12 Week Doppler

RNMegan0711

I'm going to preface this with.. I may get flamed for this lol.

So I bought a home fetal Doppler a few weeks ago and started using it at 9 weeks and was so incredibly excited and blown away that I was able to distinguish and consistently find the babies heartbeat from about 9 weeks-11 weeks. I took about 5 days off from using it last week and now today.. At exactly 12 weeks this will be my fourth day in a row of not being able to find the heartbeat even after a good amount of time searching.

I realize that the fetal Dopplers are a blessing and a curse for this reason exactly.. And I know that so many don't use them and if I hadn't I'd have no reason for this anxiety. That being said, I'm so anxious for my 12 week apt tomorrow. What if they can't find the hb either? Im not supposed to have an ultrasound tomorrow. I'm scared something is wrong. Although I've had no symptoms of such. No pain, no bleeding... Etc.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice or reasonings I may not have googled and freaked myself out about yet? Lol

NicknShan

Sending prayers the doc can find one!  

My OB couldn't find my sons heart beat at 12 weeks, but we were able to check via u/s.  

RNMegan0711

NicknShan said:

Sending prayers the doc can find one!  

My OB couldn't find my sons heart beat at 12 weeks, but we were able to check via u/s.  

Maybe they'll let me have an u/s if they are unable to find the hb. I can't imagine having to leave my apt tomorrow without knowing if the baby is ok.. Thanks for the prayers.

bio-oesch

I think they normally would do an u/s if they can't find it, but I can't say for certain? You could definitely say you want one though, I would if they couldn't find it.

Maybe baby is just more active now that he/she is moving more and moves every time you get close to hearing the hb? They are getting more active now. 

I hope today speeds by for you and prayers all goes well tomorrow!! Try to stay positive, I know easier said than done.

CourtJack

yep - the downside to taking matters into your own hands I guess. but really, I don't blame you. all I can offer is that my midwife couldn't find my daughter's HB at my 12 week apt - and that it's very normal.

just tell your doc the situation and I'm sure he/she will help reassure you. I can't imagine him/her just sending you on your way...

good luck. keep us posted. and put the Doppler away for a few days

AmberLiz99

Baby could be in a new position, or possibly you have an anterior placenta making it harder now. Good luck! I hope the doctor can reassure you.

Atlast111

Personally, don't really like the idea of using dopplers at home as I am not trained and would just scare myself. Also excessive use of dopplers and scans are not recommended as ultrasound waves can heat tissue, so if you do use one try to use it sparingly. Sure the baby is just fine but hiding! I would put the doppler away and let the OB handle it. :-)

https://www.fetaldopplerfacts.org/facts/ultrasound/fetal-doppler-ultrasound-safety.php

kstoneee

My doc couldnt find the hb at 10 weeks, so she used a handheld ultrasound thing to check, and i got to see baby again. Pretty cool technology.

cattuccino

It's hard not playing the what if game.

It's possible baby has moved or an anterior placenta is causing issues. I sometimes miss hearing the HB with mine with the tiniest angle change or shift.

I hope you can get some reassurance tomorrow

Corts

My doppler detected my loss years ago. Sorry that is not what you want to hear, I know. Are you using a lot of gel and pushing down with different angles?

peregrinefalconx

My doc couldn't find mine at 11 weeks on Friday. Are you sure it was the baby's HB? 9 weeks seems really early, but I don't really know.

Anyway, the baby was fine. It really depends on how your body is shaped--my uterus is tipped so far back that he said I likely would not be able to hear anything on a doppler until I was 18-20 weeks and flipped up.

HBamama2B

@RNMegan0711 exactly what @AmberLiz99 said! Baby or placenta likely moved and at 12 wks your uterus is up in a new position too. All of which might make the hb hard to find. Maybe try much higher? By your belly button almost if you haven't?

I don't think it's cause to worry at all, but understand your concern completely! Glad you have an appointment tomorrow and can be reassured. keep us updated.

totsabounding

@RNMegan0711 fingers crossed for you. Keep us updated! (Edited for tag fail)

RNMegan0711

Thank you for all the well wishes. I'll update tomorrow after my apt. I'm hoping that @AmberLiz99, @HBMama2B @peregrinefalconx are correct with a possible anterior placenta. I have tried near belly button but I'm plus sized and it's a bit of fluff to go through. @Corts that's my worst nightmare honestly. Did you have any symptoms? Pain/bleeding? Yeah, I'm using quite a bit of gel and pushing down a good 1/2 inch. Just making myself nervous about it. I'm so thankful I have an apt tomorrow.

