Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Midwife couldn’t find heart beat!

30 replies

Fairydust34 · 26/03/2024 17:09

Hey,I had my 16 week check today and the midwife tried to find baby’s heart beat. She tried for about 5 mins and she couldn’t find it but just said it’s probably too small and didn’t say anything else about it. She also asked if I had felt movements which I said no to, and again she didn’t say anything after. I was hoping to feel reassured by hearing the heartbeat but it’s left me in a panic. It’s not my first pregnancy and in all of my others I heard the heart beat at 16 weeks! Has anyone else had this?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
K0OLA1D · 26/03/2024 17:14

Hi OP. I would say if you were worried to contact MAU.

Are you booked in for your next scan?

Scottishskifun · 26/03/2024 17:16

Dopplers are difficult especially if baby is hiding and your a bit early to be feeling movement but some women do.

I agree if your concerned contact MAU

Edit just to say my health board doesn't do doppler at 16 weeks for the very reason it can be difficult

Applesandpears23 · 26/03/2024 17:16

Try not to panic. Your placenta could be at the front making it extra hard or her equipment could be faulty. Did they offer you another scan or appointment?

CrispAppleStrudels · 26/03/2024 17:16

In both my pregnancies, the midwife has said before using the doppler that you cant always hear at heartbeat at 16w and told me not to panic if she cant find it, but i can understand why you might be feeling worried.

I've never felt movements before 20w and in my second pregnancy, it took until 22w.

Serene135 · 26/03/2024 17:17

You might have an anterior placenta which in some cases can make it harder to feel your baby move and for a midwife to find the heartbeat. Have you been booked in for another scan?

Original poster
Fairydust34 · 26/03/2024 17:19

K0OLA1D · 26/03/2024 17:14

Hi OP. I would say if you were worried to contact MAU.

Are you booked in for your next scan?

The next scan isn’t until the 20 week one so it’s end of April and I’m not booked in again with the midwife untill 25 weeks! X

OP posts:
Original poster
Fairydust34 · 26/03/2024 17:20

Applesandpears23 · 26/03/2024 17:16

Try not to panic. Your placenta could be at the front making it extra hard or her equipment could be faulty. Did they offer you another scan or appointment?

No she didn’t! Only the 20 week one which is the end of April and she said I won’t see her again untill 25 weeks x

OP posts:
colouredball · 26/03/2024 17:22

Honestly, if they were concerned they would have referred you to be checked over. Not hearing hb at this stage is quite common

rwalker · 26/03/2024 17:22

I think if they would of suspected any problems they certainly would of followed up checked and not sent you home

whilst extremely worrying for you this is there bread and butter stuff and they’ll be well aware there’s a host of reasons they can’t hear anything and it’s run of the mill for them

sarahc336 · 26/03/2024 17:23

This is why many nhs trusts don't offer to find the heart beat before 25 weeks as it is highly unreliable. The baby will have just been towards the back no doubts 😁

lululu16 · 26/03/2024 17:32

My midwife told me I can have as many appointments as I feel i need to. Could you ask to have another appointment in a weeks time? I understand why you feel worried, I know i would too x

SpringOfContentment · 26/03/2024 17:39

I thought the guidance has changed, and heartbeats shouldn't be looked for at 16 weeks.

I know you are, understandably, concerned by today's appointment, but at 16 weeks hearing a heartbeat through a doppler isn't guaranteed. Not hearing it doesn't say anything about the state of your pregnancy.

Isthisrealomgwow · 26/03/2024 17:44

If you are really worried contact the MAU and explain.
If they can't help could you go to a private scan centre for a reassurance scan?

GutsyFox · 26/03/2024 18:12

In the UK they’re supposed to have stopped Doppler listening at the 16 week check as it’s not guaranteed and not hearing a heartbeat isn’t enough to refer you to triage as it’s probably positional,
basically the exact situation you’re in now, I hope you aren’t worrying too much,
I suppose you could always pay for a private scan for reassurance but please try not to worry too much

BeautyAndTheBump1 · 26/03/2024 18:20

My midwife has told me they won't check at 16 weeks for the heartbeat any more because its not guaranteed they'll find it and it was causing unnecessary stress on the mums, they won't check until 24 weeks now

Hope this gives you some reassurance!

mummyh2016 · 26/03/2024 20:35

Really common, in my first pregnancy 7 years ago I was told they'll try it but if they couldn't find a heartbeat they couldn't refer so it was up to me. 3 years ago in my second pregnancy they no longer offered it due to the anxiety it caused when they couldn't find one as they still weren't able to refer.

TupperCare · 26/03/2024 23:40

Totally understand your worries OP, I’d be beside myself! Can you get a reassurance scan or ask to see your midwife again?
My midwife told my partner at the last appointment that he’ll ’want to come to the next appointment as that’s when we get to listen to the heartbeat’, so it’s interesting reading all these comments that it’s not recommended any more!
I was having some awful cramping on Sunday night and ended up being seen at my local urgent care centre through 111, and they were able to find the heartbeat (I’m 14w) with a Doppler so I wonder if it’s worth you asking to be seen again

exploringshakes · 26/03/2024 23:59

That's quite early to be checking. At my 16w appointment, she advised against checking due to the risks of not finding it.

LavenderSweetPea · 27/03/2024 07:50

At my 16w appointment they checked the heartbeat and couldn't find it. I suffered with severe pregnancy anxiety anyway and I'll never forget that moment when she stopped looking and said she wasn't able to locate it. They sent me straight through to ultrasound for a scan to check what was going on. Little monkey was just hiding really low down and was perfectly fine.

My baby is now 8 weeks so this experience wasn't too long ago, not sure why my trust continues to put women through this stress.

Bells3032 · 27/03/2024 09:23

My midwife doesn't even do heartbeat checks at 16 weeks. she says too often its hard to find and the mothers panic and she can't refer them for a scan for that so they end up panicking unnecessarily for 4 weeks.

Original poster
Fairydust34 · 27/03/2024 09:26

Thank you everyone, I have booked a private scan for Saturday that was the earliest available, she didn’t explain at all that she may not be able to hear it, she just said to get your phone out so you can record it so I was laying there waiting with my phone ready! I wasn’t worrying at all before the appointment now I just feel so anxious! X

OP posts:
exploringshakes · 27/03/2024 09:28

@Fairydust34 wishing you well for your scan, let us know how you get on Flowers

Applesandpears23 · 30/03/2024 11:20

I hope your scan today goes well. I had a midwife struggle to find heartbeat at 36 weeks. I could feel baby moving to get away from the doppler so it wasn’t scary. Maybe your baby was hiding.

User79853257976 · 30/03/2024 12:30

This is why some areas don’t do it at 16 weeks anymore. It can be hard to find and cause unnecessary worry.

watersoul · 30/03/2024 12:32

Hi this happened to me at 16 weeks. I went to the EPU and they were sympathetic and found it for me so this might be an option for you. Xx