- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
1st Trimester
sprightlysparrow7
member
Low HR at 6wk1D
sprightlysparrow7
member
So...went to have my second US today and got some disappointing news. The US tech was officially able to measure the fetus at 6w1D, but the heart rate was scary low at 67.
I am saddened by this yet hopeful because I know it doesn't necessarily mean I will lose the baby, but I just don't feel very reassured by any of the information I've gleaned from my own research. I am set up for a f/u US next week after I return from out of town.
What REALLY frustrates me and, in fact, makes me more angry the more I think about it, is the lack of information I received today at my appointment. I've never been pregnant before, and I don't know what the heck to expect from these appointments.
Basically, the tech said nothing about the heart rate...I was the one who noticed it was quite slow because I'm a nurse. I said to her "That heart rate seems really slow" and she said "Yes it's a little slow". I waited...and nothing. So, I said "Have you seen them that slow before?" and she says, "Yes I've seen some be that slow before." And....NOTHING! She basically showed my husband and I the US for 0.2 seconds, took some more measurements, and wham-bam that was it. She then rattled on about setting me up for another US next week to recheck the heart rate before sending me to an OB. (My doc is GYN only). She told me how big the fetus measured and how far along I was, and then practically RAN out of the room. I just sat there feeling so dumbfounded, saddened, and confused. I was too shocked to even know what to say or what to ask. I came out of the room, and she handed us the US photos and a piece of paper with the measurements and basically said, "See ya next week!" That was IT! I haven't heard from my GYN, no one said anything to me at all about what normals were at this point or what a low HR could potentially mean...basically I feel as though I got no support at all from anyone, and I am so frustrated.
I hate it when my patients Google and freak themselves out, but that's exactly what I went home and did. And you know what? I freaked myself out even more.
Am I crazy for feeling like I got no support or info whatsoever? Is the GYN supposed to call me at some point with info about the US? I know no one can promise me anything or shoot roses up my butt, but I am an intelligent gal, and I just wanted to be informed. I feel like I've been kept in the dark here.
Any info about low heart rates at this stage or what I should have expected at this appointment would be greatly appreciated...I've already stalked the forum about the subject... 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Low HR at 6wk1D
I don't know much about the low heart rate because I've never had an early u:s, but from what I've read on here the heart rate is slower when it first starts beating.
what I can tell you though is that most u/s techs are not drs and are not allowed to give you much information or speculate, so you really shouldn't be mad at her. She can get in trouble if she tells you anything.
I'd be bugging your new OB for information, he's the only one who will really be qualified to give you answers. Good luck!
First, I'm sorry that you are having a rough time. That sucks. However, at 6 weeks and one day the baby's heart may have just begun to beat. So it will ramp up or it should if all is well. I hope all is well. I think you are freaking out prematurely. Don't borrow trouble or assume the worst.
"What REALLY frustrates me and, in fact, makes me more angry the more I think about it, is the lack of information I received today at my appointment. I've never been pregnant before, and I don't know what the heck to expect from these appointments."
Did you ask questions? Did you ask for information? They can't tell you what you aren't asking for. Pick up the Mayo Clinic Book. Read it. You are just as responsible for the information as they are to give it to you.
"She then rattled on about setting me up for another US next week to recheck the heart rate before sending me to an OB. (My doc is GYN only). She told me how big the fetus measured and how far along I was, and then practically RAN out of the room."
You said yourself that your practice is just a GYN and not an OB. Perhaps the tech is not allowed to go into too much detail with you. She is there to do the scan and that is it. She doesn't have to give you a guided tour especially since this is not an OB office. I think you are unfairly roasting the tech here. I'm sorry you are frustrated, but I really think you are being entirely too quick to freak out. Inhale, exhale. You have supportive people here and when you transfer to your OB you will have even more support.
Stop googling. Seriously. Stop it.
You aren't crazy for wanting support, but you are a little bit nuts for wanting to be spoon fed information that you can find out for yourself. If you read the Mayo Clinic book (as opposed to arm flailing self diagnosis) then you will read all that you need to know. Yes, you should be able to speak up to your practicioner, but a GYN office only cannot answer your questions about pregnancy as well as an OB can. Start making your list of questions now.
