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

can you point me to some evidence for this? @MadRad

Hello, we don’t use the Doppler below 15 weeks. Some NHS trusts now don’t listen to the heart beat at all during scans, visualisation and the trace is enough, some will listen to it from the umbilical cord - if mum really pushes for it.

We’ve been using ultrasound for over 40 years and it’s safe but during trials on mice tiny gas bubbles were found to have appeared in tissue when the Doppler was used on extremely early pregnancies. They would have to justify with the CQC why they are using the Doppler at such an early age as it goes against what BMUS recommends

So It’s best practice to avoid using the Doppler at all as it’s actually not needed - it only serves to make mum feel relaxed.

The likely hood that your baby was damaged is extremely small.

But yes, I cringe when I hear about other practices using the Doppler at 6-15 weeks.

Google it. Lots of info on line but BMUS is a good place to start for uk best practices

After a mc I bought my own copper and listened regularly for reassurance in my first trimester. I liked it for reassurance until baby started kicking. Said baby is now a healthy adult.

This is talking about 2 different types of transvaginal exams, one which is fine and it's not about listening to the heartbeat it's about seeing the blood flow.

Doppler (which is used to look at blood flow) is never used in early pregnancy when your baby is still developing, particularly with a transvaginal probe. However a transvaginal scan is perfectly safe for you and your baby and this is the standard procedure for an early scan of less than 8 weeks.

You probably wasn’t listening to your babies heart beat in the first trimester with a shop bought Doppler.

What @Suzieandthemonkeyfeet said. It’s not recommended by the British Medical Ultrasound Society.

I was and that's 18 years ago. Think from memory from 10 weeks. Midwife picked it up at 12, a couple of weeks afterwards.

I was under the recurrent miscarriage unit with both my successful pregnancies where I was scanned from 4 weeks every fortnight and heard the heartbeat there from around 6 weeks each time.

Can I ask how long ago this was and which trust?

My youngest is a year old. I can PM you the trust.