Is hearing the heartbeat on an early U/S safe?

[MamaExtraordinaire]

Hi all,

Last weekend I had a private scan at 8+5 due to spotting. Thankfully everything was fine, but during the scan the technician unexpectedly allowed me to hear the heartbeat for a very brief moment. I have never had this at an NHS scan before.

I mentioned this to someone and they told me that this was harmful to the baby. I’ve had several miscarriages so this has left me feeling incredibly anxious and worried that some kind of damage may have been done.

Does anyone know if this is true? I can’t really find any information online and feel a bit silly asking my midwife about it.

Thanks so much!

No it's fine - the NHS actually listen to the heartbeat at every scan they just don't have the sound on like they do at private scans.

It's the same machine/same Process just on mute so whoever said it wasn't safe is just a stupid/misinformed!

I've had almost monthly, sometimes weekly scans with this pregnancy where they listen to the heartbeat and everything has been fine x

My fertility clinic checked for a heartbeat at around six weeks. I’m sure they wouldn’t have if it was harmful.

Don’t be afraid to ask for reassurance from your midwife. She’ll have been asked this sort of thing before.

@ivfbeenbusy I didn't realise the nhs saw the heartbeat at all the scans do they put the Measurement in your notes anywhere?

I can't wait to hear the heartbeat

I live in Belgium and my friends who are pregnant all got to hear the heartbeat of their baby. In all honesty, we haven't. Our gynaecologist said it isn't safe. But to be honest, I never heard anything like that before and my own doctor gave me a weird look when I told her that. So I wouldn't really be too worried, though that's easier said than done, especially after what you've been trough.

Don't be afraid to ask your midwife! She's there for you and your questions.

You probably don't notice so much as they are doing so many measurements and many look the same and with the sound off it isn't always obvious - eg blood flow to the placenta/cord also looks like a beats per minute

They probably won't play it for you though unless you get a nice sonographer and they dont record it in the notes as far as I know

Probably because after 16 weeks the midwife tends to that when you have the appointment with them and they use the Doppler

I have so many scans they don't tend to do it much further into pregnancy either as I'm usually attached to a trace machine to
Monitor heartbeat anyway

For both my pregnancies in Australia I had a dating scan at 6 weeks and heard the heartbeat both times. It was standard practice at my hospital. Wouldn't worry at all.

Also really shitty for someone to have said that to you after the fact, even if it had been true.

Why would it be harmful? I heard both dc's heartbeats at 7 weeks.

Never heard it was harmful.
Had US in 3 different countries and they all listen to the heartbeat.
Never had any issues...

I'm another one who lives abroad and heard the heartbeat at every single scan.

I can't figure out why on earth it wouldn't be safe and, if it really wasn't, why would they put the baby's health at risk when they can see the heartbeat as a flicker anyway?

Thanks everyone, I am feeling a lot better about it now! Pregnancy after loss is such an emotional rollercoaster and I’ve had a rocky start to say the least. Everything on the scan looked great, so I just have to keep reminding myself of that and push on.

**upthewolves - Exactly! I came back from the scan feeling upbeat and positive and her comment set me right back to feeling worried.

They always check the heartbeat. That's reason no1 to do monitoring during pregnancy. Is the fetus/baby's heart going or have they unfortunately passed?

No one will ever say US doesn't have risks but they're negligible. They just advise not to have a home US and do LOADS of scans!!

Congratulations