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June 2011 Moms
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Heart Beat Question....

ashleyzzzashleyzzz member
in June 2011 Moms

I had my first prenatal appt yesterday and they tried to find a heartbeat for the baby. They said sometimes they can find the heartbeat at this stage (I'm 11 weeks 5 days) anyways, she found a heartbeat and she said it was 161 but that she thinks it was just the placenta not the baby.

As I'm reading the message boards I see many women commenting about there baby's heartbeat between 150-160 so wouldn't that then mean that was my babys heartbeat?

I'm so confused and I should have asked the nurse to explain it to me better but didn't... Can anyone explain this to me??

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Re: Heart Beat Question....

  • jgengo0jgengo0 member
    I'm so confused by this too. I bought a home doppler and the other night I'm pretty sure I heard the difference between the placenta and the baby. The baby, which ever one it was, sounded like a loud cantering horse and the placenta? sounded like fast whooshing. I think this makes sense, at least that's what I would imagine the difference to sound like.
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  • kaeladatzkaeladatz
    I thought it was normal, if not expected, to hear a HB starting between 8-10 weeks? At least, that's what my doc said. My last appointment was when I measured as 8.5 weeks, and we heard a strong beat of 171 bpm (which makes me think the baby had been going crazy in there before the reading!) 
    Question: was this on an u/s? Because I know for mine you could actually *see* the heart pumping and my doc did something with her machine that looked as if she zoomed in on the spot where the heart was to play back what ever sound it was making. 
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  • DaisyJanieDaisyJanie member
    imagekaeladatz:
    I thought it was normal, if not expected, to hear a HB starting between 8-10 weeks? At least, that's what my doc said. My last appointment was when I measured as 8.5 weeks, and we heard a strong beat of 171 bpm (which makes me think the baby had been going crazy in there before the reading!) 
    Question: was this on an u/s? Because I know for mine you could actually *see* the heart pumping and my doc did something with her machine that looked as if she zoomed in on the spot where the heart was to play back what ever sound it was making. 

    That's not really "hearing" the heartbeat, that's a sound the ultrasound machine can make based on what it's seeing. At around 12 weeks, they use the doppler to hear the heartbeat, which is I believe what the OP is talking about. Sorry, OP, I'm not sure about your question. It seems like 161 would be a reasonable heartbeat for the baby. I'm sure you could call and ask for clarification.

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  • ashleyzzzashleyzzz member

    No I haven't had an ultrasound as of yet. They just used the Doppler on me. I have my first and only ultrasound when I'm 19 weeks. The nurse was very young and seemed confused at trying to explain things to me. So hopefully I can get more clarification for my next doctors appointment.
    Here in Canada, if there is no cause for concern with the pregnancy then most doctors only give 1 ultrasound which is so annoying especially watching all the other ladies already have ultrasound photos at this point in their pregnancy. I'm trying to be patient....

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  • LIa0909LIa0909
    imageashleyzzz:

    No I haven't had an ultrasound as of yet. They just used the Doppler on me. I have my first and only ultrasound when I'm 19 weeks. The nurse was very young and seemed confused at trying to explain things to me. So hopefully I can get more clarification for my next doctors appointment.
    Here in Canada, if there is no cause for concern with the pregnancy then most doctors only give 1 ultrasound which is so annoying especially watching all the other ladies already have ultrasound photos at this point in their pregnancy. I'm trying to be patient....

    Not to offend: but here in America, there are still many doctors that will only do one ultrasound / many many many insurance companies that will only pay for one ultrasound. When you start looking back at people's stories a lot of the women on here have had ultrasounds because they are high risk, couldn't hear a heartbeat at all, are already having complications, went through fertility treatments, etc. I've already had an ultrasound but I had to be referred to a specialist at another hospital because the combo of my doctor's office / insurance would not cover the extra ultrasound without a referral to a specialist (and the specialist was the key to fully diagnosing my complications). Not to even touch the healthcare debate because I don't believe that either of our countries is necessarily ideal in the area, but our high tech, highly inclusive healthcare comes at an often HIGH price.

    But, back to the topic at hand, if you are confused about anything in your appointment (especially as something as pivotal as the heartbeat) don't hesitate to call the doctor to clarify. 161 is a completely reasonable and logical heartbeat, but you don't want to be confused wondering or worried for the next month til your next appointment.

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  • ashleyzzzashleyzzz member
    imageLIa0909:
    imageashleyzzz:

    No I haven't had an ultrasound as of yet. They just used the Doppler on me. I have my first and only ultrasound when I'm 19 weeks. The nurse was very young and seemed confused at trying to explain things to me. So hopefully I can get more clarification for my next doctors appointment.
    Here in Canada, if there is no cause for concern with the pregnancy then most doctors only give 1 ultrasound which is so annoying especially watching all the other ladies already have ultrasound photos at this point in their pregnancy. I'm trying to be patient....

    Not to offend: but here in America, there are still many doctors that will only do one ultrasound / many many many insurance companies that will only pay for one ultrasound. When you start looking back at people's stories a lot of the women on here have had ultrasounds because they are high risk, couldn't hear a heartbeat at all, are already having complications, went through fertility treatments, etc. I've already had an ultrasound but I had to be referred to a specialist at another hospital because the combo of my doctor's office / insurance would not cover the extra ultrasound without a referral to a specialist (and the specialist was the key to fully diagnosing my complications). Not to even touch the healthcare debate because I don't believe that either of our countries is necessarily ideal in the area, but our high tech, highly inclusive healthcare comes at an often HIGH price.

    But, back to the topic at hand, if you are confused about anything in your appointment (especially as something as pivotal as the heartbeat) don't hesitate to call the doctor to clarify. 161 is a completely reasonable and logical heartbeat, but you don't want to be confused wondering or worried for the next month til your next appointment.


    Thanks for the info Lla0909! I didn't take into consideration that some women were having complications or risks early on to recieve the ultrasound which is how it works in Canada. I appreciate the clarification and a little more insight to how it works over there.

    Thanks again

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