When did you get a heartbeat on an early scan?

[Journey2022]

Hi all

Out of interest can you say when you got a heartbeat if you did any early scans before 8 weeks.

My Dr won't rule out ectopic until a heartbeat is seen. Now won't rescan me to just under 8 weeks. My anxiety is through the roof and I'm not sleeping. So am going to book a private scan. I want to book for 6 weeks 5 days but interested to see if waiting 2 days to 7 weeks or 7 weeks 2 days will make any difference?

Thank you.

A lot of literature says 8 weeks as it's more or less guaranteed at that stage and going earlier and not seeing one doesn't mean it won't happen (especially if people aren't 100% sure of ovulation dates and implantation etc)

Because mine is an IVF baby I knew exact dates and had an early scan at 5+6 and there was a heartbeat, but if you have a natural conception a few days here or there can be a big difference so it may be more stressful and in limbo to go in and not see one. It's tricky! If you think it'll help you now though if you're already worrying it's probably worth a peek :)

I was bang on 6 weeks when the flicker of the hearts was showing (twins) The lady said if I'd gone yesterday maybe they wouldn't have shown !!!

6 weeks and 5 days I saw the heartbeat with this baby.

6 weeks 6 days with my daughter.

my sister went at 6 weeks no heartbeat , only sac. Went back at 8 weeks and heartbeat was flickering away!

6 wks both times. I was very sure of my dates.

If the doctor suspects an ectopic pregnancy, 2 weeks without monitoring is crazy. I was back after 48 hours for further tests and in emergancy surgery 12 hours after that - initially I was on the schedule for the following morning, but it was an emergency at 7 weeks.

Because of that history, DS1 was scanned at 6+2. Sac in right place, but no heartbeat. Rescanned at 8 weeks - as not an ectopic fear, and had a hb then.

DS2 had a hb at 6+0.

Around 6 weeks, 3 days. I had one just before 6 weeks where it was too early to be seen.

6+3

6weeks 5 days for me.
I hope things go well for you. Sending love x

I had a scan at 6+4 and there was a heartbeat.

Some of these responses are very reassuring to read! For my last son i got a heartbeat at 7 weeks. My current pregnancy I was scanned at 6weeks+2 and only yolk sakn present. I too was given 2 weeks to wait (my scan is next week) and it's unbearable. I feel likenive totally detached from the pregnancy now expecting the worst!

I’m so sorry.

good luck and I’m keeping everything crossed for you! Xx

I've had a visible heartbeat at 5+3 weeks and we were able to listen to it at 8+3 weeks :)

I had a scan at 6+3 and was measuring 5+% and they could see a heartbeat

5+5*

Please don't feel this way! Remember that whether the heart beat can be detected also depends on the method of ultrasound and the sonographer. Besides, each pregnancy is different and just because the heartbeat may be difficult to detect it doesn't mean something is wrong. It may even be that you're earlier in your pregnancy than you thought and at this stage even a day can make a difference as to whether or not you'll see anything :)

When I went for my first scan I was told multiple times during the visit to NOT expect to see a heartbeat - seeing anything before 8 weeks is more luck than science :)

With my last pregnancy I was 5+5wks, with this pregnancy epu wouldn't see me until I was 6 weeks but saw heartbeat and was dated at 6+5wks.

Firstly to everyone who replied thank you!! It's given me some reassurance. I'm thinking to book a scan for 6+5 so I can atleast enjoy the easter bh (if I see a heartbeat! If not all plans will be cancelled)

@Stickly when I saw your response I literally teared up I feel so detached now plus confused and I'm highly emotional! I really understand this. I said to my husband last night I feel angry at myself for celebrating our positive pregnancy test or even telling him as I should have expected the worst (it's taken us over 3 years ttc to get 1 positive!). And starting to have hope has made me feel 10x worse.

Background - I got a positive pregnancy test pre 4 weeks. I had a small amount of fresh blood spotting and quite a bit of pain on my left side so epu monitored my hcg last week and that is all fine, they then booked me in for a scan yesterday - I had myself down as 5+4 but they measured me at 5+5. She asked what I hoped to see on the scan this early and I said my main fear was extopic due to the original side pain. (Now subsided) but I just wanted to know it was atleast in the right place. She said that the gestational sac and yolk are in the uterus but no heartbeat and my ovaries - 1 looks normal the other had a cyst (side of pain also - ive had a cyst there for a couple of months so I did know it may still be there). But she said even though sac and yolk are in my uterus she will not rule out ectopic until they see a heartbeat in the uterus. This totally threw me and had put my anxiety into overdrive. I thought they could atleast confirm ectopic wasn't a risk if it was growing in the right place. She said our hormones can grow the sac and yolk separate to egg/ implantation?!

So now I'm basically not going to relax until I see a heartbeat in my uterus.

I had more spotting last night then bad cramps all night (middle rather than one side). I'm basically just mentally waiting to miscarry I think.

I felt that 7 weeks was the line of where I could probably expect a heartbeat. I couldn’t wait and due to closures etc I had to book it for 6 weeks 5 days and I think last time it was even 6 weeks 4 days. Amazingly there was a heartbeat on both but I don’t think there’s any guarantee at 6 weeks

6+1