Does mc rate drop after seeing heartbeat?

Beebee09 · December 2009

This is rather random, but I got an email from the bump saying that if you see or hear the heartbeat your miscarriage rate drops to 2-5%. Since I take random statistics with a grain of salt, I was wondering if anyone's doctor had said something similar? I'm only 8 weeks, but have seen and heard the HB, I'd love to know my changes are reduced! TIA.

MaryEllen · December 2009

So they say, but I'm not convinced. I saw the heartbeat twice last time and still m/c. But maybe I was in that percentage. Just try not to think about it and be happy and positive!!

mysticporter · December 2009

You're right about statistics (and who cares what the odds are when something happens to you), but I found myself wanting to know them anyway. They've got a summary of different studies/etc. at https://www.pregnancyloss.info/info-howcommon.htm, broken down by week and with some other factors.

CinnamonBun · December 2009

Both my doc and my mom (who is a MW) have said this. I am still nervous though, but trying to stay really positive.

triquetra123 · December 2009

My MW said 3% after you see the heartbeat.

teamsweet · December 2009

I think that statistic is getting past 12-13 weeks (1st tri) - your chance of mc drops dramatically and typically you can't hear the heartbeat before 12 weeks so I think that's where it comes from. i've only heard it about hearing the hb not seeing it via ultrasound.

slc2b · December 2009

triquetra123:
My MW said 3% after you see the heartbeat.

yogisunam · December 2009

I don't believe it.

Maybe it was true in the past when u/s technology wasn't as good or less people were having them early. But I have just seen it too often to be comforted by them.

And besides, if you are one of the unlucky, the odds don't bring you any comfort. But worrying doesn't either so no sense it indulging too much in that either.

slc2b · December 2009

triquetra123:
My MW said 3% after you see the heartbeat.

This is also what I have heard.

ericndarcy2009 · December 2009

I miscalculated my cycle and scheduled an appt for what I thought would be 9 weeks, but it turns out I was only 6 weeks along, and we saw a heartbeat. We were so set on telling our parents after the doc appt, but werent sure if we should since I wasn't as far along as i thought. I voiced my concerns to the doctor and he said with the strong heartbeat at 6 weeks, the chance of m/c was less than 3%.

Beebee09 · December 2009

teamsweet:
I think that statistic is getting past 12-13 weeks (1st tri) - your chance of mc drops dramatically and typically you can't hear the heartbeat before 12 weeks so I think that's where it comes from. i've only heard it about hearing the hb not seeing it via ultrasound.

This is what I originally thought, too...seems to make more sense

LoveMonkey1401 · December 2009

I also heard that your chances go down when you hear the heartbeat and that made me feel much better. I saw the heartbeat on Tuesday and it was a great feeling!

On the website given above, it said "If you had a miscarriage in your first pregnancy 13% chance of it happening again (up from 10%)^"

Does anyone understand this statistic. I thought it wasn't as likely to have another one as it were to just have a first random and reasonless one in the beginning.

JessMil10 · December 2009

I like to think it is more after you HEAR the heart beat around 11-12 weeks. Not to be morbid, but many times you can see the heart beat at 6 weeks but a baby will stop growing after that, normally resulting in a D&C. I let out a huge sigh of relief when we heard the heart beat with Brooke, and will feel the same when we hopefully hear it tomorrow.

Skruffy · December 2009

I have heard that it drops to 4%. If you are having spotting or bleeding it is higher, like 17%. And if you have had a miscarriage before, it is even higher.

Pamela05 · December 2009

LoveMonkey1401:

On the website given above, it said "If you had a miscarriage in your first pregnancy 13% chance of it happening again (up from 10%)^"

Does anyone understand this statistic. I thought it wasn't as likely to have another one as it were to just have a first random and reasonless one in the beginning.

It's higher because whatever caused your first might cause another. It's not that because you had one you are more likely to have another m/c, is that you are now put in a different population grouping and that group has a 13% rate as opposed to 10%.