RNMegan0711

peregrinefalconx said:

My doc couldn't find mine at 11 weeks on Friday. Are you sure it was the baby's HB? 9 weeks seems really early, but I don't really know.

Anyway, the baby was fine. It really depends on how your body is shaped--my uterus is tipped so far back that he said I likely would not be able to hear anything on a doppler until I was 18-20 weeks and flipped up.

Yeah I'm sure it was the babies. I have video/recording of mine around 85bpm and then the babies around 170. I wish I could post videos! Lol. I wouldn't normally be this anxious about it except how suddenly I just lost the ability to find it

Corts

@Corts that's my worst nightmare honestly. Did you have any symptoms? Pain/bleeding? Yeah, I'm using quite a bit of gel and pushing down a good 1/2 inch. Just making myself nervous about it. I'm so thankful I have an apt tomorrow.

I was using the doppler daily from 8 weeks on and always found the heartbeat. In my 10th week I stop picking it up. I called the doctors who all thought I was ridulous. I wanted an answer before my 12 week checkup. Soon I started spotting light pink. I went to the urgent care dept and begged them to do an ultrasound. The scan showed the baby stopped growing about 2 weeks beforehand.
I pray you go to your appt tomorrow and hear happy news. If that is the case then please go home and put your doppler away for a while. Xoxo

RNMegan0711

Corts said:

@Corts that's my worst nightmare honestly. Did you have any symptoms? Pain/bleeding? Yeah, I'm using quite a bit of gel and pushing down a good 1/2 inch. Just making myself nervous about it. I'm so thankful I have an apt tomorrow.

I was using the doppler daily from 8 weeks on and always found the heartbeat. In my 10th week I stop picking it up. I called the doctors who all thought I was ridulous. I wanted an answer before my 12 week checkup. Soon I started spotting light pink. I went to the urgent care dept and begged them to do an ultrasound. The scan showed the baby stopped growing about 2 weeks beforehand.
I pray you go to your appt tomorrow and hear happy news. If that is the case then please go home and put your doppler away for a while. Xoxo



I'll be putting my Doppler away for a long time after tomorrow once we hopefully know this baby is ok. I'm very worried they won't find the hb either though... And that they will still send me home without anymore confirmation that things are ok. I appreciate your "real" response (not that anyone else is less real for being so supportive, I'm unbelievably grateful for that too). Although it is something that would completely devastate me and not something I want to hear.. I feel it's helpful to have someone validate my concerns from past experience. All we can do now is pray and wait.

HBamama2B

@RNMegan0711 Creepy internet hugs. I hope tomorrow passes quickly up to your appointment.

on3in2015

I had a similar experience and sadly it was followed by the loss of my pregnancy. Ill keep my fingers crossed for you. I know that home dopplers are sometimes tricky. Perhaps that baby is just hiding. Hoping for a positive update!!

mdargie

Prayers for you! Hopefully baby is playing hide and seek!

RNMegan0711

on3in2015 said:

I had a similar experience and sadly it was followed by the loss of my pregnancy. Ill keep my fingers crossed for you. I know that home dopplers are sometimes tricky. Perhaps that baby is just hiding. Hoping for a positive update!!

Just reading your response has me in full blown hysterical tears... I guess another person confirming what I fear could be what happened has sunk in and I'm about to lose it. Idk how I'm going to make it through the night until my apt tomorrow. Just tried again with the Doppler because now I'm basically unbelievably desperate to hear it... And nothing.

Corts

Megan, for the few sad stories like ours there are a hundred with happy endings. Nothing you can do until tomorrow. What time is your appt? Now please put that thing away, have a glass of wine, and try to get some sleep. We are all pulling for you.

RNMegan0711

Corts said:

Megan, for the few sad stories like ours there are a hundred with happy endings. Nothing you can do until tomorrow. What time is your appt? Now please put that thing away, have a glass of wine, and try to get some sleep. We are all pulling for you.

I've gotten to the point I'm reading all the posts under "home Doppler" in the miscarriage and loss forum here and crying... My husband wants to burn this Doppler. He doesn't know what to say to me ... I just want to be at the office now. My apt is at 3pm.

Thank you so much for the kind words... I'll take any prayers anyone has to spare tonight. I'm so attached to this little thing already and I can't even begin to imagine losing it.

