Safe to hear baby’s heartbeat at 12 week scan?

[JasmineBloom]

I had my NHS 12 week scan recently and at the end the doctor played the heartbeat for us to hear for a few seconds. I didn’t think anything of it at the time but I’ve since seen a few posts saying it’s not recommend to listen to the heartbeat out loud at this stage as it can be dangerous? I’m sure my doctor wouldn’t do anything to cause harm to the pregnancy but I’ve been feeling anxious since. Has anyone heard the heartbeat at this stage and did everything turn out ok?

Why would it be dangerous?

Why would it be dangerous?

Are you okay OP?

I’m not sure where you got this information from but it’s complete bollocks.

Where have you heard that information?

@GreenPoms Apparently in the early weeks when the fetal heart is still very delicate and rapidly growing the pulse wave used for you to “hear” the heartbeat can cause tissue heating to the heart. It was a sonographer who shared it and said that they learn ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) because there is no reason to do the pulse wave when they use motion mode that uses a lot less heating and is safer for the fetus.

I’ve never heard that. I’m sure it’s fine.

If it was dangerous the nhs would not do it

Did you get this from tiktok because it’s ludicrous. Every mother in the western world has heard their baby’s heartbeat. Seriously think about what you are asking here.

@Hiptothisjive I get that it might seem a bit crazy but the guidelines from NICE does not recommend routinely playing the fetal heartbeat out loud during the dating scan as playing the heartbeat out loud often requires pulsed Doppler which increases acoustic exposure.

I've heard mine at 9 weeks, 12 week and so on at each scan/ MW appointment. He's currently asleep next to me healthy 1 year old

I wish you luck if this is the start of your parenting journey.

Completely fine. Our doctor let us hear ours from 6 weeks - every 2 weeks!

@higff thank you so much, so glad all went well for you!

@Hiptothisjive thank you but this will be baby no 3 all going well!

@Happytap thank you, I feel a lot better about it now. Sometimes it’s nice just to get the extra reassurance. So glad all went well for you.

I had a scan with DC2 at 10 weeks with the NHS and was told they could only show the heartbeat but couldn’t play it out loud as it wasn’t safe when they were that small (something to do with heat I think she said)

Have you not heard their heartbeats before with any of the others?

The danger is from home dippers not medical scans. Even then, its because untrained people don't know what they are listening for so might worry if they can't find it or think they've found it so ignore reduced movement.

@eradaniois yes that’s what I’d seen when I looked into it, that playing it out loud too early can heat the tissue and NICE guidelines are to avoid playing it out loud before 16 weeks. Can I ask when you got to hear it?

@Tinkerbellthefairy first two pregnancies I didn’t hear the heart beat until my 16 week appointment. Third pregnancy I heard it earlier and unfortunately later miscarried and found out the baby passed the same day as the scan.

You’re just scaremongering. You didn’t miscarry because you heard your babies heartbeat before 16 weeks.

@GreenPoms I didn’t say that? I had an early scan where we saw baby measuring right on track and a strong heartbeat. Found out that the heartbeat stopped the same day as the scan. I’m just sharing my experience and answering the other posters question.

Wtf am I reading?! Sorry OP I think you need to chill a bit.

16 weeks at a private scan then 20 weeks NHS scan

You implied it.