Fetal Heartbeat at 8 wks - possible with doppler?

[FlirtyThirty]

Hello...

I'm pregnant with my first child and am totally paranoid about missed miscarriages (too much googling, I know!). I am so worried about getting to my 12wk scan and them finding nothing.

Anyway, I have a booking in appointment at 8+2 and wondered if the midwife would be able to check for a heartbeat with a doppler?! Do you think I could ask? I know that things could still go wrong between then and scan...but I think it would reassure me a lot...

So...is it possible? And do you think she'd try?

Flirty x

[Nbg]

You could ask but most MWs dont check the HB until after 12 weeks because the fetus is so small and hard to find, which then makes the mum panic when it cant be found.

Having said that, when I had ds1 I asked the MW to check and she found it and that was at 10 weeks.

[bethoo]

no they only start checking after 12 weke appointment. at 12 wekes the baby is only about 10cm so imagine how small the heart is!
i bought an angelsounds doppler as like you i had had several m/c. you can hearthe hb from 11 weeks with one but it takes some time to find it so do not worry if you cannot find it straight away.

[FlirtyThirty]

Thanks ladies...I guess I'll just have to wait and see... (Fingers tightly crossed)

x

[rrrayray]

Why don't you get an angel sounds doppler? i've just got one (17 w preg) you prob wont find much until 12 weeks, so i'd wait until then. But they are SO reassuring.

from 12 weeks i've listened to our little bean's heartbeat every evening. its lovely and makes us feel even closer to him/her even though its a while before we'll meet him/her.

I got mine from baby mad for £23 inc postage.
xx

[rrrayray]

oops just seen someone already mentioned angel sounds.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Sorry if I'm wrong but isn't it bad for the baby to use a doppler too often?

[wellbalanced]

I read that too Kat-but im not sure....

[wellbalanced]

Ive found this link that looks quite good.

www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/testsandcare/dopplersafeexpert/

Sa ys no evidence to say it is harmful. But also some other stuff so worth reading.

[Reesie]

Definately 8 weeks too small - the uterus is still hidden behind the pelvis so you just won't be able to get access to the fetus to hear his heartbeat.

After 12 weeks the uterus starts to move into the abdominal cavity and by 14 weeks you can sometimes pick up the fetal heartbeat.

A great indicator that baby is healthy and feeling well is his/her the movements (but obviously won't feel those until much later).

I'm only early pregnant at the mo and I work in the maternity department and there are far too many ultrasound scan machines hanging around idly.....

[rrrayray]

Ooooooooooooh hadn't even thought it might be bad. Think i'll ease off a little bit then!!!

Thanks kat.

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

There hasn't really been enough research to say if they're safe or not. Although one study on rats found that repeated ultrasounds could cause holes in developing fetal cells. One of the sonographers at work showed me the article and she said that if she was pg she would never get her own doppler and she always advises women against the 4d "bonding" scans for the same reasons.

[ScaredOfEverything]

hi there,
if you are really anxious to hear the heartbeat (I was!) then you can go to a private scan. With an internal scan, they can pick up the heartbeat from 6 weeks. It is not at all uncomfortable. I think mine cost £120.
Good luck x

[Teuch]

I did get a doppler (babybeats hire) and picked up the heartbeat just before 9weeks but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is likely to become over-anxious as the hb is very difficult to locate at that stage, sometimes impossible!

I was £60 for my private reassurance scan, which has gone up to £75 now. Still cheaper than the 4mths I have had the doppler

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

Yes Rrray I'm sure I've read that you shouldn't use a doppler more than once a week if at all. But it seems the jury is out.
You probably won't want to so much once you start to feel it moving anyway.