I didn't hear anything in the fetal dopple - HELP!

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am VERY nervous about this pregnancy because of years of TTC and a prior miscarriage, so I keep having horrible thoughts and going to check myself every half hour or so for any bleeding. Anyways, someone suggested (here) I rented a fetal doppler and I did of course. I have some fat on my stomach and I am currently 11w pregnant... my husband and I tried, tried and tried some more and couldn't find anything like a "galloping horse", just lots of wind sound and my heartbeat everwhere.

Also, on top of that, I was having HORRIBLE morning sickness lating all day long with lots of throwing up, but since Saturday I almost dont' feel a thing - like 99% of hte time I feel perfectly fine.

I am having nightmares about this situation

[Anonymous]

Your history gives you every reason to be concerned, but I don't think it's uncommon for the baby's heart beat to be hard to detect - especially by non-medical staff. Why don't you call your doctor and see if you can get into see someone today before the long weekend? You need to put your mind at ease at the very least.

You might also want to discuss with your doctor whether having the fetal doppler is adding more to your anxiety than helping relieve it, especially at this time.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Honestly, 11 weeks is too early to reliably hear the heartbeat on a doppler. Most doctor's offices don't use a doppler until at least 12 weeks, and even then it can sometimes be spotty. Mine waited until 13 weeks.

[Anonymous]

First of all, it is very difficult to use the doppler yourself (knowing exactly where to check, etc) --bring it in to the OB & let them help you...Second, 11 weeks a bit early still to find it...I found it was easier around 20 weeks...Also, go way low (think bikini line) on your belly & use lots of that gel stuff

[Anonymous]

At 11 weeks the fetal heartbeat can be heard by doppler in maybe 60% of women. In other women it's just too early. When it is heard, it's pretty hard to find.

Were you looking REALLY low on your belly? It's generally found just at or above your pubic bone/hair line. Most people mistakingly look higher. Keep the doppler head stationary at several places right at or above the hair line and then tilt the head slightly in each direction. You want the rays to angle out. Just pointing it down doesn't work as well.

Good luck! I'm sure everything is okay!

(signed, a nurse midwife who has dopplered about 10 million fetal heart rates)

[Anonymous]

If it helps, I was just in for a prenatal appointment at 13.5 weeks and my experienced midwife still couldn't get the hb on the doppler. Normal, normal, normal. (And for the record, we then took a quick peek with the u/s and saw a beating heart and lots of enthusiastic wiggling.)

Have you had an ultrasound yet where you've seen the heartbeat? I know it's tough with your history, but keep reminding yourself that after the heart starts beating, it's statistically very, very likely that it will continue to thump away for another 70-80 years.

[Anonymous]

It took my doctor a full minute (filled with lots of panicking on my part) to find the heartbeat when I was 13 weeks. She seemed completely unconcerned and thought the whole thing was perfectly normal. I think it's too early to reliably detect a heartbeat using a machine at home. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took my doctor a full minute (filled with lots of panicking on my part) to find the heartbeat when I was 13 weeks. She seemed completely unconcerned and thought the whole thing was perfectly normal. I think it's too early to reliably detect a heartbeat using a machine at home. Good luck.

Ditto. I went in for an appointment yesterday at 13 weeks 3 days and it took 2-3 minutes (felt like much longer) for my doctor to find the heartbeat. She actually finally found it much higher than she anticipated. She also wasn't at all concerned. Definitely stress-inducing for me though!

[Anonymous]

Agree with previous posters. 11 weeks is still very early. I didn't hear it until 13 wkes

[Anonymous]

I couldn't hear the heartbeat at 11 weeks or 12 weeks. Had an ultrasound to double check -- everything's fine. Dopplers are notoriously tricky for beginners and using them at home is either reassuring or crazy-making. Try not to worry. Try to get scheduled for an u/s to put your mind at ease.

[Anonymous]

16:48 adding -- I too had a couple of 1-2 day "vacations" where my symptoms disappeared, and it freaked me out, but again, it was nothing. Never thought I would MISS nausea and be happy when it came back. Post an update when you get one -- I bet everything will work out great for you, OP. Your odds are still great. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Update: Thanks everyone for the nice words of encouragement!! So, I went ahead and rented another doppler, but this time a 2mhz one - they say it's better to listen with it earlier in the pregnancy and/or if you are fat. It was overnight shipping and I payed $35.00 extra - but I am sooo glad i DID! I heard the little galloping sound and was very happy about it

I didn't call my doctor before because I already had 4 vaginal u/s so far in this pregnancy (fertility clinic and OB) and I have my NT scheduled for Monday - I am very happy I could hear the baby's heartbeat before Monday though

Thanks again everyone!

[Anonymous]

I'm glad to hear you heard the most beautiful sound in the world!!

Best wishes for your pregnancy.

[Anonymous]

Yep.....too early, I wouldn't worry about it. It won't sound like a galloping horse at this point anyway - more like a swooshing. But I had seen/heard the heartbeat since the 6th week because we had gone through IVF and had the great ultrasound machines at the doc's office. Then, after I switched, it was around 3 months or so, after we'd heard the heartbeat at the regular doc's, and he couldn't find out. He turned on his old ultrasound machine and saw the baby moving, so then we weren't worried. He said that sometimes they just position themselves when they're that little anyway in a way that it's too hard to hear, even with the doppler. So try to worry less, and get your first doc appointment scheduled! Your odds ARE great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - Update: Thanks everyone for the nice words of encouragement!! So, I went ahead and rented another doppler, but this time a 2mhz one - they say it's better to listen with it earlier in the pregnancy and/or if you are fat. It was overnight shipping and I payed $35.00 extra - but I am sooo glad i DID! I heard the little galloping sound and was very happy about it

I didn't call my doctor before because I already had 4 vaginal u/s so far in this pregnancy (fertility clinic and OB) and I have my NT scheduled for Monday - I am very happy I could hear the baby's heartbeat before Monday though

Thanks again everyone!

I'm so glad you heard the reassuring sounds. I was just about to tell you that it's too early, as well. Please still keep in mind what another poster said, about her baby taking a "vacation" from letting her hear the sounds. I think it's not just a matter of being heavy, but rather of baby's positioning that can impact this. If you are at 11 weeks, you've crossed a few important milestones already. Once you see the heartbeat on ultrasound, your miscarriage risk drops. Then once you hear it, it REALLY drops. You are just about two months away from the best comfort there is -- and no, it's not the 20 week u/s. It's feeling the baby kick you every day! Of course, then you get the inactive dyas that freak you out a bit, but it's still a great feeling. Good luck keeping calm until then; it sounds like you're in very good shape!