Couldn't find heartbeat at 8 weeks.

LDQAM516 · April 2011

Anyone else not hear the heartbeat at 8 weeks on the Doppler. Had my first appt. today and we didn't get to hear it...She tried for several minutes. Iam not worried...just disappointed and wondering if anyone else is in the same boat. I go back in two weeks to try again...and if they still can't find it...I will have an u/s.

iluvmylab · April 2011

Many women won't hear it until at least 10 weeks, sometimes more. Have you had an internal u/s done? I was able to see and hear my LOs HB with a vaginal u/s at 6 weeks.

whirlygirl00 · April 2011

That stinks but I think it's very common. Hopefully they find it again in 2 weeks!

My Dr won't even try before 11 weeks, probably because it makes people nervous if she doesn't find it. I have an apt next wed at 9 weeks and am going to ask her to try and promise not to freak out if she can't find it lol.

LDQAM516 · April 2011

No...I don't get one unless it is medically needed. I was actually surprised she even tried to find it...I even asked her if she has luck finding it most the time this early and she said yes.

domesticatedhuman · April 2011

I've heard the same thing, it's too early before 10 weeks to hear it on a doppler. Even after that it can be hard until you get into the second tri.

hnh1205 · April 2011

I have a good friend that they weren't able to hear the hb on doppler until 14 weeks! She has had 3 u/s because they were worried, but everytime there was a strong hb found. It was just too early to hear it with a doppler. I wouldn't worry too much.

smallfry5909 · April 2011

My OB doesn't try until 12 weeks for that reason. Still, it's nervewracking so I hope you get some reassurance at your ultrasound!

LDQAM516 · April 2011

It's amazing how different some obstetrics practices are. I have never had anyone try that early. Must be a NP thing...

getnmarried910 · April 2011

Eight weeks is a little early. My doctor has always warned me at my 10-12 week appointments that it could still be hard to find. I've got my own doppler and couldn't get anything till 9 weeks. I'm surprised they'd even try that early, but I've never had an appointment at 8 weeks before. Guess I'll find out what they do at an 8 week appointment in a couple weeks.

naflmj · April 2011

I didn't hear one until 10 weeks and even then the OB said they sometimes doesn't hear it.

JNicMTek · April 2011

I'm surprised they even tried at 8w. I hope you get to hear it soon though.

nahokulele · April 2011

How disappointing that must have been for you! But at least you are finding reassurance here that it's common, hopefully that helps.

And hopefully the next 2 weeks go by quickly for you!

jenine482 · April 2011

I think it's too early, you should be able to see it now though, we did at 6w5d.

SeaSoul · April 2011

With my last pregancy, my first exam was at 10 weeks and my midwife said not to get our hopes up - it may be too early to pick up the heartbeat. But we did hear it. Since yours was 2 weeks earlier than that, I'm not surprised at all. I can understand your disappointment, though!

GoldenPeaches · April 2011

My MW said she won't even check until 10-12 weeks because it is usually difficult, if not impossible to find till then.

MichelleLeigh81 · April 2011

whirlygirl00:

My Dr won't even try before 11 weeks, probably because it makes people nervous if she doesn't find it. I have an apt next wed at 9 weeks and am going to ask her to try and promise not to freak out if she can't find it lol.

Same here, I was super bummed and so was my DH. I wont have another appt until I'm 12 wks.

CWSKHC · April 2011

I had my first OB appointment yesterday at exactly 8 weeks and they didn't even try to listen for the heartbeat because they said it was way too early. Plus I have a tilted uterus so even at 10 weeks the probably won't be able to pick it up on a doppler since the babies so far back in there!! We were lucky to have an u/s at 6w1d and we got to see the heartbeat then. If I were you I wouldn't worry at all. I'm sure everything is perfectly find :-)

PecanSam · April 2011

I had a transvaginal ultrasound at 5wk5d and we saw the heartbeat and again at 6wk5d. I had a regular ultrasound yesterday at 8wk3d and I got to hear the heartbeat for the first time. I have read that the thinner you are the earlier you can hear the heartbeat.

I'm sure the experience of the tech has a lot to do with it.

hanna mae · April 2011

was she using the right doppler? sometimes you can't pick it up this early on one that's geared for later stages of pregnancy. i was able to hear my dd's hb @ 8wk, but they used the later doppler and couldn't find it. So they went and got a different one and were able to hear it.

wintersnight20 · April 2011

I just got back from my first appointment and the dr said that 8 weeks is a little early to find the heartbeat. They rescheduled me for 5/09 for an ultrasound...Honestly it's more comforting to me to wait and actually hear it than to have him run the doppler and find nothing...Doesn't mean I enjoy waiting so long though! I wanna see/hear my piglet!

BellieRue · April 2011

When I had my first son, we had our first appt at 9 weeks and she didn't even try because she said that was too early, I'm sure that's it, but just rest easy for the next few weeks, lots of thoughts and prayers to you!

pennynjon · April 2011

That is really early for a doppler. My OB won't even attempt the doppler before 10 weeks. I bet you will hear it in two weeks:)

LDQAM516 · April 2011

Thanks for your support, ladies. Again, Iam not worried...just never had a Doppler experience that early so just wondering what other peoples experience was that early. Just kinda annoyed that she said 'confidently' that she usually hears it. She is my OBs CNP and has been with them forever and I remember her from my first appointment with DD. The checkout lady at the office even said that was pretty early...just not sure what the CNP was thinking...unless she was confused as to how far along Iam.

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