Ultrasound with no sound

[User43210]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could help me.

I just had an internal scan for a 7week pregnancy. The EPU had a new machine and it doesn't play sound so the consultant said she could see the heartbeat but we weren't able to listen.

Any idea/links to read as to why this was as I have a lot of concerns with this pregnancy so keep getting worried about any little thing.

Thanks

I've never heard a heartbeat on a scan at any gestation- I don't think they tend to turn the sound on where I am. If it's visible, that's enough.

OP the heart at 7 weeks is absolutely tiny, there’s no need to listen to the sound at that stage. If they can see a heartbeat then that’s great. Try not to worry

I had scans at 7 and 10 weeks, machinery couldn’t pick up the heartbeat sound as it’s so tiny, although it could be seen. The first time I hear it was at 12 weeks. Totally normal situation and not one to worry about

You don't normally get sound on an ultrasound scan.
I had a private scan at 7 weeks and they printed off the heart beat soundwaves but I didn't hear it.

I've never heard the heartbeat on any ultrasound scan I've had, they always show me the beating heart.
They turn up the sound for the cord and that's it,

All perfectly normal!

It's what you were told. A machine issue not a baby issue. The heart was beating and normal and the sonographer saw it. The bit of the machine which plays sound wasn't working. Nothing to do with baby.

Hi all, thanks for the total reassurance. My last pregnancy I heard the heartbeat at 6 weeks (different hospital) and got a print out. This time she told me their new machine doesn't do the sound but it could be seen so I was ok but came away and had loads of thoughts. I didn't get a print out of the heartbeat either. But on the video I think I can see a tiny flutter. I'll surely know more in my next appt in two weeks but will rest assured from your experiences

I’ve had two perfectly healthy pregnancies and not once did I hear the heartbeat at a scan. The heartbeat was observed which is all that is needed.

You will hear the heartbeat when your midwife uses a Doppler at your antenatal appointments but this won’t be until much later in your pregnancy (usually from 16-20 weeks depending on area).

I had 2 early scans in a different country and heard the heartbeat both times but the rest have been over here and they've never put the sound on, they've just shown me on the screen.

The only time I hear the pregnancy now is via doppler with the midwife or while being monitored at hospital. I think that's pretty standard for the NHS.

You can't hear sound on an ultrasound because the sound waves are above the range of human hearing. They are used for imaging instead.

We heard the heartbeat at an early private scan but not at the NHS ones.

My recurrent MC consultant scanned me in my last pregnancy (another MMC sadly) at 8 weeks and we saw a lovely heartbeat, and I asked if we could listen to it too. She said they don't offer it as it is too much for such a tiny baby. She said she knows private consultants and sonographers offer it, but she doesn't because it's not terribly safe.
In my current pregnancy I've only been able to listen during private scans.

I've had four babies. I only heard the heartbeat from 12 weeks onwards with them all. I did have a scan at 6 weeks with one of my pregnancies due to bleeding and they saw a heartbeat but said it was too small to be heard as it was too small at that stage. If you have seen a heartbeat don't worry about it.

@Frazzlerock she said it wasn't safe to me too. I didn't want to put that in case someone saw it and worried. I was not sure about this because I heard the heartbeat at 6 weeks before. I guess better safe than sorry and I'm glad the general consensus is it's not common especially at this stage.

Thanks again all, I've gotten a sufficient answer, glad to see there's nothing to worry about in this case

I’ve had 4 nhs scans so far and none of them have sound. Only heard it with the Doppler at the midwife appointments.

OP. I have 5 children. With all scans I am told that they don't like to use sound unless absolutely necessary as it isn't very good for the baby. Not sure of the wording. Hence why they keep it to a minimum. I suspect when you have a later scan you will hear the heart.