No heartbeat on Doppler

Trumpetta16 · December 2013

Hey ladies! I just want to see if anyone else has been in this situation.

I went to see my midwife two days ago and she did the Doppler to see if she could pick up baby's heartbeat. She was there for a while and didn't hear anything. I'm ten weeks. Is it possible that the baby is still too little?

I miscarried three months ago so I am slightly freaking out.

pantherRN · December 2013

Anything is possible. Do you have an ultrasound scheduled?

HJakes78 · December 2013

When I was 10 weeks they couldn't find it on the Doppler and sent me for an ultrasound and I had a perfectly fine baby with a great heartbeat!

yurmom · December 2013

With DD they couldn't hear a hb at 11 weeks so they then did an US. Everything was fine.

iris427 · December 2013

We didn't hear either of our first two on doppler until the second trimester. At 10 weeks the baby is still tiny and even just their position, or that of your uterus can make the hb hard to find. Try not to worry.

mrscurlygurl · December 2013

Had my appt yesterday at 11 weeks where she couldn't pick the HB with Doppler. She brought in a portable ultrasound and found it. What was the midwife's reaction/plan?

BoraBoraBaby · December 2013

I had a student try to find baby's HB unsuccessfully and having miscarried in may I was freaking out, though I could tell she didn't quite know what she was doing. My midwife found it right away but I'm 12 weeks. 10 weeks is around the time they can find it but it may depend on baby's position. I'd request an ultrasound if your OB didn't already schedule one for you.

Lola825 · December 2013

I had an appt Monday and they couldn't find the heartbeat. I have an ultrasound next Monday to make sure the baby is ok but it's normal this early. As other PP said there are so many factors that can make it hard to find this early.

ksuRN09 · December 2013

They couldn't hear a heartbeat at 10 weeks for me so they did an ultrasound and all was well. It also depends on your uterus. Mine is tilted so it's almost impossible to hear a heartbeat on doppler so early.

sohanlon44 · December 2013

With my last one, even at 12 weeks, the dr couldn't find the hb with the doppler

starlight0412 · December 2013

The doppler isn't the end all. And IMO shouldn't be used until you're about 16 wks. Anytime before that it just scares mothers to be to death. An ultrasound would be much better use of time. Try not to worry and I hope everything works out.

cbpj2012 · December 2013

Yup, we just had our first appointment at 10 weeks on Friday and they couldn't find it with the doppler. They sent us for an ultrasound and baby was doing just fine with a strong heartbeat.

INmommy871278 · December 2013

I had an anterior placenta with DS which caused interference with the Doppler, so we didn't hear a hb on it until we'll past 20 weeks. Like others said position of baby, uterus, any number of things can cause a missed hb with a Doppler.

youreggoispreggo · December 2013

Like @ksuRN09, I have a tilted uterus so my dr said it would probably be longer for me until a doppler will pick up a HB. She said she won't even try until at least 12 weeks.

honeybee434 · December 2013

My OB won't even use the Doppler until after 11 weeks, and she said even then it's not always a guarantee that they will be able to find it right away. My first appt where she would try to find it would be when I'm 13 1/2 weeks.

pantherRN · December 2013

starlight0412 said:
The doppler isn't the end all. And IMO shouldn't be used until you're about 16 wks. Anytime before that it just scares mothers to be to death. An ultrasound would be much better use of time. Try not to worry and I hope everything works out.

And costs hundreds of dollars more.

brittany&dain · December 2013

I haven't had that as far as you were but my doctor couldnt find a heartbeat using the Doppler but she scheduled an ultrasound for me a few days later since she thought I may be having twins since she said I felt farther along then they thought due to my uterus position and at the ultrasound there was the heartbeat, and just one baby ! So anything is possible best of luck I will pray for the best

flajewel · December 2013

11 weeks here and no heartbeat on Doppler. Saw heart hb on us. I'm still worried though.

mehg209 · December 2013

I am almost 11 weeks and my OB couldnt find the heartbeat on a fetal dopp. either. Told me my uterus is now tipped so it would be more difficult to hear it at this point. he sent me for another ultrasound to make me feel better. 178bpm and moving around like crazy!!!! if that makes you feel better. i know i cried and was a mess before the ultrasound.

keep positive thoughts always and dont give up!

rainstar752 · December 2013

I could find the heartbeat on my home doppler at 10w, but the doctor couldn't find it on her machine at 11w (but I had just heard it the night before at home, so I wasn't too worried). She got the u/s out though and then I got to see the baby. It's pretty common to not be able to pick it up at the office, it's hard when they're trying to find it fast and if the baby is moving around.

Mr&MrsMTA · December 2013

Same here I am at 10wks and while I thought I found it, after watching the you tube videos I realized it was either the placenta I found or me because the rate was not fast enough

enrebec · December 2013

I went in at 10 weeks and 2 days and she couldn't find the heartbeat on the Doppler. Luckily, she had a portable u/s and we were able to see the little one, heartbeat and all.

As others have commented, it can be very difficult to locate the fetus at 10 weeks. Mine is sitting very low and appeared to be doing flips, which was why we couldn't hear the heartbeat.

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