07weddingbells · December 2009

RE stated 5-10% chance after seeing hb

NewlyWeds13 · December 2009

when we saw ours at 9 weeks today for the 1st time our doctor told us the rate dropped to 5% or less after this point.

But all you can do is keep hoping and praying that everything will be fine! I am not good at that either, it is so hard not to worry.

bone2595 · December 2009

My doc said this exactly: ' Once you've seen the heartbeat, the chance of m/c drops significantly.'

taagent · December 2009

According to my doc and other things I have read m/c rate drops twice, once after seeing the h/b, it drops to under 10%, then after you hear the h/b on EXTERNAL DOPPLER (I put this in caps because a lot of people think that it drops after hearing the h/b on an u/s, not the same thing), at that point it drops to under 3%. The chances of a m/c don't go away until after the baby is born. After a certain amount of time it isn't called a m/c anymore though.

Beebee09 · December 2009

taagent:
According to my doc and other things I have read m/c rate drops twice, once after seeing the h/b, it drops to under 10%, then after you hear the h/b on EXTERNAL DOPPLER (I put this in caps because a lot of people think that it drops after hearing the h/b on an u/s, not the same thing), at that point it drops to under 3%. The chances of a m/c don't go away until after the baby is born. After a certain amount of time it isn't called a m/c anymore though.

Just out of curiosity, did you Dr. explain why the external doppler was so different from hearing the HB on an internal u/s? Maybe b/c the HB has to be stronger to be picked up on the External?

PolishWonder · December 2009

My doctor said it's still a 20% chance of m/c, even with seeing the heartbeat. When you HEAR it, the mc/ rate goes down to 3%. So, yeah, I'm still worrying all the time until my 11 week appointment on the 29th. HTH.

taagent · December 2009

Beebee09:

taagent:
According to my doc and other things I have read m/c rate drops twice, once after seeing the h/b, it drops to under 10%, then after you hear the h/b on EXTERNAL DOPPLER (I put this in caps because a lot of people think that it drops after hearing the h/b on an u/s, not the same thing), at that point it drops to under 3%. The chances of a m/c don't go away until after the baby is born. After a certain amount of time it isn't called a m/c anymore though.

Just out of curiosity, did you Dr. explain why the external doppler was so different from hearing the HB on an internal u/s? Maybe b/c the HB has to be stronger to be picked up on the External?

No, however I do know that u/s machines do not actually pick up the sound of a h/b. THey simulate the sound of the h/b. It may just be that if you can hear it on an external doppler it is stronger, like you said. They do make that distinctive difference, it also may be that in order to hear it externally you have to be farther along to begin with, we were lucky and heard it at 10wks 3 days but many, many people don't hear it until 12-13, even 14 weeks.

Beebee09 · December 2009

taagent:
Beebee09:

taagent:
According to my doc and other things I have read m/c rate drops twice, once after seeing the h/b, it drops to under 10%, then after you hear the h/b on EXTERNAL DOPPLER (I put this in caps because a lot of people think that it drops after hearing the h/b on an u/s, not the same thing), at that point it drops to under 3%. The chances of a m/c don't go away until after the baby is born. After a certain amount of time it isn't called a m/c anymore though.
Just out of curiosity, did you Dr. explain why the external doppler was so different from hearing the HB on an internal u/s? Maybe b/c the HB has to be stronger to be picked up on the External?

No, however I do know that u/s machines do not actually pick up the sound of a h/b. THey simulate the sound of the h/b. It may just be that if you can hear it on an external doppler it is stronger, like you said. They do make that distinctive difference, it also may be that in order to hear it externally you have to be farther along to begin with, we were lucky and heard it at 10wks 3 days but many, many people don't hear it until 12-13, even 14 weeks.

Interesting, thanks for the info. I didn't realize the internal was just a simulation HB, it sounded so real to me

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