Again, I'm really sorry you had that experience. I'm not saying that it was right that you felt so side swiped, but taking a little responsibility for your own knowledge base will help solve those feelings of helplessness in the future.
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
Yep, all of this. Our u/s tech said three words to us, "Oh, it's twins!", printed pictures and that was it. Seriously, twins and that's all you're going to say? She didn't show us the sac, yolk, anything. She also didn't give us either heartbeats. I wasn't sure if this was due to having lower heartbeats when they are that young (I was 6w4d) or b/c she wasn't my doctor. If you are concerned, I highly recommend you call your doctor or the nurse line and ask them your questions instead of using google.
this was my first thought. legally, the tech isn't allowed to give you any kind of diagnosis or medical advice, she's just reading what's on the screen. you should get in touch with your doc ASAP for a more thorough explanation of what you saw. i'd be totally frustrated too, and i'd want answers.
I know how scared you must be. The same thing happened to me around the same time, but my baby's heart rate was 72bpm. I googled. I freaked out. I totally get it. BUT, I'm now 10 weeks pregnant and last they checked, the heart rate was 180bpm!
When this happened to me, I prepared for the worst, but hoped for the best. Are you having a follow up ultrasound in a week? At my one week follow up the heart rate was 131bpm so I felt very relieved. Keep your chin up!
PrimRoseMama:
So...you have basically just called me "a little bit nuts", an "arm flailing self-diagnoser", a person desiring to be "spoon fed", and irresponsible, and I must say I take offense to that. While I appreciate the advice, I felt your response came off quite strong, particularly in your choice of words. In fact, they were quite rude. I am saddened by the fact that people nowadays are brazen enough to speak in such a manner to someone they don't even know. I wrote because I was seeking a bit of support, and from you I received cutdowns.
So to answer your questions, not that I have to, but because I feel I need to defend myself...YES I asked questions. I am a nurse and am well-educated, and trust me, I asked questions. I had already read two pregnancy books cover to cover...I wasn't angry at the tech, I was SCARED. Yes I was frustrated, but I think anyone could be in my situation. My mind was going a million miles an hour, so getting all my questions out was also difficult at that moment. I understand she couldn't answer my questions, but she could have referred me to the OB or had her call me later. I have had other issues with the practice, so I was just feeling a little chafed with this new issue. Long story short, my GYN apologized for not having talked to me sooner. She explained her side of the coin, and we were just fine. I didn't yell, I wasn't rude...I'm just the sort of girl who wants to know everything...even if the news could be bad. Some people like bright and shiny news only...as a pediatric ICU nurse, I assure you...I've seen a lot of bad things, and I like to know every possible outcome. That is how I deal with worry...it's just how I have been conditioned over a lifetime of difficult circumstances. Everyone is different.
I have ALWAYS taken responsibility for my own knowledge, trust me. And no I won't stop Googling, even if it is something I don't want to hear. You know why? Because it prompts me to ask questions and gather information about something I otherwise wouldn't have known about...I don't BELIEVE everything I read...it gives me inspiration to ask questions I may not have otherwise thought to ask...
...like when I miscarried a few days after that incident. At work. At night...when I couldn't have called anyone. I didn't freak out because I HAD Googled and I knew what to expect and what to do. No one else had prepared me for that...I did.
So I guess I wasn't freaking out prematurely...I was just a scared mama who knew something was wrong and wanted to be better informed in order to be better prepared mentally and physically. And I'll never apologize for that.
Thank you to all you ladies who kindly, GENTLY gave me some words of encouragement. I really needed to see that today, and I am very much appreciative.
We did lose the pregnancy a few days after I made that post, I am sorry to report. I am doing okay physically, just quite a bit saddened over the incident. I will eventually be just fine though, and again I appreciate those of you who were kind and gentle in your responses.
Much to love you all and best of luck with your babies!!