Any sonographers out there? Briefly low fetal heart rate

[Orlahoping]

I am 15.5 weeks and just went for the least reassuring reassurance scan ever. The sonographers first words were "I'm so sorry the heart beat is really slow".

It picked up really quickly after she said this and then she told me it just happened some time. Heart rate was fine for the rest of the scan. Baby looking good, measuring on track.

But I can't shake my panic. I've had a hellish time with anxiety so far, due to earlier loss and, in this pregnancy, a high speed crash, a haematoma bleed and other worries. I just feel like I can't catch a break and so desperately want everything to be ok...

This is common to see during a scan in first and second trimester. I'm surprised the sonographer mentioned it, as it only causes unnecessary worry. Quite often during the routine 20 week scans the heart rate will slow for a little while and usually a sonographer will just go and look at something else and then come back to the heart. It's definitley nothing to worry about. Sorry your scan was so stressful for you!

Thanks @CheeryBiscuit. I wish she hadn't said anything, because it was the worst 30 seconds, totally reminiscent of my MMC in January. I have since read that it can be caused by compression of the head, which is how the scan started - on top of the head, which is standard for our baby so far...always in an odd position!

At a scan today (which I booked to wipe the earlier one from my mind!), the heartbeat was fine all the way through and the sonographer said that the other sonographer should have kept her mouth shut, so I feel more relieved now (not that I didn't trust you @CheeryBiscuit, it just doesn't take much to put the fear in me at the moment)

I'm in a similar but almost opposite position which probably makes no sense.

At my last scan at 8+5 I noticed myself the HB looked quite slow. The sonographer never mentioned anything regarding it being slow and she just said everything looks normal and as it should be and I was only measuring 1 day behind. I'm no expert that's for sure but from the slowness I highly doubt it was beating at 120-160 per minute. I'm glad I came across this thread but still not feeling entirely reassured since we are quite different in our weeks :(

I am tempted to book a private scan myself.

@CheeryBiscuit I'm not sure if you are a medical professional but do you think it's a similar thing even though I am earlier than OP?

@SereneOpalFawn I would say that I did also study earlier scan/videos and decide - with no medical knowledge - that the heartbeat looked slow...it definitely wasn't!

It depends on your own comfort level, but I am such an anxious person I did get another scan almost immediately to get the reassurance I needed.

Thanks so much! You must be over half way there now and likely feeling your little baby's movement I'm sure that's an incredible feeling 🥹

I can't wait to get there! I'll be so much more content. I've honestly never really been anxious till becoming pregnant. Everything worries me. I think also because I have less symptoms than most people get it freaks me out like I know I should be lowkey grateful but since it's my first viable pregnancy it just worries me more than anything.

I have a private scan booked on Monday as I know the NHS wouldn't scan me till 12 weeks and I don't think I can wait till then to know everything is okay 😭

@SereneOpalFawn I know exactly how it feels. Pregnancy after loss is very hard! You overthink everything. I've been in therapy this entire pregnancy and even at 23 weeks it's hard. It is lovely to be able to feel him though, and I am hoping the next few weeks go faster than the first half!

Best of luck for Monday 💓. I am sure it will be fine. The sonographers see so many fetal heartbeats on screen so if they said it looked good at your first scan, it most likely is. I do completely understand your anxiety though. Hang in there :)

Ahhh wow you're having a little boy then that's so awesome 🥹 Honestly I think because we worry it just 'drags' almost. I always knew I would love being pregnant but I never considered the stress and anxiety that comes with. I definitely still enjoy it even though it's still early days for me but I think the anxiety takes over so much sometimes it can be hard to! I hope it goes quicker for you also, you're not too long off at all😌 Do you find therapy helps ease your worries mostly? When's your due date if you don't mind me asking? :)

Thank you so much tho lovely I appreciate that❤️ I honestly appreciate every slight symptom I have because it reminds me that I'm still pregnant; each cramp I'm like yayyy, they're growing!🤣
I know I likely shouldn't be worried as I've been told everything looks great and at one of my early scans she actually said she's not worried at all but it's still so hard to just accept that 🤦🏽‍♀️

Now I keep thinking about how worried we will be when they are here! I feel bad for what I put my mama through always did but even more so now I understand her.

@SereneOpalFawn it's new years day :). Found out the gender in the scan I had after the slow heartbeat one 💙.

The worry will always be there, but yes, lean into the awful symptoms. My acid reflux is terrible this evening but I am reminding myself it's little bub growing and squishing my stomach, so I can handle it.

It also has made me appreciate my mum more...and she had 3 more after me!

Really hope Monday comes soon for you x

What a special New Years this will be for you🥹

I actually start my new job Monday so I had to cancel it unfortunately cause I don't wanna tell them I'm pregnant till my probation period is up. I know it's very possible they could sack me and find some excuse to and that scares me too much.

I feel more peaceful now as you say I've been leaning into the symptoms, any that I have I'm so thankful for since there are so little🤣 Every morning I wake up and check my boobs are still veiny, it's not much but it's something at least lmao

Honestly don't think you ever realise how hard it is being a mum till you're becoming one.

Thank you for your well wishes though I appreciate 😌