Hearing the heartbeat......

bio-oesch · January 2010

I've heard once you hear the heartbeat your chances of a mc decrease to 3%, but to wait til 12wks before you tell people in case of a mc. I've heard some women say they could hear the heartbeat as early as 8wks. So which is it,12wks or the first time you hear a heartbeat that your mc chances decrease significantly? Sorry I'm just wondering.

LuvBeingMrsH · January 2010

This is what I found...

The majority of miscarriages occur before 12 weeks. By 12 weeks, if a normal heartbeat is heard or the pregnancy looks normal on ultrasund

the chance of miscarriage goes down to about 1%.

MNgirl326 · January 2010

do you mean hear the HB or see the HB? Sometimes, at 8 weeks they will do an U/S to check for viabilitiy and you can see the HB on the U/S screen. But, you can't really hear the HB with a dopplar until you are closer to 12 weeks.

Yes, when you see the HB at 8 weeks, you have less of chance for m/c, but it is still out there, so that is why people sometimes wait until 12 weeks. By then, you are most of the time out in the clear.

kdub4 · January 2010

Both. Seeing the heartbeat, and then hearing the heartbeat with the doppler are both reassuring signs that decrease risk of miscarriage. But ultimately things still happen, and MOST of these things happen within the first trimester or 12 weeks. Basically the further along you get, the more signs of a healthy baby you get, the more in the clear you are. Never 100%, though obviously. I guess you just tell people when you feel comfortable.?

bio-oesch · January 2010

Ok, thx guys, guess i'm just stuck waiting for time to pass. I meant hearing the HB we've already seen it, but someone mentioned they heard it at 81/2wks? but 12 wks it is, only one more mth, hope it goes by fast!! I'm so impatient

josie12367 · January 2010

Just wanted to add that I found my little one's hb today! It was awesome to hear especially since i'm only in the 9th week. I think it depends on how great the equipment is that you are using and if you have access to it....so it's possible to hear it earlier than 12 weeks! Good Luck!