HBamama2B

@RNMegan0711 yes, it's a terrible, horrible possibility-- But, a small one. The odds of the placenta or baby or uterus shifting are much higher than a loss after wk 10. Im sorry you're scared, could they see you any earlier? I hate to think of stressed until then. Is DH going to the apt with you? I'm praying for you and your LO.

RNMegan0711

HBamama2B said:

@RNMegan0711 yes, it's a terrible, horrible possibility-- But, a small one. The odds of the placenta or baby or uterus shifting are much higher than a loss after wk 10. Im sorry you're scared, could they see you any earlier? I hate to think of stressed until then. Is DH going to the apt with you? I'm praying for you and your LO.

Thank you for trying to give me some positivity, I'm so in need of it.. I've worked myself up into this horrible anxious crying mess and my husband is now scared too. I hate that I've burdened him with this too.. I hear it in his voice, he's trying to continue to reassure me but he's so scared himself.

He's going with me tomorrow. Maybe I can call in the morning and see if he has anything sooner but my husband took off work early to be with me for it. So we will probably have to wait it out. I'm hoping I sleep in super late... And the day passes quickly.

Cuddling my fur babies tonight.. They know something's wrong with me. It's crazy how intuitive they are.

dennyandlee

Praying for you!!

HBamama2B

Good! Glad he and your furbabies are there for you. If it helps, when you could last find the HB at 11+3, your risk of miscarriage was only 2%. So hug that too!

klk518

Don't worry! When I was about 13/14 weeks I went to Florida on vacation and one of the first days we were there I found the baby's heartbeat and tried again later that week and couldn't find it. I went to my OB appointment the week I got back and they tried finding the heartbeat on the Doppler, had no luck so they rolled the portable ultrasound machine and sure enough there my baby was doing somersaults and putting on quite the show with his heart just beating away! The nurse then used the Doppler again after knowing where baby was and found it and even then it took a minute or two! Good luck to you! Praying for you!!!

pkwest04

I hope all is well...I've had some bleeding scares and been able to get good news and reassure by my OB. I found heartbeat on doppler once last week, then no luck after that one time. OB was able to confirm all was well yesterday. Little squirmy worms can be hard to find! *hugs*

Incandescent

This happened to me too! I went to my midwife at 11 weeks 1 day and she couldn't find the heartbeat, so we went into the other room and did an ultrasound, and there he\she was bouncing around great heartbeat

And then yesterday at 12 weeks 4 days I used my Doppler, and it took a good 30mn to find, and when I did it was hard to hear, and I have been finding it every morning whithin seconds around the same spot before this. We are with family, so maybe my diet effected it, or baby just moved. I hope this is the case for you too! Thoughts and prayers, also I agree have a glass of wine and relax

mrsschmity

@RNMegan0711 While I have not been through this so I probably don't have a whole lot of advice, please keep us updated. I hope everything goes well at your appointment and you get the reassurance you need. We're here for you!

RNMegan0711

You all are so amazing. I really have appreciated the love and support as I wait for my apt. Only four more hours! I called the office this morning and they assured me that if they were unable to hear the hb on Doppler that they would most certainly do an ultrasound. I'll keep everyone posted later after my apt.

Atlast111

RNMegan0711 said:

You all are so amazing. I really have appreciated the love and support as I wait for my apt. Only four more hours! I called the office this morning and they assured me that if they were unable to hear the hb on Doppler that they would most certainly do an ultrasound. I'll keep everyone posted later after my apt.

Good luck today! Sure they will track your little houdini down and put your mind at rest.

totsabounding

Thinking about you today, @RNMegan0711 ! Hoping for a good update later on!

on3in2015

My intentions are not to scare you, my apologies. =( There are so many reasons why you may not be able to find the baby. You are not a trained tech. Stay positive and try to relax. Ill be keeping you in my thoughts. Im wishing you the best of luck! We all are! Looking forward to your update!  

RNMegan0711

Update!

I just got out of my apt. The doctor literally found it immediately after putting it on my skin. Like without even moving it around. 172bpm. Lol I feel like an idiot. But I'm over the moon happy. Baby is just fine My little Doppler is just not as strong as the docs.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughts, prayers and kind words. You all got me through a very anxiety filled couple days and I'll be forever grateful! I hope to be able to return the favor soon.

mrsschmity

So very happy to see this update @RNMegan0711 Glad the doctor was able to ease your mind.

kaitielynnrichardson

Sooo happy to read great news!!!

mrscrosby53

I'm so glad everything is ok!

Atlast111

Fantastic news! Glad to hear everything is fine.

CourtJack

@RNMegan0711 woohoo! So glad to hear this!!!!!!