Is it safe to hear the heartbeat in 1st Trimester Ultrasound?

[Tryingsohardx]

I'm currently 13 weeks pregnant and have had a couple of early scans with a Private clinic. Both times we have been able to hear a short snippet of the heartbeat and I didn't think anything of it.

I've just learnt (through an instagram comment) that it's not safe to listen to the heartbeat in the first trimester, as the technology creates heat and can negatively impact fetal development.

I'm now seriously panicking, as we used this same Private scan place in our last pregnancy (that unfortunately miscarried at 14 weeks) so I'm obviously questioning whether listening to the heartbeat could have affected things?? And could we potentially be affected this time round?

Any help and reassurance much appreciated!!! X

Absolutely not, please don't worry. I was scanned weekly this pregnancy, no issues whatsoever

They wouldn't do it if it wasn't safe. Why did your doctor order them?

It wasn't a doctor it was private. I paid for a private scan and the lady let us listen to the heartbeat. But now I'm hearing people say that listening to the heartbeat early on is unsafe due to the heat needed, so I was looking for reassurance x

I don't think it would be dangerous, they would be risking a lawsuit if they were negligant and harmed mother or baby. Perhaps don't have any further scans unless a medical reason points to needing one? I guess you are having private scans more for your own excitement and anxiety? It must be a worry due to what happened before, but I really don't think they'd put your baby at risk. Best of luck.

It created heat in the same way that if you beat eggs hard enough and for long enough, they will heat up.
Now imagine how long it will take for the eggs to heat up due to you beating them, and roughly the same s true of ultrasounds. The few minutes you are being scanned are literally harmless!

Thank you so much everyone. Was just having a moment of panic and not thinking straight. I blame hormones. Appreciate all the reassurance x

Don’t take medical advice from Instagram comments.

Try not to worry. Any moron can spout opinion as fact on the Internet it doesn't make it true. They woukdnt do ultrasounds if there was any negligible risk to the baby and with the amount that are carried out all over the world it woukd be more then apparent by now if they were causing harm. It doesn't matter if you are listening to the heart beat or not when being scanned so please don't let it put you off hearing it!

There is an awful lot of bullshit on Instagram. If you are worried, talk to your doctor or midwife.
My OB/GYN scans me at every appointment and I actually had several additional scans in early pregnancy. (I have a history of ectopic pregnancies and am considered high risk.)

Please do not use social media for anything medical related, it's so dangerous.

Listen to your midwife, not instagram.

It’s actually not recommended in first trimester due to heating of the tissues of the fetus. I’m sure it’ll be fine though, they seem to do it in America as standard!

That's interesting. I had scans done by a consultant at 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks and he didn't play the heartbeat until 16 weeks. I didn't ask about it as I didn't know it was an option.

It seems there is guidance that it is unsafe which is referenced here so I would contact the provider to understand why they deem it safe, and perhaps avoid any more scans with that provider.

Okay. So for the women who have complicated pregnancies with multiple scans throughout the first and second trimester and hear the heartbeat? I've never heard anything like this mentioned before. I had many scans and used a Doppler (with full knowledge of how to properly use one before anyone starts). After a subchorionic hematoma started with a haemorrhage at 13 weeks the only way I knew my baby was still alive was using my Doppler I had to wait a further 4 hours for an ultrasound which confirmed it. I bled horrendously right up until my 20 week scan (with around 15 ultrasounds before then) and found out that the bleed had resolved itself. Which it generally does by then, it runs in our family. Many women have many scans in complicated pregnancies, they hear the heartbeat several times. This is not a thing to be overly concerned about.

@Tryingsohardx I'm having the same freak out because I've just found out it's not deemed safe by many to hear the heart beat in the first trimester - and I heard our baby's on Monday at 6+6 weeks at a private clinic. Didn't think anything of it at the time. But now I'm terrified of loosing this baby after recurrent losses. Have things progressed okay for you? Did you ask your scan place about it?

As a Radiographer who had a colleuage who studied the affects of ultrasound on Fetuses of animals it can be unaafe. There are NO human studies as who going to volunteer for that! But plenary of animal studies that sadly shower over exposure can lead to cell death.

But that is why it is a medical diagnostic tool. Not a day out at the pictures. Should only be used when the benfits will outweigh the harms - ethos of all radiographers.
Hence why in the UK your first scan should be 12 weeks and not earlier UNLESS medically warranted and the benefits will outweigh the risks.
I never encourage early scans and especially do not encourage 3D or 4D fun scans that People do privately to just see the baby. It is a diagnostic tool.

Listen to trained Radiographers who have to adhere to ALARA and ALARP. Midwives are midwives they have their own job.

Where is that study?

Oh come one this is ridiculous scare mongering.
I had NHS scans at 6,8, 10 and 12 weeks. If this was deemed risky I would have been advised.
NHS early pregnancy units very commonly scan at 5-6 weeks to establish viability. Rescans are done within days if required.
In the absence of anything backing up your claims this 'advice' is nothing but speculation creating necessary worry for pregnant women.

Please don't worry. I had numerous scans early on, baby is absolutely fine.

Only here in UK someone finds a reason to not do something. Heartbeat monitor is standard in all stages of pregnancy everywhere else in Europe. There’s so many different risks to pregnancy outside of inspections. Please do not believe what these people say. Eating an unwashed salad is more dangerous than having a heartbeat heard.

@HopefulH I'm currently almost 27 weeks and everything has been absolutely fine 😊 please don't worry at all. I was very worried about everything early on due to a previous loss and I apologise if this thread has now created any fear and worry! I genuinely believe they know what they are doing and wouldn't offer something that is unsafe. Good luck with everything! x

@HopefulH just to add - no I never asked the scan place about it but I noticed that during those early days they would only listen for a few seconds, to minimise any harmful exposure. They listen for much longer later in pregnancy, which shows they obviously know what they're doing! X

@Tryingsohardx @Chasingbaby2 thank you both. To be honest I have enough to worry about so I've parked this worry for now. This is my 5th pregnancy (1 child who is 5.5) and I'm on an intense immune protocol this time in the hopes it might stop me loosing the baby again. Everything looks great so far so I'm finding the hope that's crept in really tough and I feel even more is at stake. I'm worrying about everything!! Thank you for your kind words and reassurance. I asked my clinic (for anyone reading in the future) and this was their response:

'Please don't worry, the machine is equipped with the option to listen to heart pulsations. As long as it is not used continually it is perfectly safe. There is nothing written in any guidelines which states that it cannot be used. There is also no evidence to suggest that having repeat scans causes any problems.'

That being said, I think I'll specify I don't want to hear the heart beat at my scan on Saturday. Seeing it will be enough.