Doppler: when did you first hear the HB?

lostaspen · August 2011

I'm sorry to post this, but I haven't read any of the other doppler posts because I don't have one. Today at my 10.5 weekish appointment with my midwife she wasn't able to find the heartbeat. She kept saying she heard one or two beats, or she heard movement though.

I'm going in again next week when I'm closer to 12 weeks to try and find the HB again, but was wondering how far along you ladies were when you first heard the HB via doppler? Thanks :-)

jhughes5 · August 2011

My doppler came in the mail today and it took me FOREVER to find the heart beat. The first time I tried for about 30 minutes and couldn't find it so I put it away. A few hours later, (and after watching a few tutorials/reading tips) I tried again and found it right away. It was between 150-160bpm. But I would lose it after a minute or two and have to search to find it again. I'm gonna put mine away until about 12-13 weeks so I don't freak myself out again. So don't worry, I'm sure you will hear it loud and clear at your next appt! Smile

P.S. To those of you with a doppler I would suggest having a FULL bladder, not empty. (At least for me.) And put a pillow under your hips, and aim low and off to the side a little. (Not directly in the middle.) Oh and use lots of gel!

joyfullyfound · August 2011

I was 9 weeks when I first heard it at my appointment... it took her a long time to find it though and she said it was really surprising that we could hear it already. I heard it again at 10 weeks at another appointment but only after she was about to give up because it was taking so long. Sometimes it's not that you can't hear it yet, it's that the little one is hiding. Don't worry about it, even though I know it's disappointing. Hearing it at 12 weeks and onward is the norm.

LuckyInIreland · August 2011

I heard it at my last appointment and it took her a little while to find it. Oh, I was about 10 weeks and 1 day or so...

Texas77again · August 2011

i already had a doppler for my last job and so i started way early. first time was 7 weeks, the number was registering on the screen but nothing to hear. the same goes for week 8 and 9. then at 10+2 i was able to hear it.

i know that usually i don't even try to listen until 12 weeks, which is when we schedule client's for their first appts at the clinic.

lostaspen · August 2011

Thanks ladies! It's good to get some reassurance. I found some old posts about the same thing and a lot of women said they didn't find the HB until 11 or 12 weeks. Hopefully next week's appointment will go well :-)

heatheroo · August 2011

I tried for about 30 min at 10w4d and 10w5d and couldn't find it. I spent longer than that on Saturday (10w6d) and finally found it. It's been in the same general area since then so I haven't had much problem finding it again, but it definitely took forever the first time!

Alliebooberz · August 2011

~8 weeks. My dr heard it at 9 in her office and was shocked. She said my uterus must just be in the perfect position for it to work. Her eyes bugged out of her head she was so surprised.

jgal84 · August 2011

I was able to find the HB right at 10 weeks with this pregnancy and my last one. I spent a good 15-20 minutes on it though!

luckycharm06 · August 2011

I received my fetal doppler 2 days ago and after LOTS of trying we were able to locate the HB last night. I'm 9w6d. A lot of the time, I can hear the heartbeat (sounds like a train coming down the track) but it must be so faint it doesn't register on the LCD screen. Other times, the HB of around 150-160 appears but only for a few seconds.

Don't be discouraged, even though I know it's easier said than done. There are a lot of reasons why the HB isn't clear on the doppler. Wishing you lots of luck!

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