear or see the wee heart flicker at 8 weeks. Good luck!

The heartbeat should be there at 8 weeks.

Good luck OP, I've been there. I got there in the end and I'm sure you will too :-)

I wonder if you could bear to wait till 9 or 10 weeks? It's even more of a reassurance then. If not, just go for it.

The HB is viable at that stage not entirely sure if it will be strong enough to hear if that makes sense?
I didn't hear heartbeat until 16 weeks at MW appt but not sure if that was because it can be hard to detect on a Doppler.
Sorry to hear about your loss and congratulations on your pregnancy x

I meant visible not viable

I’ve ‘seen’ the heartbeat (flickering blob) at 6 weeks and a figure of 8 shaped embryo at 8 weeks so yes I think you should see the heartbeat at 8 weeks. The scan will be internal in case you didn’t know that.

My understanding is that once there is a heart beat the chances of a miscarrIage reduces dramatically, but it can still happen I’m afraid.

Good luck.

We heard the HB at 8 weeks

Thank you for your replies.

@ArchMemory it's a private scan and they dont do internal ones there so it would be done from the outside. I have scarring over where I assume a caesarean would be due to previous surgery so I'm worried that will get in the way as well.

Maybe I should wait until 9 weeks? It's so difficult waiting when you're worrying. My MIL was telling me about her miscarraige at 14 weeks and I'd managed my worry up until then ok but now I'm stressing again. I wish she hadn't said anything!

Ah ok. I’m not sure then. When I’ve had early scans (NHS or private fertility clinic) they’ve been internal. I don’t know if scarring has an effect (I’ve had caesareans too) but I do know external scans can be less clear when you’re a bit fatter (as I am).

Can the clinic advise you? You don’t want to pay for a scan for reassurance if it might not give clarity at 8 weeks.

Good luck.

Ok well I've just called them (maybe should have done that first!) and they seemed 100% sure they'd be able to visualise a heartbeat at 8+4, which is what I would be if I booked it then (which is the same day as my booking appointment).

Just hope it all goes ok...

Thank you.

Absolutely! I heard the heartbeat of my DS at 6 weeks loud and clear with an external scan

@UrsulaSings a foetuses heart starts beating between 5 and 6 weeks, although can sometimes only been seen by an internal scan. You will absolutely be able to see a heartbeat by 8 weeks but may not be able to hear it. I had a scan at 5+1 and could only see a gestational sac and a yolk sac, exactly one week later and there was a heartbeat, seen by an abdominal scan. It starts of slower and then gets stronger over the coming weeks. I also have a private scan booked for 8 weeks (repeat miscarriages).

Hey, not sure about hearing it but we saw it clear as day when I had a private scan at 8 weeks 4 days xxx

Thank you everyone! That's all really reassuring!

@TwinkleStars15 I hope your 8 week scan goes well

Yes I heard a heartbeat at 8 weeks

I had an early scan last week at 8+5 due to recurrent miscarriage and we saw the heartbeat clearly on the screen but the sonogropher said you wouldn't be able to hear it yet as it's too early. Mine was done abdominally.

You should definitely see one at 8 weeks. I had a scan (internal) at 6 weeks and a heart beat was detected. I'm going for another tomorrow I'll be 8+1 so fingers crossed I'll see a lot more. Best of luck to you!

I saw and heard the heartbeat at 8 weeks with an external scan. Congrats OP and good luck!

I had a scan abdominally at 7+3 and could clearly see the flicker of the heartbeat so 🤞 you'll get to see it.

I had an abdominal scan done at a private clinic at 8+2 and we heard the heart beat clear as a bell! 😊

I had an external scan at 8 weeks with DD2 and saw a lovely heartbeat.
Also had an internal at 7 weeks with DS and saw a HB.

I've had 2 miscarriages and I can really empathise with you. The private scans gave me a lot of reassurance and once a HB is seen on scan the odds of a MC go down a lot.
Just take one day at a time and try not to let the worry get the better of you.