Heartbeat- how soon?

MusicFanatic · May 2014

Sorry if it's been asked, I couldn't find.

For you second+ timers, how soon were you able to hear the heartbeat in previous pregnancies? When I google I get anything from 8-13 weeks.. so kinda wanted personal experiences. I have a doppler at home here (it's a "doctor grade" one and one they use similar to the one at my own office) and I'm wondering when I can start checking? I don't get an ultrasound for a bit, so I'd love some reassurance before then (and I know the midwife will check eventually, I just don't know when she starts). I'll be 9 weeks tomorrow- think I can try soon, or too early?

EllenMA · May 2014

I think around 10 weeks at the drs. The at home ones usually take a bit longer from what I hear.

liladelphia215 · May 2014

With my DD, my doctor checked at 10 weeks. Before she tried, she told me to not be upset if we couldn't find it because it may be too early. We were able to get it at 10 weeks, but just don't get upset if you don't right away.

liladelphia215 · May 2014

Oh and it sounded like a choo choo train... not like our heart beating.

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motherboy · May 2014

My doctor said it can be difficult to find even at 12 weeks with the doppler. Hope you get to hear that wonderful sound sooner!

MusicFanatic · May 2014

Britt1406 said:

I was told the reason my OB didn't want an appt until 8-10wks was to try and hear the heartbeat. Like PP said, at home ones are not as good, so I would expect it to be even later.

The one I have is actually nearly the exact one my midwife has in her office. Was pretty expensive, too.. thankfully I didn't pay :P I'm just borrowing it. But I'll wait a bit. Although I don't think I'd freak if I hear NOTHING because I know it's likely too early. Maybe I'll try around 10 weeks just to see

I have an appt at 10 weeks, though, too, so maybe my midwife will try then.

WillCMyInk · May 2014

I know my midwife said they wouldn't try to find the heartbeat until 12 weeks.

AlfiesMOM · May 2014

I have a doppler as well, same one as my office and I couldn't find it till 11 weeks. I have heard some find it at 10!

atrinh11 · May 2014

My OB does ultrasounds at early appointments to see the heartbeat that way. With my son, she tried the doppler at our 10 week appt. I did get the whole speech about not to worry if I didn't hear anything, because it was still early for the doppler. Anyway, for the most part, we couldn't hear anything. She found it VERY briefly and it was very faint. I don't think it was enough for the doppler to actually give it a heart rate number because it was so faint. So she just did another ultrasound so we could see that everything was fine, and so that they could record what his heart rate does. My OB has a little portable US machine that they take to the different rooms with them so they can just take a quick look at things if need be. At my next appointment (probably was around 14 weeks) it was clear as day with the doppler and I didn't get any more ultrasounds in her office (except when we asked for one).

LuckyPenny1231 · May 2014

My doctor couldn't hear it at my 10 week appt. She found it at the next appt though. So around 14 weeks?

But I also had an anterior placenta that probably blocked it too.

triagain2 · May 2014

I have a home Doppler, I was also an L&D nurse so I am quite well versed in finding heart tones. Anyway, my last pregnancy I found it around 8.5 weeks at home.
I will try in 2 weeks again.
I just had first sono today at 6 weeks even and we found heartbeat. I was thrilled because we could easily have been too early.

AlexisAdolphson · May 2014

GrahamSchneider said:
Oh and it sounded like a choo choo train... not like our heart beating.

AlexisAdolphson · May 2014

I am at 7.2 weeks and we found mine with an internal U/S (I should know the name but my brain isn't here right now). I was at 134 bpm -- which is average I was so happy I got to hear it and see it. Made my happiness grow! I'll attach a photo for the BPM's hope it helps!

drpayne · May 2014

jconno said:
I had an ultrasound with me RE at 6w6d and heard a heartbeat. But I don't think I'd be able to hear it on a home Doppler yet.

I'm fairly certain that at that stage, that's just the machine simulating the sound, not the sound itself.

firespirit717 · May 2014

With my son I found his hb around 8.5 weeks. You have to push down a decent bit, make sure you are just above your pelvic bone and move very slowly. I had to try for a good 15 minutes before I found the hb.

missiemae · May 2014

I play with the Doppler at work with every pregnancy before I can feel babe moving. I have heard baby at 8 weeks with babies #3 and 4. I don't remember trying that early with 1&2. I had to really resist temptation today at work (6wks 5 days), as I want to wait until next week, next time I work I will be 7weeks 6 days.
While I am working we usually don't try if they are less than 10 weeks. Really it depends on the size of the woman and what #pregnancy she is on..

cali4niagirl · May 2014

With DD, I heard the heartbeat at the doc at about 7 1/2 weeks. We have an appt tomorrow and I don't know what we're going to see, but we won't hear the HB yet.

MrsMCBMar2014 · May 2014

With my DS (13 years ago) I heard his heartbeat around 8 weeks. My SIL heard her sons heartbeat at 8 weeks and said that with her current pregnancy she heard the heart beat at 7 weeks.

I would say you should be able to find the heartbeat with the doppler.

IHeartScience · May 2014

My doc couldn't find it at 10 weeks, but I saw it on us. Heard it at 14.

MusicFanatic · May 2014

Yeah, I get completely different answers from my friends, too, so it must really depend on a lot of factors. The friend that lent me the doppler found hers at 8.5 weeks. My BFF was more towards 11 weeks. Maybe I'll just try later for the fun of it. Bad idea if I would freak when I don't find it, but I won't since I fully know it can be too early. So I may try just to see! If I don't find it, I'll wait a week and keep trying

jennkg3 · May 2014

mrandmrsk91011 said:

Doppler and ultrasound have different sensitivities. For some women, the Doppler wont pick up the HB until closer to 12 or 13 weeks due to positioning of the baby, placenta, etc. With DD, the OB's office didn't use the doppler until 12 weeks for that exact reason. I was constantly paranoid with DD that something was going to go wrong. The best thing I did was not buy a doppler because I am not a medical professional and, while they are easy to use, not having one allowed me to relax. I totally get why you want one, so you H can hear the HB, but my advice as a STM is to wait another week or two.

This is where I stand on this. The midwives found both of mine at 10 weeks but warned me both times they may not be able to. They say that 12 weeks is usually more reliable.

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