fetal heart rate question

matc · October 2011

I had an u/s (6 weeks 3 days) 2 weeks ago due to spotting and then again today. Just to check in on the baby before we leave for a week. I have read the h/b is supposed to increase as it grows. My baby grew but the heart rate at 6 weeks was 154 and today it was 151. I just have an u/s tech do the u/s at the hospital and then the Dr. calls with the results. So of course I am now worried that the beats didn't get faster! Am I just being silly.

chloebeth930 · October 2011

Are you sure the heartrate was 154 at 6 weeks 3 days? That just seems really high to me. There 151 for 8 weeks seems about right.

Oatoa · October 2011

I wouldn't worry. The HB can fluctuate just like yours does and 151 is def in the normal range.

matc · October 2011

Yes the Dr. and u/s tech both told me the same number.

meeko1985 · October 2011

At 6 weeks I think that is a fabulous rate... I'm looking for the site I looked to after my u/s that told me the norms for each week. As far as it not increasing, I know that depending on what you eat, lots of sugar i.e., or what the baby is doing, sleeping or doing back flips, this can speed up or slow down the heartbeat....

https://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/earlyfetaldevelopment.htm

This says in weeks 6-7 the hearbeat average ranges from 60 - 110.

emd2887 · October 2011

There is a wide range as to what is a normal fetal heart rate (can't remember right now). 151-154 really is not even an appreciable difference. Your baby's heart rate will fluctuate based on what s/he is doing, just like your own. My LO's h/b was in the 160s and 170s in the first tri, and now is typically in the 130s and 140s, and will vary based on if LO is sleeping or moving around.

pottermommy · October 2011

You aren't being silly but I am sure LO is fine.

Once the heart is developed enough to have a steady beat it changes contstantly. Gabriel's first hearbeat at 5.5 weeks or 6 I can't be certain, was 121 bpm at 7.5 weeks it was 162 now at 25 weeks we range from 157 all the way down to 145, it depends on what he is doing, sleeping, stretching, trying to escape the doppler.

The HB will change minute by minute and isn't like a beta that will rise and rise and rise. As long as he has a HB and it isn't super low (below 120's I think) or too super high.... From what I understand at 6-7 weeks anything from 115-180 is completely normal.

katmacwv · October 2011

While I'm far from a medical professional, here is what I found through google which makes 154 seem high but 151 seem fine:

The fetal heart begins to beat at approximately the same rate as the mothers, which is 80 to 85 bpm. Below illustrates the approximate fetal heart rate for weeks 5 to 9, assuming a starting rate of 80

Week 5 starts at 80 and ends at 103 bpm
Week 6 starts at 103 and ends at 126 bpm
Week 7 starts at 126 and ends at 149 bpm
Week 8 starts at 149 and ends at 172 bpm

kymberleyd22 · October 2011

I'm no help for the 6wk heart rate since my dr. didn't see me until 8 1/2. BUT, at my 1st appt. baby's HR was in the low 180's. It's stayed in the 150's-170's since then, & is gradually decreasing. At my appt. yesterday it was 154. I was told you also play a part in it. If you're anxious/stressed/ect it can effect it a bit.

mrs.julia.goolia · October 2011

I'm pretty sure that both are normal rates, and they can't measure it perfectly anyway--just an average over time, really. Try not to worry too much!

prestonsmomma · October 2011

Mine was 153 at 7 1/2 weeks..doctor told me it would probably go down...

MickeyM04 · October 2011

FWIW, those both seem fine to me. I have had ultrasounds during the 6th, 7th and 9th week and the heart rate has always been in the 150s, so I disagree that 150s seems high. Also my girlfriend who just had a beautiful baby boy said she never had a heart rate that wasn't in the 150s, even at 6 weeks.

I do not think that the difference between 154 and 151 is appreciable, as noted by PP. My doctor actually doesn't even give specific numbers, she just says it's in the 150s, or it's in the 160s, specifically because she doesn't want me to worry if one week it's 156 and the next it's 155.

Also, while I agree that the HB is supposed to gradually increase, at some point it does level out, and then it actually decreases later in your pregnancy. But I don't believe it's one of those things where every time you go the HR is supposed to be higher than the last time. So try not to worry, and both those heart rates sound great. Just look at it like this: in the 150s both times. Consistent and a healthy range!

Stellar1 · October 2011

That is not a big difference. That is a great hr.

chusum · October 2011

Both of those heart rates are well within the normal range. I might be concerned if the heart rate was supposed to continually go up from 150+ because the safe range is 100-200ish so 150 is perfect.